Exploration Geology

FERDINANDO BOSI

Developing competences and expected learning outcomes

Educational goals:
The course gives a basic knowledge of the analytical techniques and methodology for the mineralogy, the way atoms aggregate to form minerals, of the physical properties that allow identification of minerals

Learning outcomes:
Who have taken this course should be reasonably comfortable in characterization and identification of minerals, understanding experimental data, consulting much of what appears in the mineralogical literature such as reference volumes and articles. At the end of the course, the student will be able to read and understand, at least at a basic level, a scientific paper describing a mineral. The student will be able to characterize, at least at a basic level, a mineral, to process the acquired data.

The course gives a basic knowledge of the analytical techniques and methodology for the mineralogy, the way atoms aggregate to form minerals, of the physical properties that allow identification of minerals
Who have taken this course should be reasonably comfortable in characterization and identification of minerals, understanding experimental data, consulting much of what appears in the mineralogical literature such as reference volumes and articles. At the end of the course, the student will be able to read and understand, at least at a basic level, a scientific paper describing a mineral. The student will be able to characterize, at least at a basic level, a mineral, to process the acquired data.

Identification of main minerals in commonly found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
From Chemistry: atomic structure, size of atoms and ions, chemical bond, property of the elements of periodic table.
Form Mineralogy: symmetry elements, lattice space, Laue and Miller indices, point and space group, ionic radii, coordination polyhedra, Pauling rules, phase diagrams, polymorphism, compositional variation in minerals, solid solutions, optical mineralogy, X-ray diffraction, Bragg law, mineral identification, electron probe microanalysis, conversion of chemical analyses to structural formulae.

CHARACTERIZATION OF MINERALS

Course contents
The course is based on lectures (24h), laboratory (12h) and practices (24h). In detail, the course contents are as follows.
- Mineral definition. Mineral formula. Amorphous and crystalline state. Crystalline structures.
- Crystal lattice. The unit cell. The structural motif. The asymmetric unit. Point groups. Space groups. Hauy’s law of the indexes rationality.
- Crystal-chemical aspects of minerals, isomorphism, and type of structure (isotypes, homeotypes, hetreotypes).
- X-ray crystallography. Diffusion phenomenon and interaction with the crystalline matter. Diffraction. Bragg Law. Miller indices. Ewald sphere. Structure factor.
- Structural analysis: single-crystal and powder diffractometric investigations.
- Scanning Electron Microscope.
- Chemical analysis: electron microprobe, X-ray fluorescence.
- Spectroscopic analyses: Mössbauer and vibrational.

Texts
The topics treated in the course cannot be found in a unique book. Basic notions are contained in a few chapters of the following textbooks:
Tilley R., Crystals and Crystal Structures, 2006, Wiley.
Gualtieri A.F., Introduzione alle tecniche analitiche strumentali, 2019, libreriauniversitaria.it
Klein C., Mineralogia, 2004, Zanichelli, Bologna.

Putnis A., An Introduction to Mineral Sciences, 1992, Cambridge University Press

Lessons in class room and practice in room.
The course will take place in the second semester: if the health emergency from COVID-19 will allow to carry out the lessons in presence, the course will be delivered in traditional mode, if vice versa it will not be possible, it will be delivered at a distance in accordance with what will be established by the competent authorities and the provisions of the University.

Class attending is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.

Oral assessment (average time ca. 30 minutes).The final score reflects the analytical, verbal, quantitative and interpretative skills of the candidate, taking into account skills such as logical reasoning.To pass the exam the student must obtain a grade of not less than 18/30. The student must demonstrate that he/she has acquired a sufficient knowledge of mineral crystal-structure and experimental investigation strategies. To achieve a score of 30/30 cum laude, the student must instead demonstrate that he/she has acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course, being able to link them in a logical and coherent way.

What is a mineral?
What is polymorphism?

• II semester