Dr. Heather Petcovic
 

Course and Instructor Information

Course Description

A one semester course covering hand specimen mineralogy and petrology; includes introduction to crystallography, physical and chemical properties of minerals, and rock description and genesis. Will not count toward a major in Geology.

Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: GEOS 1000 or 1300 and 1310, a course in college-level chemistry, or consent of instructor.

Course Information

Time Room Instructor
Lecture: TR 9:30-10:45 am Rood 1120 Petcovic
Lab: W 1:00-2:50 pm

Rood 1117

 Hayden
Lab: R 2:00-3:50 pm

Rood 1117

 Hayden

Required Texts & Materials

(1) A Minerals and Rocks custom publication (M&RCP) in PDF format. We will distribute a CD copy of this textbook.

(2) Simon and Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals (R&M): Prinz, Harlow, and Peters, 1978.

(3) A hand lens is required for the lab. A triplet style, 10x lens is recommended. Hand lenses will be provided for all students enrolled in the course.

Recommended CD: Hands on Mineral Identification: M. Darby Dyar, 1999.

Instructor Information

Instructor: Dr. Heather Petcovic Travis Hayden
Office: Rood 1137 Rood 1117
Office Hours: TR 10:45-11:30,
or by appointment 		W 2:50-4:00; R 1:00-2:00,
or by appointment
Email: heather.petcovic@wmich.edu travis.g.hayden@wmich.edu
Phone: 269-387-5488 269-615-2028

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Class Schedule

READING ASSIGNMENT

SUBJECT
(lecture notes posted below)

DATE

M&RCP: Introduction, and Ch. 1 A Plate Tectonic Primer

Introduction to Minerals and Rocks;
A Plate Tectonic Primer

Week 1/5

M&RCP: Ch. 2 The Wilson Cycle and a Tectonic Rock Cycle

A Plate Tectonic Primer;
The Wilson Cycle and a Tectonic Rock Cycle

Weeks 1/12 and 1/19

Exam #1
Exam 1 Study Guide
Exam corrections due Tues 2/10

Tues 1/27

M&RCP: Ch. 3 Introduction to Mineralogy and Crystallography, and Ch. 4 Crystal Chemistry,
R&M: pp. 8-27

Elements, Minerals, Crystals, and Rocks; Basic Atomic Theory: the Periodic Table

Weeks 1/26 and 2/2

M&RCP: Ch. 5 Mineral Chemistry
R&M: pp. 27-31, and 51-55

Mineral/Crystal Chemistry and Classification of Minerals Revisited

Weeks 2/2 and 2/9

M&RCP: Ch. 6 The Unit Cell The Unit Cell
 Week 2/9
M&RCP: Ch. 7 The Rock Forming Silicate Minerals
R&M: pp. 55-60		 The Rock Forming Silicate Minerals: Basic Principles;
A Tour of the Rock Forming Silicate Minerals 		Weeks 2/16 and 2/23

 

Exam #2
Exam 2 Study Guide
Exam corrections due Tues 3/17
Figures for exam corrections

Thurs 2/26

 

SPRING BREAK

2/27 - 3/6

M&RCP: Ch. 8 Structure of the Earth and Origins of Magmas; and Ch. 9 Magmas, Igneous Rocks, Volcanoes, and Plutons;
R&M: pp. 414-19 and 427-35

Introduction to Rocks;
The Formation of Igneous Rocks;
Intrusive and Extrusive Igneous Rock Structures;
Igneous Rocks and Plate Tectonics

Weeks 3/9 and 3/16

M&RCP: Ch. 10 An Introduction To Sedimentary Rocks; Occurrence, Weathering, Mineralogy, Textures and Structures, Ch. 11 Sedimentary Petrology: The Clastics, and Ch. 11a Sedimentary Petrology: Carbonates and Others

Sedimentary Rocks and the Production of Sediment;
Clay Minerals and Soil;
Sedimentary Rocks and the Origin of Sedimentary Strata

Weeks 3/23 and 3/30

 

Exam #3
Exam 3 study guide
Exam corrections due Tues 4/14

Thurs 4/2

M&RCP: Ch.12 Metamorphic Rocks
R&M: pp. 419-21

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks;
Metamorphic Facies and Mineral Assemblages

Weeks 4/6 and 4/13

 

Economic Uses of Minerals & Rocks

Week 4/13

 

Final Exam
Tuesday, April 21, 8-10 am
Final Exam study guide

Week 4/20

Homework Assignments:

ASSIGNMENT

DUE DATE

Take Home Exercise #1

Thurs 2/5

Take Home Exercise #2

Thurs 2/12

Take Home Exercise #3

Thurs 2/19

Take Home Exercise #4

Thurs 2/26

Take Home Exercise #5
Graph Paper

Tues 3/24
Take Home Exercise #6 Thurs 4/2

Take Home Exercise #7

Thurs 4/16

Course Notes:

Much of the material for this course has been adapted by Dr. Dave Barnes from the websites of Dr. Lynn Fichter (Tectonics) and Dr. Stephen Nelson (Minerals & Rocks).

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Lab Assignments

LAB ASSIGNMENT:

LAB DATE

DUE DATE
Introduction 1/7 & 8  

1. Introduction to Plate Tectonics, Minerals, and Rocks on the WWW

1/14 & 15

1/21 & 22

1a. Wilson Cycle and a Plate Tectonic Rock Cycle

1/21 & 22

1/28 & 29
2. Introduction to Crystallography
- Appendix A: Introduction to Crystallography and Mineral Crystal Systems

1/28 & 29

2/4 & 5

3. Determinative Mineralogy and Mineral Identification Lab:
- Native Elements - Sulfides Worksheet

2/4 & 5

2/11 & 12

4. Mineral ID Lab: Oxides, Carbonates, and Evaporite Minerals
- Worksheet

2/11 & 12

2/18 & 19

5. Mineral ID Lab: M&RCP, Ch. 7 The Rock Forming Silicate Minerals (same as Ch 7 in the CD course pack)
- Worksheet

2/18 & 19

2/25 & 26

MINERAL LAB EXAM

2/25 & 26

 

6. Rock Identification Lab: Intrusive Igneous Rocks
- Worksheet

3/11 & 12

3/18 & 19

7. Rock Identification Lab: Extrusive Igneous Rocks
- Worksheet

3/18 & 19

3/25 & 26

8. Rock Identification Lab: Sedimentary Rocks
- Worksheet

3/25 & 26

4/1 & 2

9. Rock Identification Lab: Sedimentary Rocks II
- Worksheet

4/1 & 2

 4/8 & 9

10. Rock Identification Lab: Metamorphic Rocks
- Worksheet

4/8 & 9

4/15 & 16

ROCK LAB EXAM

4/15 & 16

 

Labs are generally due 1 week after they are assigned. Please attend only your assigned lab section. Any requests to change lab sections (permanently or temporarily in the event of an excused absence) should be directed to your lab instructor in advance.

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1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008
Last Updated April 6, 2009