ELEMENTS OF MINERALOGY: GEO201

DR. JONATHAN M. HUSCH
Fall 2008

OFFICE: S323D. Regular office hours may vary from semester to semester, but for Fall 2008 they are Tuesday and Thursday, 2:20-3:20 p.m., and Wednesday, 2:50-3:50 p.m. Other times may be scheduled by appointment or you can drop by to see if I am free. Voice mail messages may be left at (609) 896-5330. E-mail messages may be sent to husch@rider.edu. Please use your official Rider University e-mail address for all email communications with me.

TEXTS: Manual of Mineral Science (23^rd Edition) by Klein and Dutrow (KD) and Minerals in Thin Section (2^nd Edition) by Perkins and Henke (PH) are required. An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals (2^nd Edition) by Deer, Howie, and Zussman is optional. Supplemental readings also may be assigned as needed. Important, relevant, and useful mineralogic information is available from a number of web sites, which can be accessed through the "External Links" section of Blackboard, including Athena Mineralogy, Links for Mineralogists, Mindat.org, and Webmineral.com. Additional links to web sites with abundant mineralogic and other geologic information are available through the links page of the Department of Geological, Environmental, and Marine Sciences (GEMS) web sites located at http://www.rider.edu/gems.

OBJECTIVES AND EVALUATION: This course examines the physical properties, chemistry, atomic structure, crystallography, uses, and environmental impacts of important minerals of the lithosphere and biosphere. In addition, lab assignments and exercises emphasize crystal symmetry and chemistry, ICP and x-ray techniques, the graphical display and interpretation of compositional data, optical properties of isotropic and uniaxial minerals, and the identification of mineral hand specimen. The uncurved average of three class exams makes up 60% of the final grade. The remaining 40% is determined by combining the average of weekly lab assignments (30%) with the final lab practical grade (10%). General grade averages are: >90, A range; 80-89, B range; 70-79, C range; 60-69 D range; <60, F range. Class and lab attendance is required. More than three unexcused absences (class and lab combined) may result in the lowering of the final grade by as much as a full-letter grade. The highest standards of academic integrity and class conduct are expected and will be strictly enforced (see Statement of Academic Responsibility and Class Conduct and Behavior Rules). When needed, the instructor's permission for withdrawal or to take a make-up exam will be given only for valid and exceptional circumstances.

WEEK	TOPICS	READING
1	Class organization and introduction to mineral science NO LAB SCHEDULED	KD: Chap 1
2	Physical properties of minerals    Lab 1: Mineralogical computer resources and on-line data search	KD: Chaps 2, 10 TBA
3	Atoms, ions, and bonding    Lab 2: Review of mineral hand specimen identification	KD: Chap 3 KD: Chap 22
4	Coordination number, crystal structures, and compositional variation    Lab 3: ICP analysis: Theory and technique	KD: Chaps 4-5
5	Mineral reactions, stability, and behavior    Lab 4: Recalculation of mineral analyses and graphic representation	KD: Chaps 10, 12    KD: Chap 5
6	FIRST EXAM; Elements and combinations of symmetry    Lab 5: Two-dimensional symmetry and its recognition	KD: Chap 6
7	Crystal morphology, twinning, and internal order    Lab 6: Symmetry of three-dimensional crystal models	KD: Chaps 7, 10
8	Space groups, stereographic projections, and crystal systems    Lab 7: Introduction to light and the petrographic microscope	KD: Chaps 7-9 PH: p 1-9 KD: Chap 13
9	X-ray diffraction and other analytical techniques    Lab 8: Powder X-ray diffraction: identification of an unknown	KD: Chap 14
10	SECOND EXAM; Crystal chemistry of elements and sulfides    Lab 9: Isotropic crystals and index of refraction determinations	KD: Chap 15    PH: p 10-13 KD: Chap 13
11	Crystal chemistry of oxides, carbonates, and other non-silicates    Lab 10: Interference and optical properties of anisotropic crystals FIELD TRIP TO STERLING HILL MINE MUSEUM ON 11/15	KD: Chaps 16-17    PH: p 14-16 KD: Chap 13
12	Crystal chemistry of neso(ortho)silicates and sorosilicates    Lab 11: Optical properties of uniaxial minerals	KD: Chaps 18-19    PH: p 16-22 KD: Chap 13
13	Crystal chemistry of cyclosilicates and inosilicates Lab 12: A quick review of gem minerals (lecture) NO WEDNESDAY CLASS (THANKSGIVING BREAK)	KD: Chaps 18-19 KD: Chap 20
14	Crystal chemistry of phyllosilicates and tectosilicates    Lab 13: LAB PRACTICAL (hand-specimen identification)	KD: Chaps 18-19
	THIRD AND FINAL EXAM (FINALLY!) Monday, 12/8, 1:30-3:30 p.m.    Date and time change from semester to semester. Please check the final exam schedule on the registrar's website.

Note: Schedule will probably change slightly due to unforeseen circumstances, class interest and progress, and/or faculty incompetence.