Earth Materials

AY2020/2021 Semester 2

Course will combine theoretical lectures about the formation of crystals and main rocks types followed by lab work where the students will learn about the optical microscope and how to identify main minerals in hand specimen and under the microscope. The students will do a project about a rock of their choice where they will have to identify main components, provide a geological background, and also ideas as why the rock in question might be important for research or society. During the project the student will learn how to organize information and cite literature as in scientific research papers. There is also an analytical component where the students will learn what are the main techniques to determine the composition and textures of rock and minerals, plus have hands on experience about making a thin section, taking images of the minerals with the optical microscope and obtain backscattered electron images using the scanning electron microscope.