Mineralogy is a fundamental topic in geology. Minerals are the basic ingredients of the solid earth (and terrestrial planets) and knowledge of mineralogy is central to diverse disciplines in the geosciences including economic geology, environmental sciences, petrology, sedimentology, structural geology, geochemistry, and geophysics. Chemistry of course is even more fundamental than mineralogy and since minerals are naturally occurring chemical compounds, chemistry is a prerequisite.

A primary objective of this course is to develop a broad overview of the minerals that form the earth - their nature, origin and evolution. Chemical composition and physical conditions dictate the formation and stability of minerals in and on the earth. As different minerals grow, the physical arrangements of atoms result in various forms of symmetry. The science of crystal symmetry is "crystallography". We will explore the fundamental principles of crystallography and crystal-chemistry. These principles govern and describe the architecture of minerals at the atomic level and are responsible for their properties and stabilities. We will study the nature of the dominant minerals that make up the bulk of the earth. We will learn the methods to identify minerals in hand specimens and using X-ray diffraction, as well as the use of the electron microprobe for the determination of mineral compositions.

A major part of the course is devoted to mineral optics in preparation for the study of rocks in thin section (i.e. petrography) using a polarizing light microscope. Topics to be covered include familiarization with the microscope, the elementary principles of crystal optics, the immersion method, isotropic, uniaxial, and biaxial optics, and the study of minerals in thin section. By the end of the semester students should be able to readily identify the major rock-forming minerals in thin section. This provides a foundation for study of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.