Definition of mineral. Brief history of Mineralogy. Minerogenetic processes (notes). Mineral crystallography. Elements of crystalchemistry. Minerals: reactions and stability. Physical properties of minerals. Mineral classification. Systematic description of the most important minerals. Mineral optics. Practical exercises of recognition of the main rock minerals at the optical microscope in transmitted light.
C. Klein - MINERALOGIA (edizione italiana)
Zanichelli Ed. 2004
William D. Nesse - INTRODUCTION TO MINERALOGY, Oxford Univ. Press.
Robin Gill - CHEMICAL FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY, Chapman & Hall, 2a Ediz., 1996
Learning Objectives
Knolewdge acquired:
Fundamentals of mineralogy. Mineral properties and behaviour, and their applications in the field of Cultural Heritage
Competence acquired
Recognition of mechanisms responsible for the physical properties of minerals and their applications in the field of Cultural Heritage
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Assessment and description of mineral properties both at the macroscopic and microscopic scale (by transmitted light microscopy)
Number of credits: 9
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 225
Lectures (hours): about 50
Laboratory-field/practice (hours): about 30
Intermediate examinations: 2
Teaching instruments: Transmitted light microscope; e-learning (Moodle)
Type of Assessment
Oral exam with practical test (mineralogical analysis in transmitted light microscopy)
Course program
Mineral definition. Brief outline of the history of mineralogy. Genetic processes of minerals. Crystalline and amorphous state. Physical properties of minerals. Chemical bonds in minerals. Ionic radii and coordination polyhedra. Solid solutions: isomorphic substitutions. Crystal-chemical formulae. Polymorphism: mineral stability as a function of PTX parameters. Crystal morphology and symmetry. Periodicity, lattice and unit cell. Systematic mineralogy: classification; the most relevant minerals of the following Mineral Classes : Silicates, Native Elements, Organic Compounds, Sulfides and Sulfosalts, Oxides, Hydroxides, Halides, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates. Optical properties: principles (anisotropy/ isotropy; refractive indices; double refraction and birefringence; optical indicatrices, optical sign and interference figures of isotropic, uniaxial and biaxial minerals). Practice of mineral identification both at the macroscopic scale and in transmitted light microscopy. Brief description of main geomaterials utilized in pre-Industrial times for applications in the Cultural Heritage field (glass; metals and metal alloys: precious gems and stones)