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Geophysics Lab Core Samples

Geophysics · Physics

Two boxes contain rock core samples and other related material.

2019.ph.839.1: A white coloured cardboard box contains the following:
– 11 cylindrical rock samples (~2.7 cm diameter). These are numbered with a permanent marker.
– 7 cuboid samples of various materials. The chemical compositions of these are marked on their surfaces.
– 2 square objects with roughly the same footprint as the cubes (~2.8 cm side). One of thee has a short metal rod protruding from the centre of one side.
– 4 cylindrical clear plastic holders (3.1 cm diameter). These have a masking table attached to the outer surface.

2019.ph.839.2: A brown coloured cardboard box contains the following:
– 41 small cylindrical mineral samples of various dimensions. All are 2.7 cm in diameter or less. Most are marked on their surfaces, often with arrows indicating their magnetic orientation.
– One metal coil wrapped around a clear plastic coil.
– One square sample holder made of dark plastic.
– One sample holder made of clear plastic.

Accession Number: 2019.ph.839.1-2

Alternative Name:

Primary Materials: Mineral, Acrylic.

Markings:

Most mineral samples are marked. These markings are either for identification, or to indicate physics qualities.

Dimensions (cm):

2019.ph.839.1 (Box): Height = 5.8, Width = 14.5, Length = 14.5; 2019.ph.839.2 (Box): Height = 7.6, Width = 15.3, Length = 11.

Function:

These laboratory samples were used with two teaching experiments at the University of Toronto Department of Physics geophysics section: remanent magnetization (see 2019.ph.828) and magnetic susceptibility (2019.ph.840). Most of the material in box 2019.ph.839.1 is likely associated with the latter, and box 2019.ph.839.1 with the former.

Remanent magnetization refers to the residual magnetic field in a mineral sample that indicates the orientation of the earth’s magnetic field with the mineral was formed. Magnetic susceptibility refers to a mineral’s susceptibility to magnetization.

Condition:

The samples are sturdy and presumably usable. Some cylindrical samples are fractured, though it is not clear whether this indicates damage through use.

Associated Instruments:

Manufacturer:

University of Toronto Department of Physics, Geophysics Laboratory.

Date of Manufacture: c. 1970-1990

Provenance:

These samples were acquired from the Department of Physics Advanced Physics Laboratory on September 3, 2019. Dr. David Bailey transferred the items.

Additional Information and References:

Historical Notes:

Themes:

Flags:
  • Donated to UTSIC