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Mineralogy and costituents of rocks with laboratory 2
Module Laboratory

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: MARIA CRISTINA CAGGIANI

Expected Learning Outcomes

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.

Course Structure

Taught class; Practice exercises.

Required Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of chemistry and physics.

Attendance of Lessons

Mandatory. For working students, see the guidelines of Catania University

If the lectures will be held in mixt mode or in remote, variations could be applied. 

Detailed Course Content

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. 

OPTICS: Interactions between crystalline solids and polarized light; birifrangence; polarized light microscope (components and operating principles); polaroids; Snell law; refractive index; principles of optics phenomena and geometric optics laws. 

Textbook Information

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




AuthorTitlePublisherYearISBN
Klein C.MineralogiaZanichelli Editore
Mazzi F., Bernardini G.P. (Carobbi)Mineralogia 1 - Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallograficaUSES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Introduction to the course- Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore- Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET
2Mineralogy in the context of geosciences disciplines- Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore- Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET
3Practical exercises about minerals identification with their physical properties- Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore- Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET
4Symmetry elements, exercises with 3D models, stereographic projections- Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore- Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET
5Space groups, exercises with 3D models- Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore- Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET
6Optics, isotropic and anisotropic media, polaroids, monometric, dimetric and trimetric minerals- Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore- Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET
7Optical indicatrices- Mineralogia - Klein C. - Zanichelli Editore- Mineralogia 1 - (Carobbi) Fondamenti di cristallografia e ottica cristallografica - Mazzi F. e Bernardini G.P. - USES Ed. Scientifiche Firenze -UTET

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral and practice examination about description of the symmetry elements after the observation of 3D models. Description of optical indicatrices. 


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