Geosciences 306 Mineralogy - Fall 2019

Professor:

Dr Bob Downs
522/526 Gould-Simpson
626-8092
rdowns@u.arizona.edu
Office hours: anytime (including immediately following lecture)

Laboratory Teaching Assistants:

Melli Rose Catherine Hanagan
524 Gould-Simpson 546 Gould-Simpson
mellirose@email.arizona.edu ceh5464@email.arizona.edu
Office hours: by appointment Office hours: by appointment

Classes:

Lectures: Monday and Wednesday 10-10:50 a.m., in R P Harvill Bldg, Rm 302
Laboratory:  Tues 5:00-7:50, or Thurs 5:00-7:50, or Fri 11:00-1:50 in 209 Gould-Simpson
Final Exam: Fri 13 Dec 10:30-12:30 in our classroom
Textbook:
Minerals: their constitution and origin by H-R Wenk and A Bulakh, Cambridge University Press, any editions
or Manual of Mineral Science, 22nd edition by Cornelis Klein, John Wiley and Sons, Inc, or newer editions, does not matter
Course prerequisites:
Successful completion of a first semester college chemistry course, e.g. CHEM 103A, or its equivalent.
Objectives:
The primary objective of this course is to develop a broad overview of the minerals that form the bulk Earth such as their crystal structure and composition, their origins, 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 macroscopic 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: