MINERALOGIA E COSTITUENTI DELLE ROCCE CON LABORATORIO

Learning Objectives

• Mineralogy Laboratory

  Macroscopic and microscopic identification of minerals, on the basis of the physical properties. Knowledge of the most common analytical techniques Skill: ability to use optical properties to determine mineral species; to understand the basic functions of the polarizing microscope. Ability to read the manuals with mineral data. Preparation of a report based on thin sections observation.

Detailed Course Content

• MIneralogy and Laboratory

  INTRODUCTION Role of mineralogy in Earth Sciences. Definition of mineral. Crystalline and amorphous state. Isotropy and anisotropy. Melting and solidification of crystalline and amorphous solids. DESCRIPTIVE MINERALOGY Main physical properties of minerals. State of aggregation: aggregates, associations, twins. Crystal habit. CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Crystal morphology and symmetry. Fundamental laws. Miller indices. Crystal forms. Point groups. Crystal groups and systems. Principles of structural crystallography. Planes lattices. Space lattices and unit cell. The 14 Bravais lattices. Outline of the space groups. CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY Chemical bonds in the crystal structures. Atomic and ionic radius. Ion coordination. Polyhedra and coordination numbers. Pauling's rules. Crystal structure. Isostructuralism. Mineral formulas. Isomorphism and solid solutions. Crystallization of solid solutions: binary systems with complete and partial miscibility in the solid state. MINEROGENESIS Mineral nucleation. Crystal growth. Magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary processes. Mineral stability. Polymorphism. Postcrystallization processes. MINERAL SYSTEMATICS Mineral classification. Silicates: compositional and structural characteristics of the main subclasses, families and species. General characteristics and main species of the following classes: carbonates, oxides, hydroxides, halides, sulfates, sulfides, native elements. Genesis, stability, distribution and geological paragenetic association of the main minerals of petrographic and petrological interest. Overview on specific minerals of environmental and industrial interest. Introduction to X rays and their application to mineralogy.

• Mineralogy Laboratory

  INTRODUCTION Role of mineralogy in Earth Sciences. Definition of mineral. Crystalline and amorphous state. Isotropy and anisotropy. DESCRIPTIVE MINERALOGY Main physical properties of minerals. State of aggregation: aggregates, associations, twins. Crystal habit. CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Crystal morphology and symmetry. Fundamental laws. Miller indices. Crystal forms. Point groups. Crystal groups and systems. Principles of structural crystallography. Planes lattices. Space lattices and unit cell. The 14 Bravais lattices. Outline of the space groups. Crystal structure. MINERAL SYSTEMATICS Mineral classification. Silicates: compositional and structural characteristics of the main subclasses, families and species. General characteristics and main species of the following classes: carbonates, oxides, hydroxides, halides, sulfates, sulfides, native elements. Genesis, stability, distribution and geological paragenetic association of the main minerals of petrographic and petrological interest.

Textbook Information

• MIneralogy and Laboratory

  Klein C. - Mineralogia, Zanichelli.
  Lo Giudice A. - Guida al corso di Mineralogia e costituenti delle rocce con laboratorio. www3.unict.it/idgeg/MATERIALE DIDATTICO.htm.

• Mineralogy Laboratory

  1. Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore

  2. Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET

  3. Minerals - Wenk H.R. & Bulakh A. - Cambridge University Press Ed.