Petrography and elements of mineralogy

In accordance with the Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to the acquisition of the following transversal skills:

Knowledge and understanding:

Inductive and deductive reasoning skills.

Ability to schematize a natural phenomenon in qualitative and quantitative terms, with reference to minerals as rock constituents.

Ability to formulate a problem relating to the occurrence and identification of minerals using appropriate relationships between chemical and physical quantities and to solve it with analytical methods.

Ability to apply knowledge:

Ability to apply acquired knowledge to the description of natural phenomena, with particular reference to minerals, rigorously using the scientific method.

Ability to recognize minerals based on their properties and identify their occurrences in nature.

Making independent judgments:

Critical reasoning skills.

Ability to identify the most appropriate methods for critically analyzing, interpreting, and processing experimental data.

Ability to evaluate the accuracy of measurements, sensitivity, and selectivity of the techniques used.

Communication Skills:

Ability to describe a scientific topic orally, using appropriate language and terminology, illustrating rationale and results.

Ability to describe a scientific topic in writing, using appropriate language and terminology, illustrating rationale and results.

Learning Skills

Ability to read, understand, and critically analyze scientific texts and topics, with particular reference to mineralogy and petrography.

Independently learn new scientific topics necessary for further study.

https://www.dsbga.unict.it/it/corsi/l-32/regolamento-didattico

The first part of the laboratory course covers the basics of mineralogy, while the second focuses on the recognition of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks in the context of petrogenetic processes.

Part One. Definition of a mineral. The crystalline solid state. Physical properties of minerals and their recognition and identification.

Crystal chemistry: Bonds in crystal structures. Morphological crystallography: Symmetry, elements of symmetry with morphological crystallography exercises on crystal models. Structural crystallography: The crystal lattice. Crystal groups and systems. Polymorphism. Solid solutions and their graphical representation. Mineral genesis and classification. Overview of minerals of environmental and human health interest.

Part Two. Igneous rocks. Structures and locations of plutonic, sub-volcanic, and volcanic rocks. Mineralogical composition of igneous rocks. Nomenclature and main criteria for mineralogical and chemical classification.

Metamorphic rocks. Structures. Classification criteria and nomenclature. The most common metamorphic rocks and their main compositional characteristics. Metamorphic grade, metamorphic facies.

Sedimentary rocks: structures, classification, and identification.

Mesoscopic identification of rock and mineral samples. Overview of analytical techniques applied to the study of minerals and rocks.

Official textbook: Klein C. & Philpotts A.R. "Mineralogy and Petrography," Italian edition, Ed. Geologia Zanichelli.

Exercises and further information on the book's webpage are available at the following link: Klein, Philpotts – Mineralogia e Petrografia (zanichelli.it)

Further readings and references:

- Deer W.A., Howie R.A., Zussman. Introduction to Rock-Constituting Minerals. Zanichelli, Bologna.

Useful Web Sites

https://www.mindat.org/

http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

The oral and practical exam will cover the concepts covered in class. Students will be assessed based on an interview that includes the description and identification of one or more mesoscopic rock and/or mineral samples. Students will also be asked to write and present a report on a mineral assigned by the instructors. Exam dates are available on the Degree Program website.

There are no ongoing exams; students will be provided with a file containing questions on the most important topics, along with the course materials on "Studium," which they can use to test their knowledge.

Information for students with disabilities and/or Specific Learning Difficulties (SLDs):

 Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti)