Exploration Geology

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.