The primary mode of instruction will involve lectures and laboratories. Field trips will be required.
Crystallography
Basics: Definition of a mineral; Overview of mineral classes; Physical properties of minerals and how they relate to chemical properties.
Crystal structure: Governing chemical principles; Symmetry operations; Crystal systems and crystal classes; Twinning and polymorphs.
Analytical methods: Introduction to quantitative and semi-quantitative lab- and field-based analytical methods.
Systematic Mineralogy
Mineral identification and classification (silicates, sulphides, oxides, carbonates, others).
Mineral Occurrences and Associations
Introduction to various physico-chemical environments (e.g. pegmatites, sulphides, others).
After successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify the point group symmetry of a variety of crystals and crystal models and classify them into crystal systems.
- Explain the principles of translational symmetry and the chemical criteria governing the variation of crystal structure.
- Explain the most important chemical and structural characteristics of the major mineral classes.
- Describe the various physical and chemical techniques used to identify minerals.
- Identify a wide variety of rock-forming and economically important minerals in hand sample.
- Identify mineral associations and relate environment and processes to mineral occurrences.
Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will present a writtten course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:
Lecture and lab assignments, projects, homework: 10-30%
Lab exams, quizzes: 20-40%
Midterm exam: 20-25%
Final exam: 30%
Students should consult the bookstore for the latest required course materials, including textbook. This course will use:
Klein, C., Philpotts, A.; Earth Materials, Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology; Cambridge University Press, or equivalent.