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Hello.

My daughter is preparing for her 6th grade science fair in the spring. Next week we will have the opportunity to visit the rim of Mt. Vesuvius, and this has inspired her to consider a geology-related project. For the moment, she's only gotten so far as supposing that she could compare pH measurements, or perhaps also other standard (i.e., cheap) soil-test measurements such as potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorous on soil from Vesuvius and samples from other locations. Because of customs rules, we will not be able to bring soil samples home with us, but we will be able to bring testing materials to Italy.

At this point we're faced with the question, "So what exactly are we expecting to find?" I'm not a geologist, so I don't know how to advise her on this question. But I figured I might know where to find some geologists (this forum) who might have an idea or two.

Any ideas how (or even if) we can turn a trip to Vesuvius into a meaningful and achievable-by-a-12-year-old science project?

I realize you never got a reply, but may I ask what you ended up doing for the project?

Thanks for your interest. I was a little disappointed that there was no reply.

The project is not due until later in the spring, so we're still looking for a good project. She has been able to use a garden soil testing kit to test samples from east-central Delaware, East Tennessee mountains, North Carolina beach, western Austria (valley), Burgundy, France, Pompeii, and the top of Mt. Vesuvius. But we don't yet know what to do with the results. We could possibly get a few other samples if we had a plan for the experiment. As it is she may have to select a different subject for her project.