Laboratory Methods for Minerals and Rocks

Course Information
TitleΕΡΓΑΣΤΗΡΙΑΚΕΣ ΜΕΘΟΔΟΙ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ ΟΡΥΚΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΤΡΩΜΑΤΩΝ / Laboratory Methods for Minerals and Rocks
CodeNGMO 736Ε
FacultySciences
SchoolGeology
Cycle / Level1st / Undergraduate
Teaching PeriodWinter
CoordinatorLamprini Papadopoulou
CommonNo
StatusActive
Course ID600019075

Programme of Study: PPS-Tmīma Geōlogías (2020-sīmera)

Registered students: 0
OrientationAttendance TypeSemesterYearECTS
KORMOSElective Courses744
ORYKTOLOGIA - PETROLOGIAElective Course belonging to the selected specialization (Elective Specialization Course)744
KOITASMATOLOGIA - OIKONOMIKĪ GEŌLOGIAElective Course belonging to the selected specialization (Elective Specialization Course)744

Class Information
Academic Year2022 – 2023
Class PeriodWinter
Weekly Hours3
Class ID
600215806
Course Type 2011-2015
Knowledge Deepening / Consolidation
Mode of Delivery
  • Face to face
Digital Course Content
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
  • Greek (Instruction, Examination)
  • English (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
• Connecting the theoretical knowledge with practical applications. • Understanding how to process mineral and rock samples for analytical procedures. • Learning the use of different analytical methods that apply to the study of minerals and rocks. • Learning how to process and present analytical data.
General Competences
  • Apply knowledge in practice
  • Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
  • Work autonomously
  • Work in teams
Course Content (Syllabus)
• INTRODUCTION: Stages in the study of a mineral or a rock. Data we need to gather. Analytical methods that can be used. • PREPARATION OF THIN, POLISHED AND THIN-POLISHED SECTIONS: Types of thin sections. Sample cutting. Thin section laboratory preparation. Materials used in thin section preparation. • EXAMINATION OF THIN SECTIONS UNDER THE POLARIZING MICROSCOPE: Information received from each kind of thin section. • MINERAL STAINING: When is mineral staining used. Types of chemical stains. Staining of potassium feldspar and carbonate minerals. Identification of minerals by Fluorescence. • POINT COUNTING: Study of minerals under the polarizing microscope. Quantitative determination of mineral components in a thin section by point counting. • MINERAL SEPARATION: Mechanical separation by hand. Magnetic separation of minerals. Mineral separation based on density with the use of heavy liquids. Mineral separation by flotation. • MINERAL MICROANALYSIS (SEM-EDS, SEM-WDS): Operating principle and description of an electron microscope. Operating principle of a scanning electron microscope. Type of detectors. Sample preparation. Applications of SEM-EDS. • ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY: Operating principle of atomic absorption spectroscopy. Sample preparation. Applications of atomic absorption spectroscopy. • X-RAY DIFFRACTION (XRD): Operating principle of X-ray diffraction. Bragg’s law. Sample preparation. Applications of X-ray diffraction. • X-RAY FLUORESCENCE (XRF): Operating principle of X-ray fluorescence. Sample preparation. Applications of X-ray fluorescence.
Keywords
Thin and polished section, microanalysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence.
Educational Material Types
  • Notes
  • Slide presentations
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
  • Use of ICT in Course Teaching
  • Use of ICT in Laboratory Teaching
  • Use of ICT in Communication with Students
  • Use of ICT in Student Assessment
Description
1) All class material is available in electronic form to all students through the course web page 2) The teacher communicates with students through email and Facebook 3) The class evaluation is performed through the Quality Assurance Unit (MO.DI.P.)
Course Organization
ActivitiesWorkloadECTSIndividualTeamworkErasmus
Lectures39
Laboratory Work39
Reading Assigment12
Written assigments7
Exams3
Total100
Student Assessment
Description
Quality management system of the Quality Assurance Unit (MO.DI.P.)
Student Assessment methods
  • Written Assignment (Formative, Summative)
  • Oral Exams (Formative, Summative)
  • Labortatory Assignment (Formative, Summative)
Bibliography
Additional bibliography for study
Σκλαβούνος Σ., Καντηράνης Ν., Παπαδοπούλου Λ., 2011. Εργαστηριακές μέθοδοι έρευνας ορυκτών. Τμήμα Εκδόσεων Α.Π.Θ., 96σ. Anthony J.W., Bideaux R.A., Bladh K.W. and Nichols M.C., 2003. Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly, USA. Pansu Μ., Gautheyrou J., 2006. Handbook of Soil Analysis: Mineralogical, Organic and Inorganic Methods. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 9993p. ISBN-13 978-3-540-31210-9. Burt R., 2004. Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 700p.
Last Update
09-03-2020