Mineralogy Course

Course Description

Mineralogy is the branch of geology that deals with the fundamental building blocks of all rocks, i.e., minerals. It involves the systematic study that deals with the characteristics of the individual and group of minerals.The course deals with the analytical, macroscopic and microscopic investigations of minerals to understand their crystal chemistry, crystal structure, physical properties, optical properties and genesis.The course aims to give an overall understanding of how the textures of the minerals control the chemical budget, and in turn aids the chemical evolution of the solid Earth.

Course Outcome

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to: Demonstrate mastery of the terminology of mineralogy Demonstrate confidence and accuracy in identifying important minerals in handspecimens, in outcrop, and under the microscope, and apply the theories to the solution of problems in the field. Synthesis observations,evidence and theory to recognise and explain similarities and differences between different mineral groups. Discuss with confidence the theories, principles and outstanding controversies related to mineralogy. Conceive, design, execute, critique, revise, document and present an original research project and an independent program related to mineralogical investigations.

Course Structure

Module - 1

Crystallography – symmetry and its types, crystal faces, crystal forms and crystal habit. Crystal chemistry and structure – fundamentals of crystal chemistry, chemical controls on crystal structure, isostructural minerals, polymorphism, compositional variations, graphical representations. Introduction to X-ray crystallography, chemical analysis of minerals using EPMA, SEM, XRF and Mass spectrometry

Module - 2

Mineral growth and thermodynamics –mineral stability, phase diagrams, mineral nucleation, crystal growth, structural defects, twinning, post-crystallization processes, mineral evolution. Description of common rock forming minerals

Module - 3

Optical mineralogy - Optical properties of minerals: some physical background, refractive index and petrographic microscope, isotropic and anisotropic minerals, polarization and birefringence, optical indicatrix, dispersion, pleochroism. Identification of minerals using a petrographic microscope.

Evaluation & Grading

Lab Assessment – 10% Skill development (Analytical, Writing and Presentation) – 10% Class Test – 20% End Semester Assessment – 60%

References

Perkins, D., 2014, Mineralogy, Pearson

Okrusch, M. and Frimmel, H.E., 2020, Mineralogy – an introduction to minerals, rocks and mineral deposits, Springer Publications

Kerr, P. F., 1959, Optical Mineralogy, McGraw Hill.

Naidu, P.R.J., 1967, Johnannsen’s Optical Mineralogy. Allied publishers.

Naidu, P.R.J., 1958, Four Axis Universal Stage, Commercial Printing and Publishing House.

Philips, F.C., 1963, Introduction to Crystallography, Thomas Nelson.

Philips, W.R., 1971, Mineral Optics – Principles and Techniques, Freeman.

Read, H.H., 1974, Rutley’s Elements of Mineralogy, Thomas Murby & Co.

Sinkankas, J., 1969, Mineralogy, East West Edition.

Tutton, A. E.H., 1965, Crystallography and Practical Crystal Measurements. Vol. I. Today and tomorrow.

Wahlstrom, E.C., 1962, Optical Crystallography. Wiley.

Winchell, A.N., 1951, Elements of optical Mineralogy Part I Principles and Methods, 5th edn., Wiley.

Krauskopf, K. B. (1967), Introduction to Geochemistry, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 721 p.

Mason, Brian, Moore and Carleton, B. (1982), Principles of geochemistry, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 344 p.

Gill, R. (1989), Chemical Fundamentals of Geology, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, UK, 292p.

Holt, K.H.W. (1971), Geochemistry, Rinehart and Winston Inc, USA.

Rankama, K. and Sahama, T.H.G. (1950), Geochemistry, Univ. Chicago press, 911p.

Walther. J.V.(2010) Essentials of Geochemistry, Jones and Barlett Publishers, New Delhi. 797p.