Basic knowledge of mineralogy (morphological and structural crystallography, crystal-chemistry, physical and optical properties) for the study of the mineral behaviour in relation to petrologic and geodynamic processes and their applications in materials of industrial and gemmological interest, and in the field of cultural heritage and environmental protection.
Detailed knowledge of the main rock-forming minerals.
C. Klein
MINERALOGIA (edizione italiana)
Zanichelli Ed. 2004
G. Carobbi
Mineralogia 1
Mineralogia 2
USES
A . Mottana
Fondamenti di mineralogia geologica
Zanichelli
Nesse W. D., 1991. Introduction to optical mineralogy. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
(solo per il modulo di ottica mineralogica)
Learning Objectives
dentification of crystal symmetry preliminary to optical observations and to mineral crystal chemical description.
Basic skills to determine the optical proprieties of minerals (mainly silicates) at the petrographic microscope (thin sections)
Basic knowledge of principles and concepts involved in description and identification of minerals (physical and structural properties).
Basic knowledge of the powder X-ray diffraction; qualitative identification of a mineral species from XRD.
Deep knowledge of rock-forming minerals.
Competence in reading of basic mineralogical literature.
Lectures (use of video-projector for computer and blackboard) supplemented by tutorials and exercises in order to obtain a continuous monitoring of students' understanding.
Practical exercises on crystallographic models.
Practical exercises on identification of mineral species from X-ray powder diffraction. Theoretical and laboratory (petrographic microscope) lessons dealing with optical properties of minerals (2 CFU).
Type of Assessment
oral examination
Course program
Genetic processes of minerals. Crystalline and amorphous state. Crystal morphology and symmetry. Periodicity, lattice and unit cell. Bravais lattices. X-ray production and diffraction. Bragg equation. Interpretation of a powder XRD pattern. Anisotropy and physical properties. Density, hardness, electric and magnetic properties, cleavage. Optical properties: refractive index, birifrangence, indicatrices for uniaxial and biaxial minerals, optical sign. Interference figures.
Chemical bonds in minerals. Ionic radii and coordination polyhedra: the effects of temperature and pressure. Solid solutions: isomorphic substitutions. Crystal-chemical formulae. Polymorphism: displacive and reconstructive transitions and their significance in the interpretation of petrologic processes. Rock-forming silicate minerals: nesosilicates (olivine, garnet, zircon, aluminum silicates); sorosilicates (epidotes and melilites); cyclosilicates (beryl and tourmaline); inosilicates (pyroxenes and amphiboles); fillosilicates (kaolinite, serpentine, talc, chlorite, micas and clay minerals); tectosilicates (silica minerals, feldspars, feldspathoids). Main non-silicate minerals: metal elements, diamond, graphite, sulfur, halite, fluorite, spinels, hematite, corundum, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, calcite, aragonite, dolomite, anhydride, gypsum, apatite.