Learning objectives
The course objectives are to learn about:
1) Basics of morphological and lattice crystallography
2) the physical properties of minerals useful to their identification
3) systematics of the most common minerals in the Earth and planet as well as in their origin
4) minerals and modern society
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge on Inorganic chemistry, focussed on solid state chemistry
Course unit content
The mineralogy studies minerals that are the building bricks of rocks. The mineralogy is preliminary to courses on Nature and Environment because of the multiple interactions between minerals and man. The aim of the course is to provide the basics on the chemical and physical properties of minerals and the interaction between minerals and the environment, the role of mineral in a modern society and their origin.
Full programme
Part 5: Minerals in nature and the environment: a resource and a risk
Systematic mineralogy: main structural, chemical and physical characteristics of minerals. Distribution of minerals in the environment and human interaction will also be examined.
Minerals in the crust:
Rock-forming minerals. silica minerals. Feldspars: chemism, order- disorder and transformations. Feldspatoids. Inosilicates: amphiboles and pyroxenes. Phyllosilicates: derivation of structural typologies; micas and minerals of clays. The nesosilicates: olivines and garnets.
Carbonates and sulfates differences with the silicates.
Accessories: epidote, tourmaline, anhydrous silicates of Al, zircon, spinel, apatites.
Mantle minerals: olivine, pyroxenes, ringwoodite, wadsleite, majorite, bridgmanite, magnesium-wustite, post-perovskite, the role of polymorphism in the dynamics of the Earth.
Useful minerals:
Ore Minerals: Oxides, hydroxides, sulfides. Gems.
Part 6.
Laboratory of identification of the main minerals under transmitted light microscope.
Bibliography
lessons materials are released to students in the Elly platform.
Klein Mineralogia, Zanichelli
Dyar D., Guenther M., Mineralogy and optical mineralogy, Mineralogical society of america
Philippot Earth Materials Cambridge University Press
Wenk, Bulhash Mineralogy Cambridge University Press
Bonatti S., Franzini M., Cris tallografia mineralogica, BORINGHIERI, Torino. Carobbi G., ( Mazzi F., Bernardini
G.P.), Fondamenti di cris tallografia e ottica cris tallografica, USES, Firenze. Carobbi G., ( Cipriani, C., Garavelli
C.), Cris tallografia chimica e mineralogia s peciale, USES, Firenze. Deer W.A., Howie R.A., Zus sman J.,
Introduzione ai Minerali che cos tituis cono le Rocce, ZANICHELLI, Bologna. Gallitelli P., Elementi di Mineralogia,
NISTRI e LISCHI, Pis a. Gottardi G., I minerali, BORINGHIERI, Torino. Klein C., 2004. Mineralogia, Zanichelli,
Bologna Mottana A., Cres pi R., Liborio G., Minerali e rocce, MONDADORI, Milano.
Teaching methods
Lessons.
Laboratory activities.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written /practical exam on an optical microcoscope, with written report
Other information
For the optical laboratory activity a
the attendance of 75% is mandatory, which equals 48 hours.
