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Introduction
This
first course in mineralogy is designed to be an introduction to
mineralogy for students in the Earth sciences or in science in
general. The course is divided into two major parts. In the
first part, we will discuss the fundamental concepts of
symmetry, crystallography, crystal chemistry, physical
properties of minerals, and crystal growth. In the second
part, we will conduct a systematic survey of the most important
mineral species and discuss, in detail, their crystal structures
and mineral chemistry. Laboratory and take-home exercises will
accompany, as much as possible, the content of the lectures.
Students will be presented with approximately 100 different
minerals in this course. One field trip will be planned for
October to a local mineral locality.
Required textbook (available at the
University bookstore, »
$120):
Klein, C. (2001): 22nd
Edition of the Manual of Mineral Science. John Wiley & Sons
The manual includes the Mineralogy Tutorials CD-ROM.
Required tools/Supplies:
Starting in October, the laboratory sessions will
require you to identify more than 100 minerals. Certain tools
will be of use to you in this process and will be available to
purchase from the science faculty store. These tools include:
-
a
hand lens
-
a
streak plate (unglazed porcelain plate)
-
a
pencil magnet
-
bottle of dilute HCl
A pocket knife is required.
Additional
tools which you may wish to purchase include a geological hammer.
The following books or guides
may also be useful:
Berry L.G. and Mason B.
(1959): Mineralogy. W.H. Freeman and Company.
QE 363 .B47M 1959.
Blackburn W.H. and Dennen W.H.
(1988) Principles of Mineralogy. Wm. C. Brown
Publishers. QE 362.2 .B54 1988.
Chesterman,
C.W. (1978): The Audubon Society Field Guide to North
American
Rocks and Minerals.
Alfred A. Knopf Inc., USA.
(QE 443.C45 1978)
*Deer, W.A., Howie, R.A. &
Zussman, J. (1992 or any of the earlier editions): An
introduction to the rock-forming minerals. Longman Group
Limited,
England. (QE 397.D44 1992)
(this book will be invaluable to you in your future courses)
Pough, F.H. (1953): A
field guide to rocks and minerals. Haughton Mifflin.
QE 367 .P6 1953.
Zoltai T. and Stout J.H.
(1984): Mineralogy, concepts and principles. Burgess
Press.
Evaluation
Since
considerable effort is required in the laboratory and take-home
exercises in this course, I suggest placing greater importance
to the exercises in the evaluation of the course. The
following mark distribution, which places 55% of the final mark
on the exercises handed in throughout the semester, is suggested
and will be discussed in class:
- Final exam on
theory
30%
- Laboratory exercises
and assignments
50%
- Mid-term exam on
theory 10%
- Laboratory exam (specimen
identification) 10%
Students will be given one week to complete all the
laboratory exercises. Take-home exercises will be allowed
either one or two weeks. Exercises handed-in late will be
corrected but will not be marked. The demonstrator will
be instructed not to allow for any exceptions to these
deadlines. Should you not be able to hand in your exercise in
time, please consult with the professor.
Starting in October, at the beginning of each lab
period you will be given a quiz on the minerals from the
previous lab. These quizzes are cumulative. You may be asked
to identify the mineral, give the chemical formula, the crystal
system, or name forms or other physical or chemical properties.
All minerals for which you
must know the chemical formula have been marked with an asterix
(*) in each lab.
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