Learning objectives
The first part of the course points to the Dublin Descriptor n° 1: Yield clear and precise definitions and concepts in analytical therminology, both in Earth Sciences, Chemistry and Phisics, giving also hints to understand more complec concepts. The main body of the course is focused on the Dublin Descriptor n° 2: knowledge and applied abilities: explaining the fundamental techniques employed in the petrology and geochemistry field of earth sciences, highlighting specifically those usually employed in igneous and metamorphic processes. Analyitical errors and their implications on the foregoing petrological modeling. Older and newer techniques will be presented, with a special focus on the perfomed improvements. A brief overview of analytical techniques applied in forensic geology
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the base concepts of inorganic chemistry and general mineralogy; systematic mineralogy as for silicates and oxides normally occurring in rocks. Knowledge of the employment of the optical transmitted light mineralogy microscope. Basic knowledge on physics, as for electromagnetic waves. Knowledge of the basis of the inorganic chemistry.
Course unit content
1. Scientific terminology
2. crystal chemical formula: meaning, how to write it and its implications
3. sampling and sampling techniques
4. rock samples handling
5. mineral separation
6. Analysis of volatile components
7. analysis of elements which occur in different redox state
8. X-rays
9. X-ray diffraction
10. Diffraction techniques
11. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
12. Outlines on handable XRF spectrometer
13. Outlines on microfluorescenze spectrometry
14. Outlines on other analytical techniques on unmodified rock samples
15. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
16. Electron Probe MicroAnalysis (EPMA)
17. Point microchemical elemental analyses (SEM-EDS and EPMA-WDS)
18. petrologic implication on performed whole-rock and mineral poin analysis
19. outlines about grain size and morphometric analysis on sediments, performed by SEM
20. outlines about automatized modal analyses performed by SEM
21. Outlines about high Energy techniques (PIXE, micro-PIXE, XANES, XRD with “sycntrothron light”
Full programme
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Bibliography
FUNDAMENTALS
Armigliato A. & Valdrè U. (1982): Microscopia elettronica a scansione e microanalisi – parte I. Università degli Studi di Bologna, 411 pp. Of interest: capp. 1, 2, 3.
Armigliato A. & Valdrè U. (1982): Microscopia elettronica a scansione e microanalisi – parte II. Università degli Studi di Bologna, 356 pp. Of interest: capp. 1, 2, 3.
Bonissoni G. (1977): introduzione alla spettrometria dei raggi X di fluorescenza. ETAS Libri, 245 pp. Of interest: capp. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Currie L.A. (1995): Nomenclature in evaluation of analytical methods including detection and quantification limits. Pure & Appl. Chem., 67(10): 1699-1723.
Hutchinson C.S. (1974): laboratory handbook of petrographic techniques. Wiley, 527 pp.
Horwitz W. (1990): Nomenclature for sampling in analytical chemistry. Pure & Appl. Chem., 62(6): 1193-1208.
Potts P.J. (1992) A Handbook of silicate rock analysis. Springer, 622 pp. Of interest: capp. 1, 2, 10, 11, 20.
Potts P.J. (1997): A glossary of terms and definitions used in analytical chemistry. Geostandard Newsletters, 21(1): 157-161.
Salvioli Mariani E. (2005): microscopia elettronica a scansione e microanalisi. Notes from lectures.
TO DEEPEN SOME TOPICS
AA.VV.: Intensità delle radiazioni X diffratte. Appunti dalle lezioni (Roma).
XRF portatile applicata a superfici policrome. Nardini editore, 161 pp. Of interest: part I.
Seccaroni C. & Moioli P. (2002): Fluorescenza X – prontuario per l’analisi
Droop. G.T.R. (1987): A general equation for estimating Fe3+ concentrations in ferromagnesian silicates and oxides from microprobe analyses, using stoichiometric criteria. Mineralogical Magazine, 51: 431-435.
Teaching methods
Lectures will be yielded alternating, as often as possible, theoretical lectures in the classrooms and laboratory lectures, together with specific seminars. In the first part of the course, the theoretical topics will prevail on the laboratory lectures, but on the way these last will be progressively intensified, in a way to make easier to the students to undertand and keep the basic concepts of the techniques, and to go deep in some topic with the help of specialized technicians. Slides of the lectures will be available on the personal website of the professor, at the end of each topic.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, thought in a way to perform all the Dublin descriptors. descriptor n° 4: communication skills. Dealing with an oral exam, this goal is clearly performed. Dublin descriptor n° 1: the exam always starts with a question on fundamental definitions in analyitical chemistry, in petrology and in geochemistry. Later on, the second question is about a complex technique (Dublin descriptor n° 2). All the esams will end with a more complex question, asking a student to choose one or more techniques to solve a petrological or geochemical problem (Dublin descriptors n° 3 and 5). The praise will be given to those student who demonstrate ability of facing with petrological and geochemical problems going a bit forward respect to the concepts explained during the course.
Other information
At least 2 trips will be performed, towards highly performing laboratories in Northern Italy: Earth Sciences Department "Ardito Desio"; Milan, equipped with Electron Probe MicroAnalysis (EPMA) and experimental petrology lab, for high P, T experiments; linear particle accelerator equipped with micro-PIXE line/detector, in LNL Leganro (PD).
Project to visit Elettra Syncrotron in Trieste
