Geology 2081- Mineralogy 

Homepage: http://geol.lsu.edu/dutrow/mingy
Fall 2007
Lecture:  11:10  - 12:00am T-Th; E207 Howe-Russell Bldg
Lab: 1:40  - 3:00pm T-Th; E208 Howe-Russell Bldg

Return to Home Page

Instructor: Dr. Barb Dutrow,
Room 203, Howe-Russell Building  (Old Geology)
Office hours: 3:00 - 4:00 T- Th  or by appointment
Home Page: http://geol.lsu.edu/dutrow
E-mail: dutrow@lsu.edu

TAs:     Corine Armstrong                                                                   
             201 Howe-Russell Building (Old Geology Building)                       
             Hours:   Wed. 10-noon, or by appointment
             E-mail: carmst3@lsu.edu         

            Stephanie Welch                                                 
            226 Howe-Russell Building (Old Geology Building)                       
             Hours:   Mon. 3:30 - 5:30 pm or by appointment
             E-mail:  swelch3@lsu.edu                    

Text:         Manual of Mineral Sciences, 23 Edition  (2007),  Klein and Dutrow

                Reading assignments should be completed prior to class
 
Grades: Grades will be based on a combination of lecture and laboratory tests, laboratory assignments, homework, unannounced quizzes, attendance and participation in class. There will be 3 hour exams and a  comprehensive final exam for lecture and lab (separately). Exam questions will be based on material from lectures as well as from the book.  Exams are weighted as follows:

Lecture: Exams 1 = 10%, 2 = 12%, 3 = 13%, final = 15% (total = 50%);
Lab test 1 = 8%, 2=8%, 3=10% final = 10% (total 36%)
Labs,  quizzes, attendance, etc = 14%

Letter grades will be assigned from the final numerical score based on the performance relative to the rest of the class.

Make up exams: Lecture exams will be 5 essay questions; Lab exams will be 10 questions.
No makeup quizzes
will be given.
Example lecture tests are posted on the web; self-assessment questions are posted for EACH lecture. If you complain that you don't know what to study, then you have not looked at these. These tests and questions provide a study guide.

You are required to attend class (lecture and lab). You are responsible for all material covered in class. Much of this material is not from our book and it will be difficult to do well in class without attending. Roll call may be taken.

Labs are due at the due date as given in class. For each day late, 5 points will be deducted from your score until the labs are returned. After that date, a zero is assigned. If you are going to miss lab, you must notify us prior to class time.

This class requires that you learn to speak the language of the discipline, therefore you must memorize a certain amount of fundamental material, comprehend this material to understand conceptual information,  learn to visualize information in 3D, and combine this information to understand how minerals work.

MINERALOGY

 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 you with the basis on which you will build the remaining of your geologic careers. Mineralogy is not only essential to geologists, but to all because minerals are also an integral portion of our everyday natural environment. They compose the Earth and form the Earth's substrate in which our food grows, they soften our water, they crack hydrocarbons, they cleanse hazardous wastes and they provide us with materials that bring our life above subsistence living. Consequently, it is imperative that they be understood and appreciated, even to laypersons. This is even more important now as we confront the many worldwide  environmental crises e.g. where to store hazardous wastes - in geologic respositories, how wastes interact with rocks and minerals and where to locate aquifers for vanishing groundwater resources. 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!

I have worked hard to provide you with an excellent course that will prepare you for any geologic endeavor.  I put considerable effort into the course and I expect you to also. Most of all, I love minerals and mineralogy and I hope you will too.

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.
    Please re-read this portion of your Physical Geology Book and review this material from Chemistry.

  2. Attend class
    You are required to attend class and will do much better if you do. Lecture material is derived from sources in addition to the book, and the book is often difficult to understand. Please inform me 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 and what to study. You will do well on tests if you study the old material. In addition, after each lecture self-assessment questions are posted to reinforce important concepts.

  6. TA's and Professor
    If you have questions, take advantage of 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!

Occassionally 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.

OBJECTIVES:

Enjoy !!!!!
 
Mineralogy - An Earth System's Approach

Tentative Lecture and Exam Schedule (subject to Hurricane Season)

Date Topic

You will need a 3-ring binder for lecture handouts. Bring to every lecture and lab.
Reading

Chapter (Ch)  page numbers
Lab 
Assignments due one week later
unless otherwise noted.
You must maintain a LABORATORY NOTEBOOK,
3-ring binder with all lab materials

August
 
28 Introduction - Mineralogy
(Review / reread your Introductory Text material for mineralogy);

Minerals -
What they are; as integral to the study of the Earth, as important to other fields, the history of mineralogy.

Minerals in our lives
(Chapter 1:1-17)

Self-assessment Questions.
Ch 1
1-17

Lab 1. What's in a name? or
In the Scheme of Things!
(How would you classify minerals?)

Check out weekly Earth happenings on Earthweek and Geology in the News. Learn more about careers in geology and geology at LSU.

Learn more about; minerals and gems

30
Physical Properties of Minerals

Self-assessment Questions

Homework 2: Mineralogy on the WWW
Ch 2
19-36
 Lab 2: Physical Properties

Review Rock classification;
(Review Intro Geol material)


September
 
 
4
Bonding in Crystals

You must understand electronic structure
of atoms and ions; understand the periodic table

Learn more about the periodic table,
here is a periodic table from LANL

Review Questions
Ch 3
53-65


Review:
Ch 3
p. 37 - 53
Lab 3: Bonding
6
Crystal Coordination  (Paulings Rules - all 5)

Crystal Structures; Structural variations

Examples of common crystal structures

Compositional variability in minerals

Self-assessment questions
Ch 4  67-85




Ch 5
96-99
Lab 4: Crystal Coordination 
(Exercise. 17+)

Common Structures

Compositional variability
11
Crystallographic Concepts:
Crystal Symmetry, External form


Self-assessment questions
Ch 6
109-121

121-128 optional
Lab 5: 2D Symmetry (Exercise 1), 3D symmetry of blocks

13
Crystal Axes and Systems
(review Intro Geology material also) 

 CD Rom - Module I: 

Self-assessment Questions
Ch 6
129-131

Lab 6: Determination of 3D symmetry, crystal systems;
(linkage between rotation axes and crystallographic axes)
H-M symbols

(most symmetric crystal classes)  see pg. 120
18
Crystal Symmetry: 1D, 2D
Internal Structure, order and symmetry
 
Self-assessment Questions
Ch 7
143-156
Lab 7: 3D Symmetry; HM symbols (all crystal classes )
20
Crystal Growth

 
Self-assessment Questions

Ch 7
156-168

Lab 8: Translational Symmetry
Determining Lattice types and 

Space Groups ( Exercise 10 )

 Escher patterns - check out this site for patterns  and space group

25
Physical Properties of Minerals: Growth, Color 

You will need  a mastery of material
on pgs. 38-46; know s,p,d orbitals

Visit CalTech's explanations: Color in Minerals

Self-assessment questions
Ch 10
218- 225

Color: 234-240
Lab 9: Causes of Mineral Color 

 View more Spectra of Color in Minerals
View Gems

27
LECTURE EXAM  I
(to practice - see previous year's exam)
Crystallography,
(Review Important Concepts for Test)


Lab:
Ch 13
Lab 10: Optical Mineralogy
 
Introduction to minerals under the microscope


 October
 
2
Systematic Mineralogy

Review of Earth's Structure 
Meteorites as clues

Mineralogy of the Earth's Core  

Native Elements: S, Fe, Ni
Self-Assessement Questions
Ch 5
90-96

Ch 15
331-337

minerals:
342-350
LAB EXAM I: Crystallography
4
Mineralogy via the  Earth's Mantle 
Structures of Silicate Minerals


Note: Ch 18 contains silicate structures
Ch 19 mineral descriptions - refer to both as needed
Ch 18
434-438
remainder of chpt for details

overview
p.88-89

formulae
p. 99-104
Lab 11. Calculation of mineral formulae   (Exercise  19)
Read p. 99-104 before Lab

Excel calculation

review: Compositional variation; Solid solutions


Chapter 22
Determinative
Tables
Use chapter 22 for remainder of labs for Mineral Identification
9
Upper Mantle Mineralogy and Structures: 
Olivine, Inosilicates - pyroxene

Phase diagrams (Ch. 11:245-256)

Self-Assessement Questions
Ol
439
483-487
pyx
446-450
505-510
graphs 104-108
Lab 12: ID: Native Elements, Mantle Minerals
Identify minerals, determine properties,

Look down the microscope
11
<>FAll HOLIDAY - No Class, Have fun looking at minerals!
 FAll HOLIDAY - No Class
16
Upper Mantle Mineralogy and Structures:
Inosilicates - Amphiboles
     Exsolution
in minerals



Self-Assessement Questions


Amp
452-456
514-519
exsoln
276-281


Lab 12(cont): ID: Native Elements, Mantle Minerals
answer mineral specific questions - phase diagrams


Learn more about planetary exploration, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto.
Very cool NASA images:Earth and Planet

18
Diamonds (Polymorphs)
    discussion of polymorphs
   (Hope Diamond)

Mantle Transition Zone
; minerals/ structures:   oxides and spinel structure, other oxides and structures


Diamond
85, 346-350
polys
267-276
oxides
375-389
Lab:
Ch 6: 131-142
forms

Ch 9

Lab 13: Miller Indices, forms, parameters 

Review Crystal Systems


23
Lower Mantle minerals/ structures: 
perovksite, garnet structures;
post-perovskite

Self-Assessment Questions:

Descriptive Mineralogy: Earth's Crust 

  review composition of crust
  review silicate structures/minerals

Rock types (handout, Ch 21)
Per
86-87
gar
487-490

Rocks

Chpt 5

Ch 21. 574-603

Intro material


Review previous labs

Lab 14:
Graphical representation of mineral compositions

25
Have a firm foundation of rock types and general classification

Tectosilicates:
    Qtz, Feldspars


Self-Assessment Questions:

Qtz
468-470
534-539
Fsp
470-477
539-544
Lab 15: Tectosilicates - ID
feldspars, quartz, zeolites
(review metamorphic and sedimentary rocks)
Visit Color in Quartz:
Rainbow Quartz
30
Homework:
Calculation of mineral formulae; 2 pyx geothermometry (p. 259)

No formal lecture

Use this time wisely. Come to class and review for test with you fellow classmates.




Methods:
Ch 14
Lab 16:  Analytical Methods in Mineralogy -  SEM, electron microprobe analyses; tour lab

Tectosilicates:
Calculation of mineral formulae;
Fsp calculations

November
 
1
 LECTURE EXAM 2
check out old exam

Test covers from end of Crystallography (last Test) through Mantle Minerals with an overview of the crust.

GSA Meeting


Qtz
468-470
534-539
Fsp
470-477
539-544
Lab 15 (cont): Tectosilicates - answer questions
feldspars, quartz, zeolites
(review metamorphic and sedimentary rocks)

Qtz, fsp in thin section
6

Tectosilicates:
   
    Feldspars
, feldspathoid, zeolites 

Self-Assessment Questions:
fspd
544-549
zeolites
477-482
549-553
Lab 17: Phyllosilicates, non-quad inosilicates
mica group, brittle micas, clays,
spodumene, jadeite, aegirine, 
wollastonite, glaucophane, 
8

Phyllosilicates:
   Micas,
- clays


Non-quad inosilicates

Self-Assessment Questions:
456-467
519-533

pxyd
510-514
LAB EXAM II

through tectosilicates, including Miller Indices, plotting, etc.
10 (Friday)
optional

meet at 10:45am back parking lot
Field Trip - Gold Exhibit - New Orleans

click here for 2006 Field Trip to Avery Island Salt Dome -  Cargille Industries

Click here for 2005 field trip photos

be prepared for rain and shine,
13
Nesosilicates (other than garnet and olivine)
Al-silicates, topaz, zircon, titanite, staurolite (my favorite), chloritoid

Sorosilicates

   pseudomorphs, metamict minerals

Self-Assessment Questions:
491-501





282-286

Phyllosilicates lab -
mica in thin section

15
Cyclo- silicates
   cordierite, beryl, tourmaline

Self-Assessment Questions:
502-505

226-234
Lab 18: Neso- Soro- Cyclo- silicates
Learn more about petrology of metamorphic rocks, see beautiful photomicrographs of metamorphic rocks
20
 Carbonates (sedimentary env)
(Things that microbes eat!!!)

Self-Assessment Questions:
Chpt 17
399-416
Lab 19: Carbonates, sulfates,   phosphates,
(sedimentary environments) 

22
Thanksgiving: No Class!

Happy Turkey Day!!
27
Sulfates, Phosphates, Halides,

Self-Assessment Questions:
Chpt 17
Lab 19: Review minerals
(sedimentary environments) 

29
LECTURE EXAM 3
Check out old exam
Ch 15
Ch 16
Lab 20: Sulfides, native elements, oxides, hydroxides, halides

December
 
4
Oxides, Hydroxides, sulfides, native elements




LAB EXAM 3
(Silicates, carbonates, PO4, OH)


see Mackay Silver Collections
6
Ore Deposits: Sulfides, native elements
Environmental Mineralogy

Environmental Mineralogy
Wed Dec 12
5:30-7:30pm
LECTURE  FINAL
COMPREHENSIVE
Sat Dec 15
10 - noon
LAB FINAL
COMPREHENSIVE

updated 8/24/07

Return to home

Interesting Mineralogy Links:

Mineralogical Society of America (MSA)
MSA Links
Mineralogical Association of Canada (MAC)
Mineralogy Database
Geometry games click on "Kali" and load appropriate version
CalTech Mineral Spectroscopy Server
The Mineralogical Record (Magazine)
International Mineralogical Association
            COMMISSION ON NEW MINERALS AND MINERAL NAMES
Keck Museum, Univ. of Nevada-Reno
Fersman Museum Collections
Amethyst Galleries’ Mineral Gallery
AGI Image Bank