Natural Sciences

GIORGIA CONFALONIERI

The general objective is developing student’s attitude, leading them towards full understanding of the
natural world from a variety of perspectives (mathematical, physical, chemical, geological, biological,
and environmental).
The specific objectives are the comprehension of the mineral world and of the role of Mineralogy within
Earth Sciences as well as the identification of the most common minerals and their physical properties
(see Dublin descriptors below for more details).

Learning Objectives:
The overall objective is the development of students' personal attitudes, aimed at a comprehensive understanding of the natural world through a multidisciplinary approach spanning mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology, and biology. Specific objectives include understanding the foundational concepts of Mineralogy and the role of Mineralogy among Earth Sciences, as well as recognizing the most common minerals and their physical properties. The course will provide basic knowledge of the mineralogical characteristics of the main rock constituents in various natural and environmental geological contexts, along with theoretical-practical foundations for the use of major mineralogical investigation tools.

Dublin Descriptors:
Knowledge and understanding of natural phenomena related to mineral crystallization.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding for mineral identification.
Critical thinking and judgment through practical exercises and laboratory work.
Communication skills to convey learned content through group activities such as exercises and classroom discussions with the instructor on specific course topics.
Ability to continue self-directed study using tools provided in the course, particularly the use of reference tables and texts for mineral identification, and the use of scientific equipment for investigation in equipped laboratories.

Credits and Delivery Mode:
Lectures (in Classroom): 24 hours
Practical Exercises: 36 hours

Basic knowledge of Mathematics, Physics, General Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry.

General Notions.
Definition of a mineral. Mineralogy yesterday and today. The structure of the Earth. Introduction to minerals of the Earth's crust and mantle. Evolution of minerals over geological time.

Morphological Crystallography.
Faces, edges, vertices, Euler's theorem. Angles between faces, Steno's law. Symmetry by rotation, reflection, and inversion: axes, planes, and center. Point groups. Reference systems. Simple forms. Crystal classes. Haüy's law and Miller indices. Practical exercises about morphological crystallography.

Structural Crystallography.
Symmetry by translation: crystal lattices and unit cells. Screw axes and glide planes. Space groups. X-ray diffraction: historical overview. Bragg's equation. Study of powder diffraction patterns. Practical exercises in analysis of diffraction patterns and identification of mineral phases.

Crystal Chemistry.
Chemical bonds. Close-packed structures. Rigid sphere ionic model. Pauling's rules. Crystal chemical classification of minerals. Polymorphism and isomorphism. Study of crystal chemistry of major rock-forming minerals: silicates (especially nesosilicates, inosilicates, phyllosilicates, and tectosilicates), oxides, carbonates. Methods of mineral analysis. Practical exercises in determining the crystal chemical formula of minerals.

Crystal Physics.
Observation and description of macroscopic physical properties of minerals. Practical exercises: macroscopic mineral identification. Optics: propagation of plane waves in isotropic and anisotropic media. Reflection, refraction, and birefringence. Refractive indices of plane waves. Optical indicatrix and their orientation in crystals. The polarizing microscope. Optical properties of minerals in thin section. Practical exercises: optical study of thin mineralogical sections.

Klein – Mineralogia – Zanichelli
Bonatti, Franzini – Cristallografia mineralogica – Boringhieri
Gottardi – I minerali – Boringhieri

Frontal lectures (24 hours) and practical exercises (36 hours).

Attendance not mandatory, but recommended.

Written midterm tests and final oral exam.

Exercises related to the knowledge acquired during practical classes (for example: morphological crystallography, analysis of diffractograms and identification of mineralogical phases, mineralogical analysis, mineral identification, optical study of thin sections).

Open-ended questions regarding the topics covered during the frontal lectures. These inquiries will require a reasoned response aimed at demonstrating the student's level of learning as well as their critical thinking, judgment, and communication skills.

• Introduction and general concepts (4h)
  • Books: Klein – Mineralogia – Zanichelli


• Morphological Crystallography  (21 h)
  • Books: Klein – Mineralogia – ZanichelliBonatti, Franzini – Cristallografia mineralogica – Boringhieri


• Structural Crystallography (7 h)
  • Books: Klein – Mineralogia – Zanichelli


• Crystal chemistry (12 h)
  • Books: Klein – Mineralogia – ZanichelliGottardi – I minerali – Boringhieri


• Classification of minerals (9 h)
  • Books: Klein – Mineralogia – Zanichelli


• Crystal physics (7 h)
  • Books: Klein – Mineralogia – Zanichelli