Laboratory Methods for Minerals and Rocks
| Title | ΕΡΓΑΣΤΗΡΙΑΚΕΣ ΜΕΘΟΔΟΙ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ ΟΡΥΚΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΤΡΩΜΑΤΩΝ / Laboratory Methods for Minerals and Rocks |
| Code | NGMO 736Ε |
| Faculty | Sciences |
| School | Geology |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate |
| Teaching Period | Winter |
| Coordinator | Lamprini Papadopoulou |
| Common | No |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600019075 |
Programme of Study: PPS-Tmīma Geōlogías (2020-sīmera)
Registered students: 32
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KORMOS | Elective Courses | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| ORYKTOLOGIA - PETROLOGIA | Elective Course belonging to the selected specialization (Elective Specialization Course) | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| KOITASMATOLOGIA - OIKONOMIKĪ GEŌLOGIA | Elective Course belonging to the selected specialization (Elective Specialization Course) | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| Academic Year | 2025 – 2026 |
| Class Period | Winter |
| Faculty Instructors |
|
| Instructors from Other Categories |
|
| Weekly Hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 |
| Class ID | 600285548
|
Course Type 2021
Specialization / Direction
Course Type 2011-2015
Knowledge Deepening / Consolidation
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600285548
- eLearning (Moodle): https://elearning.auth.gr/course/view.php?id=703
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
- English (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1) Connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications.
2) Describe and apply the process of preparing mineral and rock samples for analytical procedures.
3) Identify and select among various analytical methods used in the study of minerals and rocks.
Critically analyze and apply methods for processing and presenting 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
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Laboratory Work | 39 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Reading Assigment | 12 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Written assigments | 7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Exams | 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Total | 100 |
Student Assessment
Description
1. Written Exam with short-answer questions on topics taught at theory. It makes up 20% of the overall score.
2. Oral exams on topics taught at both theory and laboratories. It makes up 50% of the overall score.
3. Submission of a report concerning the use of analytical methods on selected mineral nad rock samples. It makes up 30% of the overall score.
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
03-07-2025
