Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
2500254 Geology | OB | 2 | A |
Some knowledge of Geology at a basic level like that of a 1st year of the Geology Degree is required, particularly of Crystallography and Chemistry.
1. Basic concepts of Mineralogy, mineral classification and mineral genesis.
2. Crystallochemistry and crystallophysics: structure, properties and mineral study techniques.
-Chemical bonds, coordination, structures. Pauling rules. Spatial symmetry.
-Crystal morphology. Growth, habit, twinning, isomorphism. Crystal defects.
-Basics of X Ray diffraction and fluorescence.
-Physical properties of minerals. Cleavage, hardness, streak, color, luster. Luminescence and piezo- and pyro-electricity.
-Optical properties of minerals. Light and electromagnetic waves. Refraction index, polarization, Optical indicatrix. Pleocroism
-Mineral chemistry. Analytic techniques. Calculus of structural formula. Graphic representation of mineral composition. Mineral stability
3. Systematic description of minerals.
-Silicates: introduction and classification.
Tectosilicates. Silica group. Feldspars. Feldspatoids. Zeolites.
Phyllosilicates. Micas. Chlorites. Serpentines. Clay minerals.
Inosilicates. Pyroxenes and pyroxenoides. Amphiboles.
Sorosilicates. Epidote group.
Ciclosilicates. Beryl, cordierite, tourmaline.
Nesosilicates. Olivine group. Garnet group. Aluminosilicates.
-Carbonates. Borates. Sulfates. Wolframates and molibdates.
-Phosphates. Arsenates and vanadates.
-Oxides and hydroxides.
-Halides
-Sulfides and sulfosalts.
-Native elements.
4. Applied mineralogy. Gems, cements. Minerals and health. Nanomineralogy.
5. Mineral identification in hand sample.
6. Mineral identification under the transmitted light microscope.
Theoretical sessions of 50 minutes each are programmed. The basic information is provided to students so that they can understand the content of the course. Besides, the graphic material used in class will also be provided though the Virtual Campus.
Practical sessions of 110 minutes each are progammed in the Microscopy Lab (C2/-160.1). The first ones are focused on mineral identification on hand samples with the aid of simple physical properties. Transmitted light microscopes will be used on the second part of the course; the principal rock-forming minerals will be identified. The teachers will share mineral identification tables in order to facilitate learning.
A one day field trip is also programmed with the course. It will serve to recognize minerals in nature and to comprehend their genesis.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Field work | 7 | 0.28 | 2, 5 |
Practical classes | 38 | 1.52 | 7, 4, 5, 9, 8 |
Theoretical classes | 39 | 1.56 | 2, 1, 3, 6, 9 |
Type: Supervised | |||
Group tutory | 6.5 | 0.26 | 8 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Study and tasks | 147.5 | 5.9 | 2, 7, 9, 8 |
The competences and knowledge acquired in the theoretical and practical sessions will be evaluated separately.
Theoretical part: it will be graded with 4 partial exams, that could be re-taken at the end of the course. These exams correspond to the following parts: Crystallochemistry, Optical mineralogy, Structural Formulas and Descriptive and applied mineralogy. The final grade of the theoretical part will be calculated according to the following weights: 30% Crystallochemistry, 20% Optical mineralogy, 15% Structural Formulas and 35% Descriptive and applied mineralogy, whenever a minimum of 3,5 (over 10 points) have been obtained in each partial exam. The final re-taking exam is programmed by the Faculty and advertised in its web page.
Practical part: 4 partial exams will be prepared, one for each set of pratical sessions, plus another one on the field trip. The weight of the different exams is: 10% mineral properties on hand samples, 30% mineral identification on hand sample, 15% mineral properties on the transmitted light microscope, 35% mineral identification under the transmitted light microscope, 10% field exam. It is necessary to obtain a minimum of 3,5 (over 10 points) in order to calculate the average grade. All these exams could be re-taken on the date indicated by the teachers at the end of all practical sessions.
If an exam is re-taken but the grade obtained is worst, the grade will be averaged with the previous one of that part.
The final grade of Mineralogy will be obtained from the average of theory (50%) and practical (50%) grades.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Practical Exams (4 + field exam) | 50% of the final mark | 6 | 0.24 | 2, 7, 4, 5, 9, 8 |
Theoretical exams: 4 parts | 50% of the final mark | 6 | 0.24 | 2, 1, 7, 3, 6, 9 |
PUTNIS, A. (1992).- Introduction to Mineral Science. Cambridge University Press.
KLEIN, C. i HURLBUT, C.S. (1999).- Manual of Mineralogy (Revised 21st Edition). Wiley.
F.D. BLOSS (1994).- Introducción a los métodos de Cristalografía óptica. Omega.
MATA, J.M. (1988).- Guía d’identificació de minerals. Parcir. Manresa
WENK, H-R. i BULAKH, A. (2003).- Minerals. Their Constitution and Origin. Cambridge University Press.
http://www.uned.es/cristamine/inicio.htm
No specific software is necessary.