Mineralogy Classes 2005
Initial Publication Date: February 9, 2007
CLASS #1: Introduction to class
Goals:· Get students oriented and explain the nature of this class
· Review basic chemistry
· Get students involved in helping to teach this class
In Class:
· Handed out and discussed Instructor's First Day Comments
· 30 minute lecture: elements, periodic chart, etc.
· Exercise1: Look at reagents and conduct weight loss/heating experiments
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 1: Elements and Minerals
· Exercise 2: Normalizing analyses
· students assigned to prepare presentations on mineral crystallization
CLASS #2: Review of chemistry
Goals:· Continue to review chemistry
· Get students comfortable with presentations and discussion
· Determine important properties used to name and identify minerals
In Class:
· Quiz
· 30 minute lecture: more on chemistry
· Three 20 minute student presentations: (1) crystallization of minerals from a magma; (2) formation of authigenic minerals in sedimentary rocks; (3) formation of metamorphic minerals
· Exercise 3: Physical properties of minerals
· Exercise 4: What's in a name? Classifying and naming minerals.
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 3: Mineral Properties
CLASS #3: Identifying minerals in hand specimen, with an X-ray machine, and with a microscope
Goals:· Be able to identify minerals
· Understand the basics principles and components of a petrographic microscope
· Be able to obtain an X-ray diffraction pattern
In Class:
· quiz
· Exercise 5: Identifying minerals and intro to microscope
· wrap-up discussion of physical properties
· 15 minute lecture: Practical X-ray diffraction
· Exercise 8: Introduction to X-rays
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 2: Crystals and Crystallization
CLASS #4: Mineral formation/growth; more mineral identification
Goals:· Be able to explain the process of crystallization
· Become more familiar with operation of the X-ray diffractometer
· Start working on first parts of the large "private mineral" project
In Class:
· 20 min discussion/wrap-up re. crystallization
· quiz
· Exercise 6: Introduction to the private mineral project and first part assigned
· Exercise 7: Aqueous Minerals
· Continue collecting X-ray scans (Exercise 8); share results
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 5: Igneous Rocks and Silicate Minerals
· finish report for Exercise 8
· clean-up and organize your lab portfolio; it should contain everything you have done, including the first part of the private mineral project
CLASS #5: Interpreting X-ray patterns; identifying dark colored igneous minerals
Goals:· Learn to interpret diffraction patterns
· Improve writing and reporting skills
· Identify patterns and systematics of crystal shapes
· Be able to identify dark colored minerals in hand specimen and in thin section
· Begin to think about learning and what it means
In Class:
· discussion of X-ray diffraction and X-ray results
· hand in lab portfolio
· quiz
· Exercise #9: A first look at crystal shapes
· 30 minute lecture: igneous minerals
· Exercise #10: Introduction to mafic minerals and to optical mineralogy
Homework Assignments:
· finish report for Exercise 10
· discuss your portfolio with TA
· follow TA's instructions and prepare an analysis of your lab portfolio and a discussion of what you have learned so far this semester and what parts of this class are working best for you.
CLASS #6: Igneous rocks and minerals; identifying light colored minerals.
Goals:· Understand the relationships between rocks and minerals
· Be familiar with mineral components of basic types of igneous rocks
· Understand why different minerals are found in different igneous rocks
· Be able to identify light colored minerals in hand specimen and in thin section
In Class:
· quiz
· 30 minute lecture: naming rocks, necessary and accessory minerals, etc.
· Exercise #11: Silicic minerals in hand specimen and thin section
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 4: Optical Mineralogy
CLASS #7: Exam #1; introduction to phase diagrams
Goals:· Successfully complete an exam
· Be able to explain the basic types of igneous phase diagrams and their implications
· Catch up on mineral identification exercises
In Class:
· First exam
· 20 minute lecture: igneous phase diagrams
· finish Exercise 11
Homework Assignments:
· Exercise 12: Plagioclase phase diagram
· Exercise 13: Diopside-Anorthite phase diagram
· find relevant phase diagrams for your private mineral and put on the disc with the photos (ask TA or instructor for help with this)
CLASS #8: Phase diagrams; igneous mineral identification
Goals:· Demonstrate understanding of phase diagrams
· Be able to identify some igneous minerals not previously examined
· Classify and identify basic crystal shapes and symmetry
In Class:
· quiz
· discuss homework
· Exercise 14: Last look at igneous minerals
· 30 minute wrap-up on optical mineralogy
· review minerals in thin sections
Homework Assignments:
· finish report on Aqueous Minerals (Exercise 7)
· Part 2 of the private mineral project
· clean-up and organize your lab portfolio; it should contain everything you have done
CLASS #9: Reflect on learning; identify sedimentary minerals and processes
Goals:· Reflect on learning in this course
· Understand why certain minerals are found in sedimentary rocks
· Be able to identify minerals common in sedimentary rocks
In Class:
· hand in lab portfolio
· 20 minute lecture: sedimentary minerals
· Exercise 15: Sedimentary Minerals
Homework Assignments:
· discuss your portfolio with TA
· follow TA's instructions and prepare an analysis of your lab portfolio and a discussion of what you have learned so far this semester and what parts of this class are working best for you.
· read chapter 6: Sedimentary Minerals and Sedimentary Rocks
CLASS #10: Different kinds of silicates; start experimental study; do some practical optical microscopy
Goals:· Understand the basic silicate classification system and relationships between different kinds of silicates
· Develop experimental skills
· Learn about the utility of optical microscopy and review basic mineral optical properties
In Class:
· quiz
· 30 minute lecture: network silicates, chain silicates, sheet silicates, etc.
· Exercise 16: alkali halide experiments
· Exercise 17: Asbestos minerals
Homework Assignments:
· finish report for Exercise 17
CLASS #11: Continue experiments; shapes of crystals
Goals:· Continue experiments
· Discover why some minerals (especially aqueous minerals) are euhedral, and some are not
In Class:
· quiz
· continue with Exercise 16
· do second part of Exercise 7 (on aqueous crystals)
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 7: Metamorphic Minerals and Metamorphic Rocks
· write report for Exercise 7
CLASS #12: Finish experiments; practical X-ray diffraction
Goals:· finish experiments and prepare a report
· discover the nature of experimental studies
· conduct a practical application of X-ray diffraction
In Class:
· quiz
· finish Exercise 16 (alkali halides)
· discuss results of alkali halide experiments
· Exercise 18: X-ray sand samples
Homework Assignments:
· Write report for Exercise 16
· Collect X-ray patterns of sand samples
CLASS #13: Practical X-ray diffraction; metamorphic minerals and introduction to thermodynamics
Goals:· finish X-ray investigations
· learn the basic principles of thermodynamics
· be able to do basic thermodynamic calculations
In Class:
· quiz
· finish Exercise 18 (sand X-rays)
· 20 minute lecture: thermodynamics
· Exercise 19: Introduction to metamorphic minerals
· Exercise 20: Phase equilibrium problem
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 8: Ore Deposits and Economic Minerals
· Write report for Exercise 18
CLASS #14: Exam 2; introduction to ore minerals
Goals:· successfully complete an exam
· be able to identify the most important ore minerals in hand specimen
In Class:
· Second exam
· Exercise 21: Ore minerals
CLASS #15: Economic minerals and mineral commodities
Goals:· Be familiar with the basics of economic mineralogy and ore minerals
· Discover the significance of different mineral commodities
In Class:
· quiz
· 30 minute lecture: economic mineralogy
· Examine and discuss selected ore minerals and ore samples
· Exercise 22: Mineral commodities
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 9: Crystal Morphology and Crystal Symmetry
CLASS #16: Introduction to symmetry
Goals:· Be able to recognize symmetry and to describe basic symmetry operations and operators
In Class:
· quiz
· 30 minute lecture: symmetry
· Exercise 23: Intro to symmetry
CLASS #17: Symmetry; mineral photography
Goals:· Learn more about symmetry
· Learn how to obtain high-quality photographs of minerals in hand specimen and in thin section
· Be able to do basic photo editing and to manipulate digital images
In Class:
· quiz
· Exercise 24: Drawing crystals of different symmetries using Shape
· Exercise 25: Photos of your private mineral
Homework Assignments:
· collate and print (thumbnail) photos you have of your private mineral; show to instructor/TA and get advice
CLASS #18: Symmetry and point groups
Goals:· Become familiar with systematics of symmetry and point groups
In Class:
· quiz
· 30 minute lecture: symmetry and crystallography
· Exercise 26: Point groups
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 10: Crystallography
CLASS #19: Symmetry, point groups, lattices, systems
Goals:· Be able to explain the systematics of symmetry and of point groups
In Class:
· quiz
· Exercise 27: Symmetry 2
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 11: Unit Cells, Points, Lines, and Planes
CLASS #20: Catch up; how to make a web page
Goals:· finish up any unfinished work
· work on next parts of private mineral assignment
· be able to make a simple web page
In Class: Catch up day
· quiz
· Exercise 28: Private mineral continued
· 20 minute lecture: how to make a web page
· get started on web pages
Homework Assignments:
· clean-up and organize your lab portfolio; it should contain everything you have done
· begin to create private mineral web page
CLASS #21: Exam 3; crystallography; reflect on learning
Goals:· successfully complete an exam
· become familiar with some of the more complicated aspects of crystallography
· continue with private mineral project
· reflect on your learning so far in this class
In Class:
· Third exam
· 20 minute lecture: crystallography
· Exercise 29: Crystallography
· Exercise 30: Private mineral X-ray
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 12: X-ray Diffraction
· discuss your portfolio with TA
· follow TA's instructions and prepare an analysis of your lab portfolio and a discussion of what you have learned so far this semester and what parts of this class are working best for you.
· continue work on web page
CLASS #22: X-ray theory; creating web pages
Goals:· (finally) comprehend the theory and principles of X-ray diffraction
· relate X-ray diffraction systematics to atomic structures
· learn to use X-ray data to derive cell parameters
· solve any web page problems
· quiz
· 45 minute lecture: the theory of X-rays and X-ray diffraction
· Exercise 31: Unknown X-ray and cell parameters
· then day off to work bugs out of webpage
Homework Assignments:
· continue work on web page
CLASS #23: Atoms in minerals
Goals:· become familiar with the ways atoms are arranged in minerals
· be able to explain the significance of Pauling's rules
· be able to add more complicated things to a web page
In Class:
· quiz
· Exercise 32: Intro to crystal structure 1
· Exercise 33: Intro to crystal structure 2
Homework Assignments:
· read chapter 13: Atomic Structure
· continue work on web page
CLASS #24: Crystal structures; rock forming minerals
Goals:· Become familiar with the basic types of mineral structures and their relationships
· Discover the relationship between mineral structures and mineral properties
· Successfully conclude web page project
In Class:
· quiz
· Exercise 34: Atomic arrangement in minerals
Homework Assignments:
· finish web page, demo for instructor/TA, modify as requested
CLASS #25: Rock forming minerals: their structure, composition and properties
Goals:· Be able to describe the structures of all important rock forming minerals
· Be able to explain compositional variations in minerals
· Develop skills and techniques needed to make high-quality posters and other graphics
In Class:
· quiz
· Exercise 35: Crystal structure 3
Homework Assignments:
· make posters for your private mineral; must be given to instructor/TA day before next class
CLASS #26: Poster presentations and gallery walk
Goals:· Be able to explain and discuss minerals in a public forum
· Integrate all that has been learned this semester
In Class:
· quiz
· Exercise 36: Private mineral gallery walk
· Final reflection on learning that occurred this semester
CLASS #27: final assessment and reflection on learning
Goals:· demonstrate comprehension and concept mastery by successfully completing an exam
In Class:
· final exam: questions handed out ahead of time