Space!We are getting more space! The hole shown here is our proudest achievement (so far...). The hole will be filled with two fully equipped teaching labs, a lab dedicated to our teaching and research instruments, two large research laboratories, and much more space for holding our extensive mineral and rock collections, equipment, and "geo-gear". For more details, check out this [PNG] map (31 KiB) or the [PNG] perspective view (14 KiB) of the building's exterior.
Supplies?We have plenty of supplies: about 500 fossils, 3000 minerals, and so many chunks of rock we can't even count them. The chaos of our collection will be eliminated in our new building-- over one thousand square feet will be devoted to organizing and utilizing our collections. We are also very lucky to host the personal collection of the late James Heles, an avid mineral collector whose family was gracious enough to give us his entire collection of rare and spectacular specimens.
Geology Program EquipmentWe possess or have ready access to the equipment needed for a comprehensive geology program. For studies of the solid earth, we have the basic machines needed to gather and prepare samples for closer inspection. For example, our thin section saw and grinder (shown at left) makes light work of slicing rocks to the ultra-thin thickness required for microscopic study. And, our growing inventory of equipment for hydrologic and soil studies ensures students get hands-on experience with the same tools they will eventually use on jobs out in the real world.
Affiliated Program EquipmentAffiliated programs at MSU Mankato helps us out a lot with our teaching and research equipment needs. They freely loan us field compasses, GPS recievers, water quality instruments, and even operate very sosphicated (and expensive) pieces of high-tech equipment for us when we ask nicely. In the picture on the left, an MSU Mankato student assesses agricultural loads to local rivers with the assistance of equipment on loan from the Geography Department.
