This activity is part of a larger module that introduces students to two different ways to model chemical diffusion in minerals: 1) 1D diffusion in Excel using finite differences and 2) 1D diffusion in MATLAB using the same equations. It is designed to help students apply diffusion equations derived previously in class to understand natural zonation of elements in minerals. The students build the model first in Excel, and then in MATLAB to obtain the timescales of diffusive re-equilibration related to magma storage and transport at KÃÂlauea Volcano, Hawai'i. The major goals are to help students transition from visual platforms (e.g., Excel) to writing computer code (e.g., in MATLAB), implementing for loops for iterative calculations, and thinking about how the geologic parameters (temperature, pressure, fO2) affect the model results.
- Subject:
- Applied Science
- Computer Science
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Measurement and Data
- Physical Science
- Material Type:
- Activity/Lab
- Homework/Assignment
- Provider:
- Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
- Provider Set:
- Teach the Earth
- Author:
- Kendra Lynn
- Date Added:
- 01/20/2023