Crystallography and Mineralogy

This course is a basic to advance introduction for the undergraduate students pursuing B.Sc. Geology / Honous degree in Geology/ Engineering Graduate for Civil and Mining. Mineralogy is a pre-requisite course in petrology, geochemistry, and economic geology. The field of mineralogy cover a very broad area of study that includes, crystallography, chemical mineralogy or mineral chemistry, structures of minerals, genesis of minerals, optical mineralogy etc. Since mineralogy covers several aspects of geological sciences, it is indeed difficult to decide what aspects need to be included in core mineralogy for beginner students. Mineralogy also forms a part of curriculum in materials sciences, besides becoming a course in geological sciences. This course includes fundamental of crystallography and structural chemistry of minerals along with descriptive mineralogy. In my opinion crystallography and mineralogy together should continue to form the core course for the graduate students in geological sciences. As per the syllabus of UGC based on CBCS B.Sc. Geology, I henceforth use the term Crystallography and Mineralogy is to study rock forming minerals and their paragenesis, optical properties of minerals and crystallographic properties within one single paper as basic to advance for the under graduate students. This course deals with the naturally occurring minerals in field as well as laboratory analysis data that provide sufficient information how they occur in the nature. It gives idea of modern experimental mineralogical and crystallographic theories which are widely accepted for their origin. The course emphasis the Crystallographic and Mineralogy which cover the crystals and their characters, crystal form, face, edge, solid angle, interfacial angle and their measurements, crystallographic axes and angles, crystal parameters, Weiss and Miller system of notations, Symmetry element and description of normal class of Isometric, Tetragonal, Hexagonal, Trigonal, Orthombic, Monoclinic and Triclinic system. Introduction of mineralogy, Definition and characters of mineralogy, common physical properties of minerals, chemical composition, and diagnostic physical properties of minerals such as: Quartz, Orthoclase, Microcline, Hypersthene, Hornblende, Garnet, Muscovite, Biotite, chlorite, Olivine, Epidote, Calcite etc. Polarizing microscope, its parts and functioning, Ordinary and polarized lights, Common optical properties observed under ordinary, polarized lights and crossed nicols. Optical properties of some common rocks forming minerals.The course definitely provides better understanding to students for the understanding of crystallography, mineralogy, and optical mineralogy and its application involved during the origin and evolution of the rocks. The course contains video, text, assignment; quizzes, references etc, and I hope it will be useful for the geology students within and outside India. This 4 credits course run online for 16 weeks and finally end with examination. Last but not least, I highly accept any comments, questions, or suggestion for the improvement of this course.

COURSE LAYOUT

Week 1:W1D1-Geology and it’s perspective, W1D2-Career in geology, W1D3-Periodic Table, W1D4- Assignment, W1D5-Assignments, W1D6-Weekly tests