63212 MINERALS AND ROCKS

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
97	63212 	S2  	D 	MINERALS AND ROCKS        	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

63100

RATIONALE:

The  identification of rocks and minerals is fundamental to the  Earth
Sciences  and  their study is the key to understanding  the  processes
that  have  shaped the earth's crustal evolution over  the  past  4500
million years. In order to better understand the physical and chemical
conditions under which these processes operate it is necessary to have
a  knowledge of the composition and physical properties of  rocks  and
minerals.

SYNOPSIS:

This  unit is concerned with the identification of rocks and minerals,
and  how  their compositions and physical properties can  be  used  to
glean  useful  information about the physical and chemical  conditions
prevailing  in  the earth's crust. Both microscopic and hand  specimen
identification  are  emphasised. Other advanced mineralogical  methods
will be discussed. This is an essential unit for persons interested in
environmental earth science.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

1. Identify the common rock-forming minerals and the rocks in
   which they occur.
   
2. Demonstrate familiarity with the petrographic miroscope and
   other techniques used in mineral identification (x-ray
   diffraction, etc.)
   
3. Describe the physical properties, structure and chemical
   composition of the major rock-forming minerals.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Crystallography                                                       5.00

Microscope and hand specimen identification of                        30.00
minerals; transmitted and reflected light microscopy

Mineralogy; classification and description of major                   40.00
rock-forming minerals

X-ray diffraction; introduction to other mineral                      10.00
identification techniques (scanning electron
microscope, fluorescence, electron-microprobe
analysis)

Mineralogical classification and description of                       15.00
common rocks; rock textures

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Battey, M.H. 1981, Mineralogy for Students, 2nd edn, Longman.

Gribble, C.D. & Hall, A.J. 1992, Optical Mineralogy, Principles and
Practice, UCL Press.

MacKenzie, W.S., Donaldson, C.H. & Guilford, C. 1982, Atlas of
Igneous Rocks and Their Textures, Longman.

MacKenzie, W.S. & Guilford, C. 1980, Atlas of Rock-forming Minerals
in Thin-Section, Longman.

Yardley, B.W.D., MacKenzie, W.S. & Guilford, C. 1990, Atlas of
Metamorphic Rocks and Their Textures, Longman.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	28
Laboratory or Practical Classes               	42
Private Study                                 	73
Examinations                                  	3
Assessments                                   	24

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL
1   S              T.B.A.    ASSIGNMENT 1                              13.30     N
2   S              T.B.A.    ASSIGNMENT 2                              13.30     N
3   S              T.B.A.    ASSIGNMENT 3                              13.40     N
4   S              END S2    3 HOUR THEORY & PRAC EXAM                 60.00     N

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    Students are required to participate actively in at least 80% of
     the practical/tutorial classes in this unit.
2    Students  must  achieve  a pass mark  in  BOTH  the  theory  and
     practical components of the course work.
3    In accordance with University policy and Guidelines,
i    an  Examiner  may  grant an extension of  the  due  date  of  an
     assignment in extenuating circumstances;
ii   no  assignments  will be accepted for assessment purposes  after
     assignments  or  model solutions have been  released  except  in
     extenuating circumstances;
iii  assignments submitted after the due date without any extenuating
     circumstances  will  attract a penalty of at  most  20%  of  the
     assignment mark for each working day late;
iv   students who submit an assignment after the due date and wish to
     claim   extenuating  circumstances,  must  provide   documentary
     evidence with the assignment explaining the circumstances;
v      the  unit  examiner  shall consider a  claim  for  extenuating
     circumstances and decide on the outcome;
vi   the  decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute that may
     arise in the implementation of these guidelines.