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The Open University

An introduction to minerals and rocks under the microscope

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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In this free course, An introduction to minerals and rocks under the microscope, you will experience the study of minerals using a polarising microscope. While the study of minerals can involve electron or ion beam chemical analysis, the polarising microscope remains the prime tool for the study of rock thin sections and is the foundation of learning to recognise, characterise and identify rocks.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Minerals and the crystalline state
  • 1 Minerals and the crystalline state
  • 1.1 Introduction
  • 1.2 States of matter
  • 1.3 Physical properties of minerals in hand specimen
  • 1.3.1 Crystal shape
  • 1.3.2 Colour
  • 1.3.3 Lustre
  • 1.3.4 Cleavage
  • 1.3.5 Density
  • 1.3.6 Hardness
  • 1.4 The atomic structure of crystals
  • 1.4.1 Metallic structures and bonding
  • 1.4.2 Ionic structures and bonding
  • 1.4.3 Covalent structures and bonding
  • 1.5 Crystal defects and twinning
  • 1.6 Crystal symmetry and shape
  • 1.6.1 Crystal symmetry
  • 1.6.2 Crystal lattices and unit cells
  • 1.6.3 Crystal systems
  • 1.7 Summary of Section 1
  • 1.8 Learning outcomes for Section 1
  • 2 Minerals and the microscope
  • 2 Minerals and the microscope
  • 2.1 The nature of light
  • 2.1.1 Colour
  • 2.1.2 Refraction
  • 2.2 Minerals and polarised light
  • 2.2.1 Isotropic and anisotropic materials
  • 2.2.2 Double refraction
  • 2.2.3 Pleochroism
  • 2.2.4 Extinction positions
  • 2.2.5 Interference colours
  • 2.3 Minerals and the polarising microscope
  • 2.3.1 Introduction to the polarising microscope
  • 2.3.2 Minerals in thin section
  • 2.4 Summary of Section 2
  • 2.5 Learning outcomes for Section 2
  • 3 Rock-forming minerals
  • 3 Rock-forming minerals
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Silicate mineral structures
  • 3.3 Minerals with isolated SiO4 tetrahedra
  • 3.3.1 Olivine
  • 3.3.2 Garnet
  • 3.4 Chain silicates
  • 3.4.1 Pyroxene
  • 3.4.2 Amphibole
  • 3.5 Sheet silicate minerals
  • 3.5.1 The mica group
  • 3.5.2 Clay minerals
  • 3.5.3 Other sheet silicates
  • 3.6 Framework silicates
  • 3.6.1 Silica minerals
  • 3.6.2 Feldspars
  • 3.7 Non-silicate minerals
  • 3.7.1 Carbonates
  • 3.7.2 Oxides
  • 3.7.3 Sulfides
  • 3.8 Summary of Section 3
  • 3.9 Learning outcomes for Section 3
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements

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4.3 rating at OpenLearn based on 3 ratings

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