Geol 2101: Mineralogy and Crystallography

Labs during the first weeks of the semester cover some of the basic aspects of crystal structure and physical properties and are intended to give students a basic set of tools for describing and identifying minerals in hand sample.

• Lab 1 - Crystal symmetry

• Lab 2 - Point groups, crystal systems, forms, and habit

• Lab 3 - Physical properties of minerals

Subsequent labs involve the systematic description and identification of different mineral groups and typically involve weekly quizzes requiring the identification of unknown specimens.

• Lab 4 - Native elements and sulfides

• Lab 5 - Oxides, hydroxides, and halides

• Lab 6 - Carbonates, sulfides, etc.

Prior to working with silicate minerals, two labs are devoted to the basic concepts of optical mineralogy (study of interactions between minerals and light using polarizing petrographic microscopes) to provide students with additional tools for describing and identifying minerals (particularly silicate minerals) in both hand sample and thin section.

• Lab 7 - Introduction to optical mineralogy

• Lab 8 - Optics Lab #2: Anisotropic minerals and interference figures

Following the labs on optics, the labs return to systematic description and identification of the silicate minerals by structural groups.

• Lab 9 - Framework silicates

• Lab 10 - Sheet silicates

• Lab 11 - Chain and ring silicates

• Lab 12 - Orthosilicates and Disilicates

 

• Lab final exam - Essential minerals