Applied mineralogy and geo-resources
Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: CRISTINA MARIA BELFIOREExpected Learning Outcomes
The course aims to provide adequate knowledge of the following topics: mineral resources and their main industrial applications; survey methods for the retrieval and exploitation of mineral resources; effects of the use of minerals on the environment and health; investigation techniques for the study of minerals and rocks of economic interest.
The course also aims to provide students with adequate skills in the use of the main analytical methods for the characterization of georesources, with particular regard to the techniques of sample preparation, data acquisition and processing.
Course Structure
42 hours (6 CFU): lectures teaching module
36 hours (3 CFU): laboratory module
If the lectures will be held in
Required Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of mineralogy, petrography, chemistry and physics is required.
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Introduction to mineral resources; classification of minerals and rocks of economic interest; resources and reserves; use and economic value of georesources; classification and exploitation of mineral deposits.
Examples of minerals and rocks of economic interest: clay minerals; kaolin; bentonite; zeolites; cements; industrial ceramics; geopolymers.
Effects of minerals on environment and health: asbestiform minerals; free silica; particulate matter air pollution; volcanic ashes.
Complements of optical microscopy: mineralogy applied to the advanced microscopic study of materials of industrial interest.
X-ray diffraction (XRD): sample preparation techniques, analysis and interpretation of a XRD pattern.
X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF): sample preparation techniques, destructive and non-destructive analysis, interpretation and data processing.
Scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis (SEM-EDS): sample preparation techniques, SEM micromorphological analysis and EDS microanalysis of minerals and rocks.
Textbook Information
Suggested book:
Applied mineralogy: Applications in industry and environment. Swapna Mukherjee. Springer 575p.
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swapna Mukherjee | Applied mineralogy: Applications in industry and environment | Springer | 2012 |
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resources and reserves | Lecturers slides |
| 2 | Economic aspects of georesources | Lecturers slides |
| 3 | Metallic minerals | Lecturers slides |
| 4 | Minerals of industrial interest | Lecturers slides |
| 5 | Rocks of industrial interest | Lecturers slides |
| 6 | Classification of ore deposits | Lecturers slides |
| 7 | Exploitation of ore minerals | Lecturers slides |
| 8 | Clay minerals: classification and use | Lecturers slides |
| 9 | Kaolin | Lecturers slides |
| 10 | Bentonite | Lecturers slides |
| 11 | Zeolites | Lecturers slides |
| 12 | Portland cement | Lecturers slides |
| 13 | Industrial ceramics | Lecturers slides |
| 14 | Geopolymers | Lecturers slides |
| 15 | Minerals harmful to health and the environment | Lecturers slides |
| 16 | Asbestos | Lecturers slides |
| 17 | Free silica | Lecturers slides |
| 18 | Particulate matter air pollution | Lecturers slides |
| 19 | Volcanic ashes | Lecturers slides |
| 20 | Complements of optical microscopy | Lecturers slides |
| 21 | X-Ray diffraction | Lecturers slides |
| 22 | X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry | Lecturers slides |
| 23 | Scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis | Lecturers slides |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Oral exam concerning the subjects of the course.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
The student will be asked to:
1) discuss about one of the georesouces covered in the course
2) describe one of the analytical techniques (basic theoretical principles and application examples)
3) discuss about the issues of economic geology
4) analyze the effects of minerals on environment and health