EA2200:03
Earth Materials
Townsville
Prerequisites: EA1001 or EA1100
Inadmissable Subject Combination: EA2001
26 lectures, 48 hours practicals, 4 hours field work. First semester.
Staff: Dr M Rubenach, Dr P Williams, Dr T Baker.
Silicate, carbonate, oxide and sulphide mineralogy and an introduction to the techniques of optical mineralogy and hand-specimen and optical petrology. Characterisation and description of igneous rocks in the context of major element chemistry, mineralogy, texture, genetic processes and tectonic setting.
Learning Objectives:
- development of the skills and knowledge to recognise minerals in a hand specimen, and classify, the common rock-forming minerals and rocks;
- acquisition of the observational skills and knowledge to interpret the genetic meaning of textures in common rocks;
- acquisition of a preliminary knowledge of the techniques of optical petrography and of x-ray and electron microprobe analysis of minerals;
- an appreciation of the genetic context and crustal setting of common rock-forming minerals and sedimentary and igneous rocks.
Assessment by a three-hour written examination (60%); practical classes (40%).
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