Bachelor's Degree in Geological Sciences
Academic Year 2017/2018 - 1° Year
MINERALOGIA E COSTITUENTI DELLE ROCCE CON LABORATORIO
Teaching Staff
ROSALDA PUNTURO - Module MIneralogy and Laboratory - GEO/07 - 6 CFUOffice: Corso Italia, 57
Phone: +390957195757
Office Hours: da lunedi a venerdi 10-13 su appuntamento
Office: Palazzo Ramondetta / Corso Italia 57
Phone: 0957195752
Office Hours: da lunedì a venerdì - ore 10:00-13:00 su appuntamento
Office: Sezione Scienze della Terra, Corso Italia, 55, Catania
Phone: 0957195743
Office Hours: Martedì dalle 11 alle 13 e Giovedì dalle 9 alle 11
Learning Objectives
- MIneralogy and Laboratory
The module aims to provide the students with: a basic understanding of the minerals and of the factors that influence their genesis and stability; the ability to understand basic mineralogical data and the specific terminology; skills in the application of the acquired knowledge for the purposes of recognition, analysis and description of the minerals of main petrographic and environmental interest.
- Mineralogy Laboratory
Macroscopic and microscopic identification of minerals, on the basis of the physical properties. Knowledge of the most common analytical techniques Skill: ability to use optical properties to determine mineral species; to understand the basic functions of the polarizing microscope. Ability to read the manuals with mineral data. Preparation of a report based on thin sections observation.
Detailed Course Content
- MIneralogy and Laboratory
INTRODUCTION Role of mineralogy in Earth Sciences. Definition of mineral. Crystalline and amorphous state. Isotropy and anisotropy. Melting and solidification of crystalline and amorphous solids. DESCRIPTIVE MINERALOGY Main physical properties of minerals. State of aggregation: aggregates, associations, twins. Crystal habit. CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Crystal morphology and symmetry. Fundamental laws. Miller indices. Crystal forms. Point groups. Crystal groups and systems. Principles of structural crystallography. Planes lattices. Space lattices and unit cell. The 14 Bravais lattices. Outline of the space groups. CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY Chemical bonds in the crystal structures. Atomic and ionic radius. Ion coordination. Polyhedra and coordination numbers. Pauling's rules. Crystal structure. Isostructuralism. Mineral formulas. Isomorphism and solid solutions. Crystallization of solid solutions: binary systems with complete and partial miscibility in the solid state. MINEROGENESIS Mineral nucleation. Crystal growth. Magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary processes. Mineral stability. Polymorphism. Postcrystallization processes. MINERAL SYSTEMATICS Mineral classification. Silicates: compositional and structural characteristics of the main subclasses, families and species. General characteristics and main species of the following classes: carbonates, oxides, hydroxides, halides, sulfates, sulfides, native elements. Genesis, stability, distribution and geological paragenetic association of the main minerals of petrographic and petrological interest. Overview on specific minerals of environmental and industrial interest. Introduction to X rays and their application to mineralogy.
- Mineralogy Laboratory
INTRODUCTION Role of mineralogy in Earth Sciences. Definition of mineral. Crystalline and amorphous state. Isotropy and anisotropy. DESCRIPTIVE MINERALOGY Main physical properties of minerals. State of aggregation: aggregates, associations, twins. Crystal habit. CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Crystal morphology and symmetry. Fundamental laws. Miller indices. Crystal forms. Point groups. Crystal groups and systems. Principles of structural crystallography. Planes lattices. Space lattices and unit cell. The 14 Bravais lattices. Outline of the space groups. Crystal structure. MINERAL SYSTEMATICS Mineral classification. Silicates: compositional and structural characteristics of the main subclasses, families and species. General characteristics and main species of the following classes: carbonates, oxides, hydroxides, halides, sulfates, sulfides, native elements. Genesis, stability, distribution and geological paragenetic association of the main minerals of petrographic and petrological interest.
Textbook Information
- MIneralogy and Laboratory
Klein C. - Mineralogia, Zanichelli.
Lo Giudice A. - Guida al corso di Mineralogia e costituenti delle rocce con laboratorio. www3.unict.it/idgeg/MATERIALE DIDATTICO.htm. - Mineralogy Laboratory
1. Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore
2. Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET
3. Minerals - Wenk H.R. & Bulakh A. - Cambridge University Press Ed.
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