Geology - GEOL 237

Course Description

Mineralogy teaches the basics of crystal formation, crystal symmetry and crystal chemistry of the most important rock forming and economic minerals of the earth’s crust. The course also includes the formation of minerals and mineral occurrences and associations. Laboratory periods concentrate on the methods used in the identification of about 100 minerals.

Prerequisites

(A requirement that must be completed before taking this course.)

Course Competencies

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Distinguish between atoms, elements, chemical compounds, and minerals.
• Determine the relationship between the atomic structure of a mineral and its external crystalline shape and form.
• Distinguish between polymorphism, isomorphism, and pseudomorphism among minerals.
• Determine the difference between a solid solution and exsolution of a mineral.
• Determine the identity of a mineral based on its color, streak, hardness, cleavage, fracture, density, magnetic and radioactive properties.
• Determine the relationship between the atomic structure of a mineral and its chemical composition (crystal chemistry).
• Distinguish between the different crystal systems possessed by minerals.
• Distinguish between the different crystal classes possessed by minerals.
• Determine the crystallographic axis of crystals possessed by minerals.
• Determine the Miller Index for the most common minerals.
• Distinguish between the different chemical classes of minerals (native elements, sulphides, carbonates, sulphates, silicates, halides, etc.)
• Compare the different geologic environments in which the most common rock-forming minerals are formed.
• Determine the difference between the core, inner and outer margin of complex pegmatite.
• Distinguish the difference between the various temperature environments of a hydrothermal deposit.
• Distinguish between the different zones of a metamorphic core complex.
• Determine the identity of minerals based on fusibility.
• Determine the identity of chemical elements in a mineral based on blowpipe analysis.
• Determine the identity of a mineral based on its aggregate type (dendritic, bladed, acicular, micaceous, etc.)
• Determine the identity of a mineral based on its luster (metallic, dull, adamantine, etc.)

Course Schedule

Currently no sections of this class are being offered.