Learning objectives
Learn the basics about minerals and environment, identify the most suitable techniques to analyse real case studies.
Prerequisites
Basic mineralogy and chemistry
Course unit content
The course will address several issues concerning minerals, their relationship with the surrounding environment, and humans. In particular, it will cover concepts on industrial minerals such as cements, ceramics, synthetic, and technological minerals. The course will also discuss asbestos minerals, mining sector waste, industrial and domestic waste, the use of minerals and rocks in buildings, monuments, and other anthropogenic artifacts, and the dispersion of airborne particles. There will also be an overview of the recovery of critical elements.
Full programme
INDUSTRIAL MINERALS AND ROCKS: Classification of Industrial Minerals (geological, economic, industrial)
GEOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF MINERALS AND ROCKS: Definition of mineral, definition of rock, main rock-forming minerals, rock structure and texture
ROCKS AS CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND RELATED TYPES: Rock classification, macroscopic and microscopic rock identification, the polarized light microscope
MATERIAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES: X-ray diffraction, principles, operation, and identification of crystalline phases
CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS: Definitions, binders, aggregates, cement hydration phases, setting and hardening reactions of cement
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, METHODOLOGIES, AND COMMON TECHNICAL TESTS ON INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS: Specific gravity, grain size, porosity, absorption capacity, permeability, melting point, thermal conductivity, thermal insulators, fire resistance, compressive, tensile, flexural, shear, impact, wear resistance, hardness
ASBESTOS: Asbestos in history, legislation, fibrous materials, asbestos minerals, uses of asbestos, asbestos-related diseases, asbestos-containing materials (ACM), remediation methods
ATMOSPHERIC PARTICULATE MATTER: Definition of air pollution, pollutants, causes of pollution, particulate matter analysis techniques, examples of biomonitoring
CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS: What they are and where to find CRMs, the reuse cycle, the concept of urban mining, waste, reuse of incinerator slag
ZEOLITES: Definitions and nomenclature, natural genesis and synthesis, properties of zeolites, applications
GEMS AND GEMOLOGY: Definition and characteristics of gems, origin of gems, diamonds, colored gems, organic gems
CERAMIC MATERIALS: Definition, traditional and advanced ceramics, ceramic raw materials, forming, drying and firing, ceramic coatings
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING TECHNIQUES: Raman spectroscopy, principles and practical tests, introduction and review
Field trips are planned to observe environmental mineralogy case studies in the field.
Bibliography
PPT presentation on Elly
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings):
Environmental Mineralogy, 2000/2012, Eds. David J. Vaughn and Roy A. Wogelius. EMU Notes in Mineralogy, 2. Eotvos University Press, Budapest.
Mineralogia, 2004, di Cornelis Klein, ed. Zanichelli
Teaching methods
lesson
- discussion of real case studies
- laboratory exercise
- in-depth seminars
- educational outings
Assessment methods and criteria
The exams will be organized FACE-TO-FACE. Should the health emergency persist, the exams will be carried out remotely in the same way as the face-to-face exams. In the case of remote mode, the Teams platform will be used.
The exam includes:
presentation of a power point paper on a topic related to the course previously shared with the teacher. The language used must be that of a scientific communication addressed also to non-specialist interlocutors.
