Ian S Mc Callum

ESS 437
Seattle Campus
Mineralogy
Symmetry of crystals and crystal structures. Rules of crystal chemistry. Microscopic,
diffraction, and spectroscopic techniques of mineral characterization. Transformation
processes in minerals: order-disorder, phase transition, and exsolution. Crystal
chemistry and phase relations. Reactions on mineral surfaces. Physical properties,
deformation, and creep. Prerequisite: CHEM 142; ESS 212; ESS 312.
Class description
ESS 437/537 Mineralogy
Credits: 5 [Lectures: M W 12:30 pm-1:45 pm; Lab: M W 2:30 4:20 pm] Instructor:
I. S. McCallum Location: Room 127 Johnson Hall
As a consequence of the restructuring of the courses required for the major in ESS,
required courses in mineralogy have been reduced to 5 weeks in ESS 212 (Earth
Materials). This does not provide an adequate preparation for students interested in
more advanced study in petrology and geochemistry. In ESS 437/537 we attempt to
provide a follow-up course that looks at minerals in more detail. A knowledge of
minerals is an essential tool for all branches of geology since the behavior of natural
materials is a direct consequence of the physical and chemical properties of minerals.
This class is designed to provide a comprehensive view of the mineral sciences.
Required books: Putnis, Andrew: Introduction to minerals sciences. Cambridge
University Press.
Nesse, William D. Introduction to Optical Mineralogy (2004) Third edition. Oxford
University Press. If you dont already have Nesses Introduction to Mineralogy
textbook, you should get this one.
OR Nesse, William D; Introduction to Mineralogy. Oxford University Press. (Most of
you will have this book since it is the same book as used in ESS 212. It provides an
adequate summary of the principles of optical mineralogy in Chapter 7 and the optical
properties of minerals is covered in Chapters 12 through 20). Either of the Nesse
books is required for all lab sections. This book is quite expensive ($108 new) but
there are abundant used copies available on Amazon.com for as low as $80 so, if you
dont have a copy, I recommend that you purchase the book through Amazon.

Recommended book: Bloss, F.Donald: Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry. This

book is out of print but has been reprinted in paperback by the Mineralogical Society
of America. As a member of MSA I get a 25% discount so I can order several copies
from MSA. You can buy a copy from me at the discounted price of $25 (includes
shipping charges). If anyone would like a copy of Bloss, let me know and I will place
a rush order and will let you know when the books arrive.
Topics to be covered in lectures:
Review of Morphological Crystallography (an expanded discussion of material
covered in ESS 212): Symmetry, crystal systems, crystal classes, axes, Miller Indices,
crystal projections, crystal forms.
More advanced aspects of crystallography: Translational symmetry, lattices (2D and
3D-Bravais lattices), screw axes, glide planes, space groups, systematics of crystal
structures, twinning, phase transformations, polymorphism, crystal intergrowths.
Crystal chemistry: Material covered will build on concepts learned in ESS 312.
X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), spectroscopy: Theory of
x-ray crystallography, reciprocal lattices, Ewald sphere, single crystal and powder xray diffraction. Determination of cell dimensions using powder data. Interpretation of
oriented intergrowths using single crystal precession photographs. Principles of
transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction and the uses of
TEM studies in mineralogy. If time permits we will discuss some of the spectroscopic
techniques that are increasingly used in mineralogy and petrology, e.g., Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Mossbauer spectroscopy, Raman
spectroscopy, NMR, ESR, MicroXanes.
Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA): If there is sufficient time we will cover this
topic in lectures and in the laboratory. Theory of x-ray generation, use of diffracting
crystal in wave length dispersive analysis, energy dispersive analysis, Back Scattered
Electron Imaging and Secondary Electron Imaging, correction procedures for
quantitative analysis
Mineralogy, crystallography, crystal chemistry of the major rock forming minerals
This part of the course (second half) will emphasize the major rock-forming minerals:
olivine group, pyroxene group, feldspar group, amphibole group, mica group, oxide
group, and sulfides. For each mineral group we will discuss crystal structures, crystal
chemistry, compositional variations, order-disorder, thermodynamic properties, phase

equilibria, thermobarometry, natural occurrence. Time permitting, we will discuss

other important, but less common, mineral groups.
Lab Topics:
Optical Mineralogy: The first 5-6 weeks (approximately) of the laboratory will be
devoted to optical mineralogy in which we will cover the basics of mineral
identification with the polarizing microscope using thin sections and polished thin
sections. The physics of light optics and the interaction of light with crystalline
material are reviewed to the extent necessary for an understanding of polarized-light
techniques. The emphasis is on hands-on use of the microscope. We will learn how to
measure optical properties and identify the rock-forming minerals including olivines,
pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas, feldspars, feldspathoids, quartz, carbonates, common
sulfides, common oxides, plus other important rock-forming minerals such as garnet,
epidote, zircon, titanite, apatite, chlorite, talc, rutile, kyanite, sillimanite, andalusite. In
the early part of the quarter, some of the lab time will be devoted to lectures primarily
on optical mineralogy and the remaining time to hands-on work with the petrographic
microscope. Other forms of microscopy will be discussed and demonstrated (time
permitting). I will try to schedule demonstrations of scanning electron microscopy and
transmission electron microscopy (if the TEM lab in Astronomy is not too busy with
Stardust samples)
Electron probe microanalysis: We will devote one lab section for a demonstration of
the use the electron microprobe for the quantitative analysis of minerals and glass and
how to obtain high magnification back scattered electron (BSE) images. This lab will
be done with the assistance of Scott Kuehner.
X-ray diffraction: (a) Powder diffraction. We will devote one lab period to analyse
and interpret x-ray powder data. It may be possible to arrange a session in the
diffractometry lab in the Department of Material Sciences. Each student will be
provided with a sample of a single mineral to study. We will learn how to index
powder patterns and compute cell dimensions.
(b) Single crystal diffraction. We will examine and measure precession photographs
of single crystals of common minerals. We will learn how to index precession
photographs and how to use these photographs to determine cell dimensions and the
crystallographic nature of oriented intergrowths (exsolution).
You should bring Nesse to the lab. You will also need a lab notebook.
Grade: Grades in the class will be based on homework (~20%), lab exercises (~20%),
take home lecture final (~30%), lab final (~25%) and class participation (~5%).

Student learning goals

Understanding the principles of crystallography
Understanding the principles of bonding and crystal structures
Understanding physical and chemical properties of the rock-forming minerals.
Understanding the effects of extreme P and T on mineral stabilities
Understanding the basic thermodynamic properties of minerals
Understanding how and where minerals occur in nature.
General method of instruction
Mostly lectures + classroom discussion Labs: hands-on microscope work
Recommended preparation
ESS 212 (Earth Materials), ESS 312 (Geochemistry) or equivalents Chemistry 142,
152 or equivalents Physics 121, 122 or equivalents
Class assignments and grading
Three (possibly four) home problems Weekly lab exercise
Grades in the class will be based on homework (~20%), lab exercises (~20%), take
home lecture final (~30%), lab final (~25%) and class participation (~5%).