Course

Introduction to Mineralogy

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Course code
EAES 2400
Credits
4.00
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
Fall

Overview

Course description
This course provides an introduction to the physical and chemical properties of common rock-forming and economic minerals. The course covers mineral identification and classification, mineral occurrences and associations, crystal chemistry, analytical methods, crystal structure and crystallography. Field trips may be required. These field trips may take place outside of scheduled class hours.
Course content

1. Introduction to minerals

  • Definition of a mineral
  • Mineral resources and uses in society

2. Crystal chemistry and crystal structure

  • Elements, natural abundances, chemical bonding
  • Controls on crystal structure, isostructuralism, polymorphism, compositional variations
  • Graphical representation of mineral compositions

3. Mineral growth

  • Mineral stability and reactions
  • Introduction to Gibbs phase rule and phase diagrams
  • Twinning and other crystallization and post crystallization processes

4. Mineral identification and classification

  • Mineral classes, groups, series, species, varieties
  • Relationship between physical properties of minerals, their chemical composition, and crystal structure
  • Mineral identification in hand sample
  • Analytical techniques for mineral identification

5. Mineral occurrence and environment of formation

  • Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, and hydrothermal occurrences

6. Crystallography and crystal systems

  • Symmetry elements, crystal forms and crystal systems
Learning activities

The primary mode of instruction will involve lectures and laboratories. Field trips may be required.

 

Means of assessment

Assessment will be carried out in accordance with the 51Ç鱨վ Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a writtten course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Lecture assignments/homework: 0-10%

Lecture quizzes: 0-10%

Term projects: 0-10%

Lab assignments: 9-20%

Lab exams(s): 20-30%

Term test(s): 15-25%

Final exam: 25-30%

Total: 100%

 

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, successful students will be able to:

  • describe the various physical and chemical techniques used to identify minerals;
  • identify and classify rock-forming and economically important minerals from hand samples;
  • describe the factors that influence crystal structure;
  • explain the chemical and structural characteristics of the major mineral classes;
  • describe the compositional variations of common rock-forming minerals;
  • illustrate the compositional variations of rock-forming minerals, mineral stability fields and mineral reactions on binary and ternary diagrams;
  • use mineral chemistry and structure to explain or predict the environments of formation of minerals and mineral associations;
  • explain how the symmetrical arrangement of crystal faces (crystal form) relates to the internal crystalline structure;
  • identify the point symmetry group and crystal forms of crystals and crystal models, and classify them into crystal systems.
Textbook materials

Consult the 51Ç鱨վ Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:

Perkins, D. (Current Edition). Mineralogy. Open Textbook.

Nesse, W.D. & G.B. Baird. (Current Edition). Introduction to Mineralogy. Oxford University Press.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from 51Ç鱨վ to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the .

Institution Transfer details for EAES 2400
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX SOSC 2XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU GEOL 2XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SCEL 2XX (4)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR GEOL 2XX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG GEOL 2XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU EASC 202 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU GEOL 2100 (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW SCIE 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO EESC_O 200 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV EOSC_V 220 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC GEOG 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV GEOG 2XX (4)
University of Victoria (UVIC) DOUG EAES 2400 (4) & DOUG EAES 2410 (4) = UVIC EOS 205 (1.5) & UVIC EOS 2XX (1.5)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EOS 2XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) No credit
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC EVSC 2XXX (3)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU GEOL 200 (3)

Course Offerings

There are no course offerings this semester.