Course

Introduction to Mineralogy

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Course Code
EAES 2400
Credits
4.00
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
Class 35
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Typically Offered
Fall

Overview

Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the physical and chemical properties of minerals. The course will cover identification and classification of rock-forming and economic minerals, crystallography and analytical methods, mineral occurrences and associations. Field trips will be required.
Course Content

Crystallography

Basics: Definition of a mineral; Overview of mineral classes; Physical properties of minerals and how they relate to chemical properties.

Crystal structure: Governing chemical principles; Symmetry operations; Crystal systems and crystal classes; Twinning and polymorphs.

Analytical methods: Introduction to quantitative and semi-quantitative lab- and field-based analytical methods.

Systematic Mineralogy

Mineral identification and classification (silicates, sulphides, oxides, carbonates, others).

Mineral Occurrences and Associations

Introduction to various physico-chemical environments (e.g. pegmatites, sulphides, others).

Learning Activities

The primary mode of instruction will involve lectures and laboratories. Field trips will be required.

 

Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ policy.  The instructor will present a writtten course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.  Evaluation will be based on the following:

Lecture and lab assignments, projects, homework: 10-30%

Lab exams, quizzes: 20-40%

Midterm exam: 20-25%

Final exam: 30%

 

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Identify the point group symmetry of a variety of crystals and crystal models and classify them into crystal systems.
  2. Explain the principles of translational symmetry and the chemical criteria governing the variation of crystal structure.
  3. Explain the most important chemical and structural characteristics of the major mineral classes.
  4. Describe the various physical and chemical techniques used to identify minerals.
  5. Identify a wide variety of rock-forming and economically important minerals in hand sample.
  6. Identify mineral associations and relate environment and processes to mineral occurrences.
Textbook Materials

Students should consult the bookstore for the latest required course materials, including textbook. This course will use:

Klein, C., Philpotts, A.;  Earth Materials, Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology; Cambridge University Press, or equivalent.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see

Institution Transfer Details for EAES 2400
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX SOSC 2XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU GEOL 2XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SCEL 2XX (4)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR GEOL 2XX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG GEOL 2XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU EASC 202 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU GEOL 2100 (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW SCIE 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO EESC_O 200 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV EOSC_V 220 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC GEOG 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV GEOG 2XX (4)
University of Victoria (UVIC) DOUG EAES 2400 (4) & DOUG EAES 2410 (4) = UVIC EOS 205 (1.5) & UVIC EOS 2XX (1.5)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EOS 2XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC EVSC 2XXX (3)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) No credit
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU GEOL 200 (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025