Learning objectives
1) basic principles in mineralogy and crystallography<br />
2) properties and systematics of the most common rock forming minerals
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Minerals and mineralogy. Translational symmetry, di- and tridimensional lattice; crystal systems.<br />
Morphological crystallography: Steno and Hauy laws. Miller indexing of faces and edges.The 32 point groups and possible crystal forms . The sterographic projection: theory and projection of symmetry elements. The determination of point symmetry in ideal crystals.<br />
Structural crystallography: bravais lattices and space groups. X-ray diffraction: Xray generation, continuous and discontinous radiation; the Laue experiment and the Bragg law. Powder diffraction: interpretation of powder patterns for a mineral determination.<br />
Mineralogical optical: visibile radiation in solid media. The Snell equation and the limit angle. Light behaviour in isotropic and anisotropia media. The optical indicatrix and its orientation in the different crystal systems.<br />
Crystalchemistry. The main elements in the earth crust. Cation radium and coordination polyhedra. The SiO44- tetrahedron. Pauling rules. The polymorphism: energetico and examples in minerals. Isomorphous substitutions. Phase diagrams of geological interest, with one, two, three components. Physical properties of minerale and relation with the structure.<br />
Systhematic mineralogy: main topics on the studied mineral phases. Silice minerale. Feldspars: crystal chemistry, order-disorder and phase transformations. The feldspatoids. The inosilicates: pyroxenes and amphiboles. The phyllosilicates. Micas and shale minerals. The nesosilicates: olivine and garnets. Other silicates: epidote, tourmaline, AlSi2O5 phases, zircon. The non silicates:<br />
CO32-, SO42-, PO43- groups (carbonates, sulphates and phosphates): differences with slicates and main minerale. Oxydes: cunbic and hexagonal close packing. The spinels. Sulfide minerale.<br />
The constitution and mineralogy of the mantle.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Klein C. (2004) Mineralogia, Zanichelli, Bologna<br />
Wenk H.R., Bulakh A. (2004) Minerals , theri constitution and origin, Cambridge University press, Cambridge<br />
Gottardi G., I Minerali, Boringhieri, Torino.<br />
Putnis A., Introduction to mineral sciences, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Teaching methods
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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