0 or 4 credits
Fall 2025 Laboratory Lecture Lower Division
Elements of crystallography, physical and chemical properties of rock-forming minerals, and minerals of economic importance. Origin and occurrence of minerals. Prior course work in dynamic earth or physical geology is required.
Learning Outcomes1Know the major element geochemistry of common rock forming minerals that occur in earth, the terrestrial planets, and in meteorites.
2Understand that minerals form the geochemical reservoirs from which rock materials are derived.
3Have competence in the rules of crystallography, be able to determine symmetry elements in 1-, 2-, and 3-demensions, and understand how to index different parts of crystals using common notations.
4Identify rock forming minerals and selected accessory and ore minerals in hand sample.
5Learn the theory and methods of optical mineralogy, spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microbeam analysis.
6Learn the thermodynamics phase equilibria in rock and mineral systems, and the basic petrology of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
Prerequisites
GPA by professor
made by Purdue students.