College of Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Geol 360 - Principles of Mineralogy

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Catalog Description
360 Principles of Mineralogy. I; 4 cr (P-I). Minerals, their physical and chemical properties, crystallography, and geologic significance. P: 1 sem college chem or con reg.

Course Prerequisite(s)
  • One semester of college chemistry

Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills
  • Students should have an understanding of general chemistry.

Textbook(s) and/or other required material
  • 'Manual of Mineralogy,' Revised 21st Edition, Klein and Hurlbut.

Course objectives
  • This course will develop students' knowledge of crystallography, optical mineralogy, x-ray diffraction, and silicate and non-silicate mineralogy.

Topics covered
  • Crystallography
  • Symmetry
  • Sulfides, Oxides, Carbonates, and Silicates
  • Optical Properties of Minerals
  • X-ray Diffraction
  • Pyroxenes, Amphiboles, and Feldspars

Class/laboratory schedule
  • Three 50 minute lectures and one three hour laboratory are held each week.

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component
This course contributes primarily to the students' knowledge of college-level mathematics and/or basic sciences, but does not provide experimental experience.

The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

  • Economic
  • Environmental
  • Health & Safety
  • Manufacturability
  • Sustainability

Relationship of course to undergraduate degree program objectives
This course primarily serves students in the department. The information below describes how the course contributes to the undergraduate program objectives.

  • Ability to apply knowledge of natural science to geological and environmental problems.
  • Understand the methods, instrumentation systems, and accuracy/precision requirements for making measurements of basic and derived physical quantities. Students should also have hands-on experience individually and in groups to develop an appreciation for the skill, care, and instrumentaion required to obtain reliable measurements and to verify physical principles.
  • Ability to select an appropriate solution method for a defined problem, obtain and verify that the solution satisfies all conditions, determine the behavior or response of the system being analyzed from the solution that was obtained, and state the limits of the solution.
  • Students should recognize the need for life-long learing and have skills that will enable them to engage in life-long learning.
  • Ability to apply knowledge in physical geology, mineralogy, principles of sedimentation or stratigraphy, and field geology.

Assessment of student progress toward course objectives
  • Grades are calculated in the following manner:
  • Laboratory assignments and quizzes are worth 2/6 of final grade.
  • Three midterm exams are worth 2/6 of final grade.
  • Two laboratory exams amount to 1/6 of final grade.
  • The final exam is worth 1/6 of final grade.

Person(s) who prepared this description
  • Phil Brown


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