FIU- Department of Earth & Environment

Earth Materials - GLY 3202 and 3202L

Dr. R. Hickey-Vargas                             

Contact information:
        Office: PC 315B
        Phone: 348-3471
        e-mail: hickey@fiu.edu
        Office hours:  Thurs 11-1, W 1-3 or by appointment

Required Text:  Introduction to Mineralogy by William D. Nesse

Schedule for Fall 2010:

Dates
 Topic
 Reading - Nesse
24-Aug
 Introduction to earth materials
 Chapter 1 and notes
26-Aug
 Introduction to minerals and crystals
 Chapter 2 (12-17)
31-Augt
 Crystallography
 Chapter 2 (6-12, 17-19)
2-Sept
 Crystallography
 Chapter 2 (19-29)
7-Sept
 Elemental behavior, bonding
 Chapter 3
9-Sept
 Packing of atoms in crystals
 Chapter 4 (57-64)
14-Sept
 Chemical variation in minerals
 Chapter 4 (65-73)
16-Sept
 Chemical analysis of minerals
 Chapter 9
21-Sept
 Physical properties of minerals
Chapter 2 (34-38), Chapter 6
23-Sept
 Physical properties of minerals
 Chapter 6, Chapter 7 (114-118)
28-Sept
 Review
30-Sep
 Lecture Exam 1
 Chapters 1-4, 6, part of 7 & 9
5-Oct
 Mineral optics - Intro to microscope Chapter 7 (118-130)
7-Oct
 Classification of minerals Chapter 11 (183-185), Ch 16
12-Oct
 Silicates - structural  subclasses Chapter 15, 14
14-Oct
 Solid solution in silicates Chapter 13, 12
19-Oct
 Carbonates, sulfates, phosphates Chapter 17
21-Oct
 Native elements, sulfides, oxides, halides Chapter 18, 19, 20
26-Oct
 Review of mineral classification/Introduction to mineral associations
28-Oct
 Mantle minerals
 Class notes
2-Nov
 Igneous minerals
 Chapter 11 (186-190) & notes
4-Nov
 Hydrothermal minerals
 Chapter 19 (379-382) & notes
9-Nov
 Minerals formed by weathering
 Ch 13 (255-257) & Ch 18 (371-374) & notes
11-Nov
 Veterans Day - no class

16-Nov
 Detrital and chemical sedimentary minerals
 Chapter 11 (190-194) & notes
18-Nov
 Metamorphic minerals
 Chapter 11 (194-200) & notes
23-Nov
 Review and report guidance
25-Nov
 Thanksgiving holiday
30-Nov
 Lecture Exam 2
 Chapters 11-20
2-Dec
 Mineral association reports
7-Dec
 Mineral association reports
9-Dec
 Mineral association reports due

Course Objectives:  In this course you will learn about the chemical and physical properties of solid earth materials, their scientific and practical uses, and the natural processes that form them.

Grading policy: Each of the two exams is worth 1/4 of your grade for the lecture.  Homework assignments and quizzes are another 1/4 and the mineral association report makes up the remaining 1/4 of your grade for the lecture.  There will be 4 homework assignments given throughout the semester.  Quizzes (4) are based on special topics in lectures and assigned reading.  They are given in the first 15-20 minutes of class and are announced in class, one week beforehand.  Guidelines for the mineral association reports will be handed out later in the semester.

 

Earth Materials Laboratory - GLY 3202L - Laboratory Schedule

Recommended lab textbooks:       Simon & Schusters Guide to Rocks & Minerals

                                                          Minerals in Thin Section by Perkins and Henke

 

Lab assignments and materials are distributed and explained at the beginning of the lab period.  The textbook is necessary for reference in the labs.  The two recommended books will also be useful for GLY 4300 Petrology, GLY 4511 Stratigraphy, and GLY 4812 Introduction to Ore Deposits, so it is worthwhile buying them if you plan to take these courses.

Grading Policy:  Weekly labsheets for labs 1-8 are averaged together for 1/3 of your grade. Labwork for each lab is due the following week, according to the policy of your lab instructor.  The two quizzes together are worth 1/3 of your grade for the lab. Lab 9 continues for 4 weeks, and involves examining and describing minerals in their common natural associations.  Lab 9 worksheets are worth 1/3 of your grade.

 

Week of:

Lab Topic

31 Aug

Lab 1 - Crystal symmetry

7-Sep

Lab 2 - Crystal systems, forms, indices

14-Sep

Lab 3 - Electron Microscopy

21-Sep

Lab 4 - Macroscopic mineral properties

28-Sep

Lab 5 - Density and magnetism

5-Oct

Lab Quiz 1 (Labs 1-5)

12-Oct

Lab 6 Optical properties 1

19-Oct

Lab 7 Optical properties 2

26-Oct

Lab 8 Optical properties 3

2-Nov

Lab 9 Mineral descriptions – part 1

9-Nov

Lab Quiz 2 (Labs 6-8)

16-Nov

Lab 9 Mineral descriptions - part 2

23-Nov

Lab 9 Mineral descriptions – part 3

30-Nov

Lab 9 Mineral descriptions - part 4

7-Dec

Finish Lab 9

 

Topics and Format for the Mineral Associations Report:

These are potential topics; you may also choose any association we discuss in class:

Ultramafic rocks
Kimberlites
Layered mafic igneous intrusions
Silica deficient igneous rocks
Felsic igneous rocks and pegmatites
Epithermal gold-silver deposits
Porphyry copper deposits
Volcanogenic sulfide deposits
Residual sedimentary associations  (soils)
Placer (detrital) sediments
Evaporites
Phosphate deposits
Zeolite facies metamorphic rocks
Pelitic metamorphic rocks
Calc-silicate metamorphic rocks
Blueschist facies metamorphic rocks

This is the outline for the written report and class presentation: 
1) Describe the association
2) What are the major minerals, and what are the important physical and chemical properties of those minerals
3) How does the association form?
4) Discuss a type location for the association

Format for the class presentation:
5-10 min powerpoint, followed by questions from the audience
Give sources of diagrams and figures

Format for the written report:
5-8 pages of text, double spaced, to cover all topics
Figures
Sources of all information numbered in the text and listed at the end in a reference list.  Include, authors, date, publication and pages of article or chapter in book.
Evaluation:
The report will be evaluated on the basis of: 1) completeness (all four topics covered); 2) quality of research;  3) organization and clarity of presentation.