GE408 Mineralogy and Petrography
Course description for academic year 2019/2020
Contents and structure
The course introduces crystallography and in more detail mineral structure and mineral chemistry. The course also focuses on systematic mineralogy and mineral genesis, as well as the physical properties of minerals and how these are used in mineral classification. The petrography part concentrates on the mineral classification of the most common sedimentary, magmatic, and metamorphic rocks in addition to a mineralogical/chemical classification of magmatic rocks. Special focus is put on the composition and identification of rocks occurring in the Sogn og Fjordane county, macroscopically using hand pieces and binocular, and microscopically using thin sections.
Learning Outcome
Knowledge
The students should (a) be able to describe and identify common minerals and rocks in hand pieces, (b) be able to use different identification methods of minerals and rocks, (c) have knowledge on formation and occurrences of minerals and rocks, and (d) be able to perform mineralogical classification of rocks.
Skills
The students should be able to independantly perform a classification of rocks and minerals in the field, and to confirm their field analyses using microscopic and microscopic investigations in the laboratory.
General qualifications
The students should have sufficient knowledge on minerals and rocks to enable them to fast build up competence within mineral and rock oriented jobs, and to perform a first hand mineral and rock identification in the field.
Entry requirements
None
Recommended previous knowledge
The course builds upon GE406 Basic geology
Teaching methods
Lectures, exercises, and a two day excursion
Compulsory learning activities
Compulsory journals from the exercises. Compulsory field journal from the excursion, or presentation of the single locations of the excursion in the field.
Assessment
Written exam, 4 hours. Marks A-F.
Examination support material
Non programmable pocket calculator, colour pencils, ruler, eraser.
More about examination support material