Geosciences 306 Mineralogy - Fall 2011

Professor:

Dr Bob Downs

522/526 Gould-Simpson

626-8092

rdowns@u.arizona.edu

Office hours: anytime

Laboratory Teaching Assistant:

Esther Posner	Shaunna Morrison
552 Gould-Simpson	524 Gould-Simpson
posnere@email.arizona.edu	shaunnamm@email.arizona.edu
Office hours: by appointment	Office hours: by appointment

Classes:

Lectures: Monday and Wednesday 10-10:50 a.m., in 114 Sahuaro Hall
Laboratory: (1) Monday 2-4:50, (2) Tues 5:30-8:20, or (3) Wed 2-4:50 in 209 Gould-Simpson
Final Exam: Wed 14 Dec, 10:30-12:30, in our classroom

Textbook:

Minerals: their constitution and origin by H-R Wenk and A Bulakh, Cambridge University Press, 2004
or Manual of Mineral Science, 22nd edition by Cornelis Klein, John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2002
or Introduction to Mineralogy by William D. Nesse, Oxford Press, 2000

Course prerequisites:

Successful completion of a first semester college chemistry course, e.g. CHEM 103A, or it's equivalent.

Objectives:

The primary objective of this course is to develop a broad overview of the minerals that form the Earth - their nature, origin, evolution and significance. We will explore the fundamental principles of crystallography and crystal-chemistry. These principles govern and describe the architecture of minerals at the atomic level and are responsible for their properties and stabilities. We will study the nature of the dominant phases that make up the bulk of the earth and the principal minerals that comprise the Earth's crust and are of applied interest. We will discuss methods to identify minerals in hand specimen, and using X-ray diffraction or spectroscopy, as well as the use of the electron microprobe for the determination of chemical compositions.

Grading Policy:

Your final grade is based on the following distribution:

There will be two midterms and a final from the lecture that account for 45% of the grade, and a lab portion that also accounts for 45%. A project to identify an unknown mineral sample will be worth 10%.

A (>85%), B (75-85%), C (65-75%), D (50-65%), F (<50%)

There will be no make-up examinations either in the lecture or laboratory components of the class except for compelling medical reasons.

"Students requiring accommodation in testing or notetaking must notify the faculty member and must deliver to the faculty member the Disability Resource Center faculty letter within the first few days of the course." Read this.

CHEATING - DON'T DO IT! Read this.