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00722 - Mineralogy

Academic Year 2019/2020

                
                        Docente:
                        Giovanni Valdrè
                    
                        Credits:
                        8
                    
                        SSD:
                        GEO/06
                    
                        Language:
                        Italian
                    
                        Teaching Mode:
                        Traditional lectures
                        
                            Campus:
                            Bologna
                        
                            Corso:
                            First cycle degree programme (L) in
                            Natural Sciences (cod. 8016)

                            Teaching resources on Virtuale

Learning outcomes

The studentwill have a knowledge of the most important rock-forming minerals and of those less common or rare but of economic or applicative interest.

Course contents

Definition of mineral. Crystal morphology: crystallographic axes, crystal classes and systems. Internal order of crystals: three dimensional lattices, illustration of crystal structures.
Crystal chemistry: coordination principle, polymorphism and isomorphism with examples. Physical properties: cleavage, hardness, colour, luster, specific gravity, electrical, magneticand optical properties. Short accounts on minerogenetic processes. Mineral classification and in particular the rock-forming minerals. Exercises and laboratory on external forms and optical properties of the most common minerals.
X-ray diffraction methodologies, Bragg's equation, X-ray powder diffractometry. Scanning Electron Microscopy and EDS X-Ray Spectroscopy.
Application of some minerals to biology and environmental and structural fields (phosphates, carbonates and phyllosilicates).

Readings/Bibliography

- C. Klein. Mineralogia. Ia edizione italiana. Zanichelli, Bologna, 2004
- A. Mottana, R. Crespi, G. Liborio. Minerali e rocce. Mondadori

-G.Valdrè, U.Valdrè. Misure e Complementi di Fisica, CLUEB Bologna

-A.Putnis, Introduction to Mineral Science, Cambridge University Press.
-Lecture transparencies.

Teaching methods

General and theoretical mineralogical aspects are explained during the lessons. The course includes practicals in class and in laboratory. The traininghas the aim to give the studentpractical toolsto characterise the most common minerals. X-ray diffraction and SEM labs sessions will be used for the microstructural characterization of minerals.

Assessment methods

Oral examination. Written examination may be envisaged.

Teaching tools

PC-laptop and overhead projector; models of crystal lattices for the study of the internal order and structure; natural samples for macroscopic identification of the most common minerals, X-ray and optical laboratories, Scanning Electron Microscopy; mineral identification sotware.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/SitoWebDocente/default.htm?UPN=giovanni.valdre%40unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Valdrè