Instructor: Prof. Barb Dutrow, Ph.D.
    Office: 203 Howe-Russell Bldg
    Office hours: 2:30 - 3:30 pm Wed; or by appointment via e-mail
    Home Page: http://www.geol.lsu.edu/dutrow
    E-mail: dutrow   (e-mail will be answered within 1 business day from 9am - 5pm M-F)
                    all emails end with lsu.edu

TAs:  Mary (Mae) Roach, M.S. Candidate             Crystal Luna, Ph.D. Candidate
          Office 203 Old Howe Russell  (West)           Office: E145 HRK (east), or 219W
          Office hours  M W 2:30 - 3:20 PM             Office hours: T - 3:30 - 4:30 (east); 9:30 - 10:30 am Th (West)
          E-mail: mroach5@                                        E-mail: cluna2@

Required Materials for class
Text:    Required: Manual of Mineral Sciences, 23ed  (2007)  Klein, C. and Dutrow, B.

•    Hard copy preferred, available at various bookstores.
•    If you are a geology major, this book is a valuable reference for future work.
•    Available on-line for limited-time access to the book at:  http://coursesmart.com/ 
•    Reading assignments should be completed prior to class. 
     Books must be brought to each lecture and lab 
  

Hand lens - Critical tool for mineral identification in hand specimen (Purchase a 10x hand lens - needed for future geology courses)

3-ring binder to organize handouts and lab materials for class   

Contract: Attendance in lecture and lab is required: Policies on grading, cell phone usage (not during class), make-up exams, etc. are given at the end of the syllabus. Please see syllabus handed out in class.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of the syllabus. To facilitate learning, weekly quizzes will be given; homework will be assigned. Due dates are given; policies for late work follow at the end of the syllabus.

Mineralogy - An Earth System's Approach

It is expected that:
(1)  students have read the chapters prior to class for the background necessary to properly learn the content and apply the concepts addressed in each lecture and lab. 

(2) students recall previously learned material in Geology 1001, 1601, including but not limited to, mineral identification, classification, rock types and occurrences, and the Earth's structure. Review the material as needed.

(3) As a general policy, for each hour you are in class, you (the student) should plan to spend at least two hours on preparing for the next class and completing homework and laboratory work outside of the classroom

Tentative Lecture and Exam Schedule
The schedule will be adjusted depending on the learning outcomes of the class, on-going Covid issues and potential hurricanes.
 (last update: 09/18/2025)

Date

Topic - Lecture 10:30 - 11:50 T - Th You will need a 3-ring binder for lecture handouts. Bring to every lecture and lab. Quizzes weekly

Reading Chapter (Ch)  page numbers

Lab : 1:30 - 2:50pm T - Th Assignments due one week later unless otherwise noted. You must maintain a LABORATORY NOTEBOOK, 3-ring binder with all lab materials

August

26	Section I: Making of minerals - crystallography Introduction to Mineralogy (Review / reread your Introductory Text material for mineralogy) Minerals - as materials, their relationship to the study of the Earth, to other fields, and some history of mineralogy. Minerals in our lives - activity Self-assessment Questions.	Ch 1 1-17	Lab 1. What's in a name? or In the Scheme of Things!  (How would you organize  minerals?)
28	Physical Properties of Minerals  - Review Self-assessment Questions	Ch 2 19-36	Lab 2: Physical Properties Review Rock classification; (Review Intro physical geology material)

September

 October

	Ch 19 begins mineral descriptions Ch 18 contains silicate structures 434-438	Chapter 22 Determinative Tables	Use chapter 22 for remainder of labs for Mineral Identification
2	Upper Mantle Mineralogy and Structures: Compositional variation in minerals: solid solution Zoning in minerals -   Olivine Self-Assessement Questions   homework on solid solutions	Ch 5 96-99 Ol 439 483-487	Start of EMP embedded research lab Examine your sample in thin section; scan your sample Lab 11.  Hand specimen ID: Native Elements, Mantle Minerals  (inosilicates, oxides, S, garnets) Identify minerals, determine properties in hand specimen
7	Diamonds (Polymorphs)     discussion of polymorphs    (Hope Diamond)	Diamond p 85, 346-350 polys 267-276	Lab 12: From chemical analyses to mineral formulae - normalizing data Read p. 99-104 before Lab Homework: Graphical representation of mineral compositions, Plotting on triangular diagrams graphs 104-108 Due Tuesday, Oct. 14, class
9	Upper Mantle Mineralogy and Structures: (cont) Inosilicates - pyroxene, amphiboles Phase diagrams (Ch. 11:245-256)      Exsolution in minerals Self-Assessement Questions	pyx 446-450 505-510 Amp 452-456 514-519 exsoln 276-281	Lab 14 : Optical mineralogy of olivine, pyroxene, amphibole; tour of EMP lab looking at your EMP section/scan
10 & 13 (F, M)	Course embedded Research – EMP lab Research Experience on the Electron Microprobe Generously supported by the Chevron Student Analytical Research Fund		Meet in E144 for your time period (bring notebook, scan, notes) Prior to your assigned time, review the assigned minerals
14	Mantle Transition Zone; minerals/ structures:  oxides and spinel structure, other oxides and structures Lower Mantle minerals/ structures:  perovksite, garnet structures; post-perovskite Self-Assessment Questions:	Ch 13, oxides 375-389 Per 86-87 gar 487-490	Lab 16: Mantle minerals - 2
16	Fall Holiday		Enjoy Minerals
21	Mineralogy of the Earth's Crust - diversity! Tectosilicates:     Quartz (and its polymorphs) Have a firm foundation of rock types and general classification - handout from class	Chpt 14 Rocks Chpt 5 Ch 21. 574-603 Qtz 468-470 534-539	Lab 17: Tectosilicates - hand specimens feldspars, quartz, zeolites (review metamorphic and sedimentary rocks   Determining Or, An, Ab contents, review triangular diagrams Visit Color in Quartz:
23	Tectosilicates: Feldspars Homework: Calculation of mineral formulae; Fsp calculations; Determining Or, An, Ab contents, review triangular diagram Self-Assessment Questions Tectosilicates: Feldspathoids, zeolites Self-Assessment Questions	Fsp 467-477 539-544 fspd 544-549 zeolites 477-482 549-553	Lab 18: Working with EMP data. EMP calculations of Research Minerals Download your data and stoichiometry spreadsheets
28	Phyllosilicates:    Micas - clay minerals - XRD flipping the lecture - read and come prepared to answer questions (di- tri octahedral; T-O, T-O-T layers) Non-quad inosilicates Self-Assessment Questions:	Phyllo: Chpt 18 456-467 Chpt 19: 519-532 non inos 509-512, 518	Lab 19: Tectosilicates - feldspars, quartz in thin section (review metamorphic and sedimentary rocks)
30	LECTURE EXAM 2 Test covers from Earth's Structure (last Test) through Mantle Minerals with an overview of the crust and tectosilicates		Lab 19: Phyllosilicates, non-quad inosilicates  Part A: Hand specimen mica group, brittle micas, clays, spodumene, jadeite, aegirine,  wollastonite, glaucophane

November

4	Plotting and analyses of research data bring portable computer to class	spd 544-549	LAB EXAM II through tectosilicates (up to what has been covered in class), including Miller Indices, plotting, etc.
6	Nesosilicates (other than garnet and olivine) Al-silicates, topaz, zircon, titanite, staurolite (my favorite), chloritoid pseudomorphs, metamict minerals Self-Assessment Questions:	Ch 18: 456-467 519-533	Lab 20: Phyllosilicates in thin section, and review of tectosilicate; bring optical handout finish optical of phyllosilicates
11	Sorosilicates,  Cyclo- silicates epidote, lawsonite, cordierite, beryl, tourmaline	Chpt 17 399-416 Chpt 16	Lab 21: Neso- Soro- Cyclo- silicates hand specimen ID; worksheet for learning properties.
13	Non-silicates:  Carbonates (sedimentary env) - flipping the lecture (Things that microbes eat!!!) Self-Assessment Questions: Sulfates, Phosphates Self-Assessment Questions:	491-501	Lab 22: Carbonates, sulfates,   phosphates (sedimentary environments)  hand specimens
18	Halides, Oxides, Hydroxides Self-Assessment Questions:	502-505 226-234 282-286	Lab 23: Optical Mineralogy of metamorphic minerals  including phyllosilicates, nesosilicates, carbonates Bring optical handout
20	LECTURE  EXAM 3 (Silicates thru Halides) (link to previous exam)	Chpt 14	Lab 24: Oxides, hydroxides, halides hand specimens (sedimentary environments)  - Sulfides, native elements (ore minerals)
25	Ore Deposits: Sulfides, native elements Environmental Mineralogy	Chpt 17	LAB EXAM 3 (Silicates, carbonates, PO4, OH)
27	Thanksgiving		Give thanks for minerals!

December

2	EMP project reports		Rewards Challenge  review
4	Minerals in your life		LAB FINAL - Comprehensive
	Final EXAM Lecture
	Final Grades Due

updated 9/18/2025

     The Earth is a geological system, and mineralogy serves as a foundation for its study. Minerals are the fundamental building blocks of the Earth. This class provides the basis for  your geologic careers. Mineralogy is not only essential to geologists, but to everyone because minerals are also an integral portion of our everyday natural environment. 

    Minerals compose the Earth and form the Earth's substrate in which our food grows; they soften our water, they cleanse hazardous wastes and they provide us with materials that bring our life above subsistence living such as aluminum, steel, and plaster board. Consequently, it is imperative that they be understood and appreciated. Mineralogy is even more important now as we confront the many worldwide environmental crises e.g. where to store high-level hazardous wastes - in geologic repositories, how wastes interact with rocks and minerals, -  where to locate aquifers for vanishing groundwater resources and the 'asbestos' problem.

    Each of us can make a difference when asked to vote on these issues and when discussing these topic with neighbors. In addition, minerals are simply beautiful to observe!

This class has been prepared to provide a foundation for your future geologic endeavor. Mineralogy is amazing and fun!

Course OBJECTIVES:

• Understand the importance of minerals to society and to the study of the Earth
• Know the properties that allow a material to be classified as a mineral
• Identify diagnostic physical properties of a mineral and, thus, be able to correctly identify several minerals in hand specimens and optically
  
• Understand the linkage between macroscopic properties and a mineral's internal structure
• Understand how to use minerals to decipher Earth's (and other planet's) geologic history and evolution.
• To help instill an attitude of life-long learning, critical thinking and becoming a citizen scientist!
  

Grading procedures:

1. The grades will be based on performance on a combination of lab and homework exercises, three lecture exams, three lab exams, final exams, homework, labs, in class quizzes and attendance.
2. For group labs, a score will be given to the group; i.e. all members of that group will receive the same score for that exercise.
3. Lab is an integral part of the class. Students will attend the entire lab period and in 2022 there may not be an opportunity to return to the lab outside of the lab period. Use it wisely and effectively. The TAs are there to assist in learning.
4. The breakdown of weighting of scores are: (subject to change if warranted).
• Lecture Exam 1 - 10%             Lab Exam 1 - 8%
• Lecture Exam 2 – 12%            Lab Exam 2 - 8%
• Lecture Exam 3 - 13%             Lab Exam 3 - 10%
• Lecture Final - 15%                Lab Final - 10%
• Group lab reports, individual in-class work, homework, and quizzes - 10%; attendance - 4%

            Letter grades will be assigned from the final numerical score based on the performance relative to the rest of the class.
            The top 25% of the 10 pt letter grade (A, B, C, D) will get a + grade; the bottom 25% gets a - grade.

    5. Students with disabilities must inform Dr. Dutrow and, if accommodations are necessary, the proper forms must be filed with Disability Service (DS) prior to the exams (see Students with Disabilities statement below). You are responsible for making arrangements for test taking with DS.

    6. Make up exams: You must notify Dr. Dutrow ahead of time if you are missing a test. Any make-up exams need to be taken within a week of the original         exam date. All makeup exams are essay-type questions. Lecture exams will be 5 essay questions; Lab exams will be 10 questions. You may only miss one test and take a makeup.

    7. Any grade appeals of exams 1, 2, 3 must be made to Dr. Dutrow within a week of the exam return date. Any final grade appeals must be done within two weeks of the day that grades are due at the end of the semester.

    8. For each weekday (exclusive of vacation days) in which an assignment is late, 10% will be subtracted from the total score possible on the assignment. For example, if an assignment is two days late and the student received an 80% on the assignment, the score adjusted for late penalty will be 64% (i.e. 80% possible * 0.8) until the exercises are returned. After that date, a zero is assigned.

    9. If there are issues of concern involving other students, the teaching assistants or the instructor, the concerned student should first contact the appropriate authority within the Department (TA, instructor or Chair of the Department, respectively). If the issue is not resolved at the local level the LSU Office of the Dean of Students has a web page on Complaints & Appeals: http://students.lsu.edu/deanofstudents/students/complaints-appeals and LSU Cares page: http://www.lsu.edu/students/saa/lsu-cares/index.php

Class Policies:
            Attendance: Mandatory. If you are going to be absent, you must notify Prof. Dutrow ahead of time for an excused absence.

            Makeup quizzes: None will be given.

            Cell Phones: No cell phone use is permitted during class. If you use your cell phone, you will be asked to leave class.
                Class is a concentrated study time, if you are on your phone, you are distracted.
                During lab, you must ask permission to use the cell phone for photography of minerals through the microscope
          
             Example lecture tests are posted on the web; self-assessment questions are posted for EACH lecture. These tests and questions provide a study guide.
               You are responsible for all material covered in class and assigned as reading material

            Labs are due at the due date as given in class. If you are going to miss lab, you must notify Prof. Dutrow prior to class time.

Here are some helpful hints to make Mineralogy easier and more fun!

1. Review and Know Introductory Material in Physical Geology and Chemistry
   Class requires that you have a full knowledge of the rocks and minerals section of your Introductory Geology text. Reread that material. You must also have a working knowledge of introductory Chemistry, especially  elements and the periodic table. 
2. Attend class
   You are required to attend class. Lecture material is derived from sources in addition to the book. To get an excused absence, you need to inform Dr. Dutrow prior to class if you are going to be absent from class and get the notes from a friend.
   


3. Lab
   You are required to attend lab and to remain in lab the entire 1.5 hrs each session. During this time, there is always someone available to help and answer questions! Lab assignments reinforce lecture material and aid in comprehension. They should be thoroughly understood.
   


4. Syllabus - Read what is listed.
   The syllabus is available on the web. Refer to it for any updates to material and follow the reading assignments.
   


5. Tests and Self-assessment Questions
   Old tests are posted on the website so that all of you have access to previous tests. Working through these tests is a terrific study guide and will help you tremendously in the course. They help you know how I test. Self-assessment questions are posted to reinforce important concepts for each lecture.
   


6. TAs and Professor
   If you have questions, ask the T.A.s and the Professor. Feel free to make an appointment to see the professor, the TA or come during office hours.
   


7. Enjoy the material!
   
Occasionally there will be a lecture during lab time and lab during lecture. Reading assignments should be completed prior to the class period as they serve as supplemental material. Bring your questions to class.

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1. accept responsibility for my actions;
2. hold myself and others to the highest standards of academic, personal, and social integrity;
3. practice justice, equality, and compassion in human relations;
4. respect the dignity of all persons and accept individual differences;
5. respect the environment and the rights and property of others and the University;
6. contribute positively to the life of the campus and surrounding community;
7.  and use my LSU experience to be an active citizen in an international and interdependent world.