Geology 221a - Mineralogy
Schedule of Topics - Fall 2000
Th 07 Sept Introduction: course organization, mineralogy in the context of geology, chemical classification of minerals, physical properties of minerals.
Tu 12 Sept Crystallography: constancy of interfacial angles, minerals are crystals constructed from patterns, coordinate systems for minerals: lattices, unit cells, directional indices, Miller indices.
Th 14 Sept Crystallography: symmetry operations, symmetry elements (rotation, reflection, and their combinations), crystal systems, crystal classes, Neumann's principle.
Tu 19 Sept Optical mineralogy: electromagnetic waves, refractive index, Snell's Law, critical angle.
Th 21 Sept Optical mineralogy: measurement of refractive indices, Becke lines, oblique illumination, dispersion.
Adirondack Field Trip 22-24 September
Tu 26 Sept Optical mineralogy: polarization of light, double refraction, ordinary and extraordinary rays, wave normals, ray paths, vibration directions, Snell's Law revisited.
Th 28 Sept Optical mineralogy: Birefringence, addition and subtraction of interference colors, conoscopic observation of uniaxial crystals, isogyres, isochromes, optic sign.
Tu 03 Oct Optical mineralogy: Optical indicatrix or interference figures explained, optic axes, 2V.
Th 05 Oct Optical mineralogy: Measurement of refractive indices for uniaxial minerals, use of the spindle stage.
Autumn Recess 07-10 October
Th 12 Oct Optical mineralogy: Measurement of refractive indices and other properties of biaxial minerals, procedures for identification of minerals in thin section.
Tu 17 Oct Crystallography: optical diffraction, x-ray diffraction, Bragg's law, single crystal x-ray diffraction using a Buerger precession camera.
Th 19 Oct Crystallography: x-ray diffraction by mineral powders, measuring the unit cell, calculation of Z.
Tu 24 Oct Crystal Chemistry: atoms, ions, bonding, periodic table, atomic and ionic radii, coordination numbers, coordination polyhedra, Pauling's rules, symmetrically packed structures.
Th 26 Oct Systematic Mineralogy: silicate minerals: polymerization, classification, nomenclature, mineral end members, solid solutions.
Tu 31 Oct Mineral Equilibria -- silica minerals: structure, polymorphism, displacive transformations, reconstructive transformations, stability, phase diagrams, silica minerals.
Th 02 Nov Mineral Equilibria: more on the stability of minerals, making synthetic minerals in the lab.
Tu 07 Nov Mineral Equilibria -- feldspars: chemical compositions, exsolution, twinning, Si-Al ordering.
Th 09 Nov Mineral Equilibria -- feldspars: graphical representation of chemical compositions.
GSA/MSA Meeting in Reno, NV - No Class - Tu 14, Th 16 November
Tu 21 Nov Mineral Spectroscopy: energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, calculation of mineral formulas.
Thanksgiving Recess 22-26 November
Tu 28 Nov Mineral Spectroscopy: color in minerals, gemology.
Th 30 Nov Mineral Equilibria -- micas: structures, chemical compositions, polytypism.
Tu 05 Dec Mineral Equilibria:--pyroxenes: structures, chemical compositions, polytypism.
Th 07 Dec Mineral Equilibria:--amphiboles: structures, chemical compositions, polytypism, polysomatism.
Tu 12 Dec Environmental Mineralogy: health effects of minerals, asbestos.
Th 14 Dec Everything Else!
 

 

Geology 221a - Mineralogy
Lab Schedule - Fall 2000
Th 07 Sept Field Trip: to Huntington, MA.  Mineralogy in the field.
W 13 Sept
Th 14 Sept
Crystallography: crystals, blocks, computers, and coordinate systems.
W 20 Sept
Th 21 Sept
Optical Mineralogy: refractive indices of isotropic materials.
W 27 Sept
Th 28 Sept
Optical Mineralogy: addition, subtraction, elongation, optic sign.
W 04 Oct
Th 05 Oct
Optical Mineralogy: refractive indices of uniaxial minerals.
W 11 Oct
Th 12 Oct
Optical Mineralogy: observations of biaxial minerals.
W 18 Oct
Th 19 Oct
X-ray Diffraction: experiments using the powder diffractometer.
W 25 Oct
Th 26 Oct
Solid Solutions: experiments to change mineral compositions.
W 01 Nov
Th 02 Nov
Otelia Cromwell Days - No Labs
W 08 Nov
Th 09 Nov
Mineral Synthesis: making our own minerals, EDS preparation.
W 15 Nov
Th 16 Nov
GSA/MSA Meeting in Reno, NV - No Labs
W 29 Nov
Th 30 Nov
Mineral Change/XRD: experiments with minerals, XRD results
W 06 Dec
Th 07 Dec
SEM/EDS: energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy with the electron microscope.
Thanksgiving - 26 November
W 13 Dec
Th 14 Dec
Project Completion: no new material.