MiddLab

Geology

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A MiddLab Project

Petrogenesis of Two New Eucrites from Northwest Africa

Learn more about Geology and Physics at Middlebury College.

Eucrite meteorites formed within the first seven million years of the start of the solar system, and are widely believed to originate from the asteroid 4 Vesta. Thus eucrites hold important insights into the geologic processes that were active on small planetary bodies, and particularly into their chemical differentiation. Two meteorites recovered in 2009 from Northwest Africa appear to be unbrecciated basaltic eucrites, and have similar mineral assemblages. The characterization of these samples by petrography, mineral chemistry, and whole-rock chemistry will help to provide an understanding of their formation, and will indicate whether they are paired. Comparisons with other eucrites described in the literature may provide additional insights into the chemical evolution of 4 Vesta.

People

Cameron Mercer
Researcher

Ray Coish
Sponsor and Professor of Geology

Hubble image of 4 Vesta (NASA)

Downloads

Symposium Presentation Slides

A MiddLab Project

Arsenic Contamination in Vermont’s Private Wells

Learn more about Environmental Studies at Middlebury College.

The Environmental Studies Senior Seminar (ENVS 401) is the capstone course for the Environmental Studies major. The goal of this course is to bring seniors from the various foci within the Environmental Studies major together to examine a specific topic in depth from an interdisciplinary perspective. The course follows a service-learning teaching model, which combines collaborative work with a community organization, scholarly reading, classroom discussions, and reflective writing. Topics of ENVS 401 vary from semester to semester, but focus on issues with relevance to the local region as well as the global environment. Our theme for this semester was “The Groundwater Resource: Global Concerns, Local Perspectives.”

The class split into three groups: the survey group, partnering with the Vermont Department of Health; the spatial group, partnering with the Vermont Geological Survey; and the policy group, partnering with State Senator Virginia Lyons. The goal of the survey group was to evaluate the public’s knowledge of their well water and testing recommendations in a study area in Rutland County. The goal of the spatial group was to investigate the incidence of high arsenic well test results and the relationship between bedrock and high arsenic to locate areas of concern in Vermont. The goal of the policy group was to provide our community partner with information pertinent to advancing the policy discussion regarding private well testing regulations in Vermont. We used our research to create a policy framework that the legislature worked off of in the 2010-2011 legislative season.

People

Led by

Peter Ryan
Professor of Geology

Diane Munroe
Coordinator for Community Based Environmental Studies

Community Partners

Vermont Geological Survey: Jon Kim, Larry Becker, Marjorie Gale
Vermont Department of Health: Joanne Calvi
Senator Virginia Lyons

Class Members

Meghan Blumstein
Ashley Cheung
Carson Cornbrooks
James Hexter
Renee Igo
Marc Kostrubiak
Pier LaFarge
Jia (CoCo) Liu
Kelly March
Marilyn Mead
Michaela O’Connor
Rachel Pentecost
Virginia Shannon
Sarah Simonds
Kelly Slentz
Nicole Vaughan
Zheng Zheng

As Levels in Groundwater Wells from Southwestern Vermont

Downloads

Report: Arsenic Contamination in Vermont’s Private Wells

S. 77 An Act Relating to Water Testing of Private Wells; Text and Status of the Bill

Watch the Presentation (requires RealMedia player)

Pier LaFarge ‘11 offers policy recommendations to the Vermont Senate's committee on natural resources and energy in Montpelier on Feb. 9.

Project Timeline

Sept.-Dec. 2010: Class research culminating in final report and presentation.
February 7, 2011: Testify before the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee in support of their policy proposal
March 18, 2011: Policy unanimously passes the Senate Natural Resources Committee and is referred to the full Senate
April 6, 2011: Policy passes the full Senate and is referred to the House Committee on Fish, Wildlife, and Water Resources
April 14, 2011: Testify by phone for the House Committee on Fish, Wildlife, and Water Resources
April 29, 2011: Policy unanimously passes the House Committee on Fish, Wildlife, and Water Resources and is referred to the full House
May 3, 2011: Policy passes House with an amendment that sends it back to the Senate
May 4, 2011: Senate concurs with amendment
May 5, 2011: Bill passes both Senate and House and is awaiting signature by the Governor
May 26, 2011: Governor Shumlin vetoes the bill.

A MiddLab Project

Petrologic and spatial analysis of volcanic ballistics from the 1790 explosive eruption of Kilauea, Hawai’i

Learn more about Geology at Middlebury College.

Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawai’i is well known for its effusive, fountain-style eruptions. However, its eruptive history is punctuated byexplosive eruptions that would today be a serious hazard to local humanpopulations. Explosive eruptions induced by contact between waterand magma are known as phreatomagmatic, and such an eruption in1790 was responsible for the deaths of roughly 80 Hawaiians.

People

Scott Zolkos
Researcher

Ray Coish
Professor of Geology and Research Advisor

Downloads

Presentation Poster

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Geology

A MiddLab Project

Petrogenesis of Two New Eucrites from Northwest Africa

People

Hubble image of 4 Vesta (NASA)

Related Links

Downloads

A MiddLab Project

Arsenic Contamination in Vermont’s Private Wells

People

Led by

Community Partners

Class Members

As Levels in Groundwater Wells from Southwestern Vermont

Related Links

Downloads

Project Timeline

A MiddLab Project

Petrologic and spatial analysis of volcanic ballistics from the 1790 explosive eruption of Kilauea, Hawai’i

People

Related Links

Downloads