Each lab you submit for GSC 325 should be presented as a securely stapled or bound document according to the following specifications. Please feel free to interact with your fellow classmates as you struggle with (and hopefully enjoy) the material. However, each student must submit an individual laboratory report.
(1) Begin with a typed cover page. Include your name, title and number of laboratory, course number, and date submitted. Also type a succinct summary statement (one single-spaced paragraph) describing the primary objectives of the laboratory, the work performed, and the major results of your laboratory analyses. All of this should fit on one page.
(2) The main body of your laboratory should be neatly organized and presented in the sequence that work was performed. This part does not have to be typed as long as you can print clearly. I prefer that you spend your time making observations and learning the material rather than retyping work that you have already completed. Most of your work will involve drawing and describing various microscopic features that you observe. Please create some custom form sheets on the computer, showing circles that represent microscope view. About 4 circles per page are ideal. Annotate your drawings with colored pencils. All drawings should be carefully labeled and clearly explained with titles and supplementary words as needed. For example, indicate prominent cleavages; show location of optic axes or trace of the optic plane on interference figures; label different mineral phases if more than one are present; etc. Where appropriate, state which accessory plate is inserted and whether this caused colors order to increased or decrease. Tables and graphs should also have titles, with columns or axes specified uniquely.
(3) One important aspect of this course is to make the mental connection between mineral name and chemical composition. So, for each mineral you study, write down the corresponding chemical formula at least once. Also specify the crystal system. Eventually you will simply know this information. Such basic knowledge should prove useful in Petrology and Geochemistry courses.
(4) On the last page, for my information, please state how much time you spent on the laboratory. Include the time I spent introducing the samples or demonstrating various optical properties.