Geology 221a - Mineralogy
Tentative Schedule of Topics - Fall 2006
Th 07 Sept - am Introduction: course organization, mineralogy in the context of geology, chemical classification of minerals, physical properties of minerals.
Th 07 Sept - pm Field Trip: to Huntington, MA.  Mineralogy in the field.
   
Tu 12 Sept - am Crystallography: constancy of interfacial angles, minerals are crystals constructed from patterns, coordinate systems for minerals
Th 14 Sept - am Crystallography: coordinate systems for minerals, lattices, unit cells, directional indices, Miller indices, axial ratios. Symmetry, symmetry operations, symmetry elements (rotation, reflection, and their combinations), crystal systems, crystal classes, SHAPE.
Th 14 Sept - pm Crystallography: crystals, blocks, computers, and coordinate systems. (Coordinate system, morphology assignment.)
   
Tu 19 Sept - am Crystallography: symmetry operations, symmetry elements (rotation, reflection, and their combinations), crystal systems, crystal classes, space groups, Neumann's principle.
Th 21 Sept - am Crystallography: optical diffraction, x-ray diffraction, Bragg's law, single crystal x-ray diffraction using a Buerger precession camera.
Th 21 Sept - pm Diffraction: of light and x-rays, Scintag introduction. (Unknown minerals assignment.)
Adirondack Field Trip: 22-24 September (Field trip or replacement assignment.)
Tu 26 Sept - am Crystal Chemistry: atoms, ions, bonding, periodic table, atomic and ionic radii, coordination numbers, coordination polyhedra, Pauling's rules, symmetrically packed structures.
Th 28 Sept - am Crystallography: Measuring the unit cell, calculation of Z, measuring atoms.
Th 28 Sept - pm Powder Diffraction: measuring atoms. (Measuring atoms assignment.)
   
Tu 03 Oct - am Systematic Mineralogy: silicate minerals: polymerization, classification, nomenclature, mineral end members, solid solutions.
Th 05 Oct - am Mineral Equilibria -- silica minerals: structure, polymorphism, displacive transformations, reconstructive transformations, stability, phase diagrams, silica minerals.
Th 05 Oct - pm Powder Diffraction: a unit cell for your mineral. (Unit cell assignment.)
Autumn Recess: 07-10 October
Th 12 Oct - am Mineral Equilibria: more on the stability of minerals, making synthetic minerals in the lab.

Th 12 Oct - pm

Mineral Synthesis: making our own minerals. (Synthesis/decomposition assignment.)
   
Tu 17 Oct - am Optical mineralogy: electromagnetic waves, refractive index, Snell's Law, critical angle.
Th 19 Oct - am Optical mineralogy: measurement of refractive indices, Becke lines, oblique illumination, dispersion.
Th 19 Oct - pm Optical Mineralogy: refractive indices of isotropic materials. (Hand sample description assignment.)
   
Tu 24 Oct - am Optical mineralogy: polarization of light, double refraction, ordinary and extraordinary rays, wave normals, ray paths, vibration directions, Snell's Law revisited.
Th 26 Oct - am Optical mineralogy: Birefringence, addition and subtraction of interference colors, conoscopic observation of uniaxial crystals, isogyres, isochromes, optic sign.
Th 26 Oct - pm Optical Mineralogy: addition, subtraction, elongation, optic sign. (Optics problem set 1.)
   
Tu 31 oct - am Optical mineralogy: Optical indicatrix or interference figures explained, optic axes, 2V.
Th 02 Nov - am Optical mineralogy: Measurement of refractive indices for uniaxial minerals, use of the spindle stage.
Th 02 Nov - pm Optical Mineralogy: refractive indices of uniaxial minerals. (Optics problem set 2.)
   
Tu 07 Nov - am Optical mineralogy: Measurement of refractive indices and other properties of biaxial minerals, procedures for identification of minerals in thin section.
Th 09 Nov - am Mineral Equilibria -- olivine, spinel, wadsleyite: mantle stories
Th 09 Nov - pm Otelia Cromwell Day: no class.
   
Tu 14 Nov - am Mineral Equilibria -- pyroxenes: structures, chemical compositions, polytypism.
Th 16 Nov - am Mineral Equilibria -- micas: structures, chemical compositions, polytypism.
Th 16 Nov - pm Optical Mineralogy: observations of biaxial minerals. (Refractive indices assignment.)
   
Tu 21 Nov - am Mineral Equilibria -- amphiboles: structures, chemical compositions, polytypism, polysomatism, biopyriboles.
Thanksgiving Recess 22-26 November
Tu 28 Nov - am Mineral Equilibria -- feldspars: chemical compositions, graphical representation of chemical compositions, exsolution, twinning, Si-Al ordering.
Th 30 Nov - am Mineral Equilibria -- feldspars: chemical compositions, graphical representation of chemical compositions, exsolution, twinning, Si-Al ordering.
Th 30 Nov - pm Solid Solutions: experiments to change mineral compositions, EDS preparation. (Solid solution assignment.)
   
Tu 05 Dec - am Mineral Equilibria -- sufides: structures, chemical compositions.
Th 07 Dec - am Mineral Spectroscopy: energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, calculation of mineral formulas.
Th 07 Dec - pm SEM/EDS: energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy with the electron microscope. (Mineral formula assignment.)
   
Tu 12 Dec - am Mineral Equilibria -- cabonates, sulfates, oxides: structures, chemical compositions.
Th 14 Dec - am Everything Else!
Th 14 Dec - pm Project Completion: no new material. (Final paper assignment.)