In our Rock and Mineral Analysis Lab students learn how to identify common rocks, minerals and fossils, and determine their most likely origin. Polarizing microscopes are used to study thin slices of rocks. Hand lenses and other equipment are available for analyzing larger rock samples. Courses offered by the School of Geography & Earth Sciences count towards the Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo) certification from the Association of Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO). This is essentially an earth science equivalent of the Professional Engineering (P. Eng) certification.