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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

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