Geology 2081- Mineralogy

Fall 2011
Lecture:  11:10  - 12:00am T-Th; E207 Howe-Russell Bldg
Lab: 1:40 - 3:00pm T-Th; E208, E202 Howe-Russell Bldg

Return to Home Page

Instructor: Dr. Barb Dutrow,
    Room 203, Howe-Russell Building  (Old Geology)
    Office hours: 2:30-3:30pm W; anytime by  appointment
    Home Page: http://www.geol.lsu.edu/dutrow
    E-mail: dutrow@lsu.edu

TAs:  Philip Bergeron,  Head TA                                                 
            205 Howe-Russell Building (Old Geology Building)                       
             Hours:  1:30 - 2:30 M, 3:00 - 4:00 Th
             E-mail:  pberge1@tigers.lsu.edu      

             Corey Shircliff                                                    
             112D Howe-Russell Building (Old Geology Building)                       
             Hours: 10:00-11:00 W, 12:00-1:00 Th 
             E-mail: cshircl1@tigers.lsu.edu

Text:    Manual of Mineral Sciences, 23ed  (2007),  Klein. C. and Dutrow, B. Required
             Available at various bookstores, or a limited time access to on-line book is available at:
             http://coursesmart.com/ 

             Reading assignments should be completed prior to class
 

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 the basis on which you will build the remaining of 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 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. Mineralogy 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!

This class has been prepared with you in mind and to assist you on your future geologic endeavor. Our efforts into this course are considerable, we expect the same of you. Most of all, we love minerals and mineralogy and  hope you will too.

Course 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
 
23 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

25
Physical Properties of Minerals

Self-assessment Questions

Homework 1: Mineralogy on the WWW
Ch 2
19-36
Lab 2: Physical Properties

Review Rock classification;
(Review Intro Geol material)


30
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

September
 
 
1
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. 3)

Introduction to CrystalMaker

Common Structures

Compositional variability - solid solution
6
Crystallographic Concepts:
Crystal Symmetry, External form


Self-assessment questions
Ch 6
109-121

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

8
Crystal Axes and Systems
(review Intro Geology material also) 

 CD Rom - Module I: 

Self-assessment Questions
Ch 6
129-131

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

H-M symbols
(most symmetric crystal classes)  see pg. 120
13
Crystal Symmetry: 1D, 2D, 3D
Internal Structure, order and symmetry
 
Self-assessment Questions
Ch 7
143-156
Lab 7: 3-D Symmetry
HM symbols (all crystal classes)
15
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
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

22
LECTURE EXAM  I
(to practice - see previous exam)

Crystallography through Crystal Growth
(Review Important Concepts for Test)



Lab 9: 

27
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 10: Optical Mineralogy
 
Introduction to minerals under the microscope

Solid Solution
29
Mineralogy of the  Earth's Mantle 
Structures of Silicate Minerals


Note: Ch 18 contains silicate structures
Ch 19 mineral descriptions - refer to both as needed
Lab:
Ch 13

Ch 18
434-438
remainder of chpt for details

overview
p.88-89

formulae
p. 99-104
LAB EXAM I: Crystallography

RM E131

Be there on time!


 October
 


Chapter 22
Determinative
Tables
Use chapter 22 for remainder of labs for Mineral Identification
4
Upper Mantle Mineralogy and Structures: 
Olivine, Inosilicates - pyroxene

Phase diagrams (Ch. 11:245-256)
Zoning in minerals

Self-Assessement Questions
Ol
439
483-487
pyx
446-450
505-510
graphs 104-108
Lab 11.Calculation of mineral formulae (Exercise 19)
Read p. 99-104 before Lab

Excel calculation

review: Compositional variation; Solid solutions,

and  Graphical representation of mineral compositions



6
Upper Mantle Mineralogy and Structures:
Inosilicates - Amphiboles
     Exsolution
in minerals



Self-Assessement Questions


Amp
452-456
514-519
exsoln
276-281



Lab 13: Miller Indices, forms, parameters 


Prior to lab: Review Crystal Systems, HM symbols

11
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 12: ID: Native Elements, Mantle Minerals
Identify minerals, determine properties,

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

13
Fall Holiday - no class

Enjoy Minerals!
18

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

Self-Assessment Questions:


Per
86-87
gar
487-490

Lab 14 : Optical mineralogy olivine, pyroxene, amphibole

Identify minerals, determine properties,

Homework: answer specific questions

20
Lower Mantle minerals/ structures: 
perovksite, garnet structures;
post-perovskite

Self-Assessment Questions:

Have a firm foundation of rock types and general classification

Tectosilicates:
    Qtz, Feldspars


Self-Assessment Questions:

Rocks

Chpt 5

Ch 21. 574-603

Intro material
Lab 15: Tectosilicates - ID
feldspars, quartz, zeolites
(review metamorphic and sedimentary rocks)

Visit Color in Quartz:
Rainbow Quartz

Homework:
Calculation of mineral formulae;
Fsp calculations

25
LECTURE EXAM 2
check out old exam

Test covers from end of Crystallography (last Test) through Mantle Minerals with an overview of the crust and tectosilicates that we cover.
Qtz
468-470
534-539
Fsp
470-477
539-544

Rainbow Quartz

Lab 16: Tectosilicates - answer questions
feldspars, quartz, zeolites
(review metamorphic and sedimentary rocks)

Qtz, fsp in thin section

CrystalMaker Lab
27

Tectosilicates:
   
    Feldspars
, feldspathoid, zeolites 

Self-Assessment Questions:
fspd
544-549
zeolites
477-482
549-553
LAB EXAM II

through tectosilicates, including Miller Indices, plotting, etc.

November
 
1

Phyllosilicates:
   Micas,
- clays


Non-quad inosilicates
Self-Assessment Questions:

456-467
519-533

pxyd
510-514
Lab 17: Phyllosilicates, non-quad inosilicates
mica group, brittle micas, clays,
spodumene, jadeite, aegirine, 
wollastonite, glaucophane, 
3
Nesosilicates (other than garnet and olivine)
Al-silicates, topaz, zircon, titanite, staurolite (my favorite), chloritoid

Self-Assessment Questions:
491-501







Lab 18: Neso- Soro- Cyclo- silicates
Learn more about petrology of metamorphic rocks,

see beautiful photomicrographs of metamorphic rocks
to be decided
Field Trip - Houston Museum of Natural Science
Mineral and Gem Hall


2008 Field Trip to Houston's Museum of Natural Science - Mineral Exhibit

2007 Field Trip - Gold Exhibit - New Orleans

2006 Field Trip to Avery Island Salt Dome -  Cargille Industries

2005 field trip photos


8
Sorosilicates, Cyclo- silicates
epidote, lawsonite, cordierite, beryl, tourmaline

pseudomorphs, metamict minerals

Self-Assessment Questions:
502-505

226-234

282-286
Lab 18: Neso- Soro- Cyclo- silicates
Learn more about petrology of metamorphic rocks,

see beautiful photomicrographs of metamorphic rocks
10
 Carbonates (sedimentary env)
(Things that microbes eat!!!)

Self-Assessment Questions:

Lab 19: Carbonates, sulfates,   phosphates
(sedimentary environments) 


15
Sulfates, Phosphates,

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

17
Halides, Oxides, Hydroxides Chpt 17 Lab 20: Oxides, hydroxides, halides
(sedimentary environments) 
22
LECTURE  EXAM 3
(Silicates thru Halides)
(link to previous exam)

Chpt 14 Lab 21: Sulfides, native elements (ore minerals)
see Mackay Silver Collections
24
Happy Thanksgiving - no class

Happy Thanksgiving!
29
Oxides, Hydroxides Chpt 14 LAB EXAM 3
(Silicates, carbonates, PO4, OH)

RM E-130

December
 
1
Ore Deposits: Sulfides, native elements
Environmental Mineralogy

Environmental Mineralogy
6
10:00 - noon
LECTURE  FINAL
COMPREHENSIVE
7
10:00 - noon


LAB FINAL
COMPREHENSIVE

updated 10/18/2011

Return to home

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.  Roll will be taken and absences noted.

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, and the Earth, work.

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. Lecture material is derived from sources in addition to the book. To get an excused absence, you need to inform Dr. Dutrow 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!

  8. 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.
Interesting and Useful 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
Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
webmineral.com