Mineralogy Course (Geo 221)

Explain how crystal growth, measurement of crystal angles - Crystal systems and classes - Forms, crystal habits - Chemical analytical technique - Mineral Classification - silicate minerals – the origin of minerals - nature of light - mineral preparation for microscopic study - Polarizing microscope and its use - isotropic and anisotropic minerals - interference colours and interference figures - Application of the colour chart to the study of minerals - Mineral descriptions- demonstrate how the internal structure of minerals affects the external structure and physical properties of a mineral (e.g. crystal symmetry, crystal habit) - explain the mineralogical concepts of polymorphism, crystalline structures solution and exsolution- Elementary concepts of light, Nature of Light, Snell`s Law, Polarization of Light, and Polarizing microscope - Double refraction and index of refraction. Isotropic and Anisotropic media, Uni-axial and Biaxial Optical Indicatrix - Optical properties of isotropic- uni-axial and biaxial minerals - Accessory plates and their uses -  Interference figures - Description of the essential rock-form -  mineral identification method (e.g. polarizing microscope, x-ray diffraction, electron microprobe) - recognize and describe the basic properties and chemistry of common rock-forming minerals - explain the mineralogical variation in igneous and metamorphic rocks