GEOSCIENCES 262:  ROCKS AND MINERALS                            FALL 2008

INSTRUCTOR:  Mary Keskinen    	Reich 340   X7769
TEACHING ASSISTANT:  Maciej Sliwinski 	Reich 312   X7585 
TIME:  LECTURES - MW 10:30-11:30 a.m.         LAB - Th 2:00-5:00 p.m.
PLACE:  Reichardt 237

CLASS DESCRIPTION:  An overview of mineral & rocks - their identification, classification, mode of formation, & economic applications.  

CLASS FORMAT:  lectures twice a week, one of which may be a discussion/group learning exercise.   Reading assignments are to be read before the class for which they are assigned.  The once-a- week Lab will emphacize practical techniques for mineral and rock identification such as physical properties, X-ray diffraction, and optical characteristics.   A few videos and very short field trips will be included.  GUEST LECTURES ARE POSSIBLE. 

READING ASSIGNMENTS will be from the textbook, Rocks and Rock Minerals, by Richard Dietrich and Brian Skinner (1979), John Wiley. 

date            lecture topic                           ___________reading assignment

9/8	Introduction to minerals & rocks	
9/10	mineral properties and classification	pp. 1-26
9/15 	non-silicate minerals 1	pp. 70-86
9/17 	non-silicate minerals 2	pp. 87-98
9/22 	silicate minerals 1	pp. 27-70
9/24 	silicate minerals 2	
9/29 	crystallography in one easy lesson	
10/1 	exam 1 (minerals)
10/6 	rock classification	pp. 101-126
10/8 	igneous rocks	pp. 126-146
10/13	occurrence of intrusive igneous rocks	pp. 146-170
10/15	occurrence of volcanic igneous rocks
10/20	ore-deposits and igneous rocks
10/22	sedimentary rocks	pp. 170-203
10/27	sedimentary processes	pp. 203-230 
10/29	sedimentary  environments
11/3	exam 2 (igneous & sedimentary rocks)
11/5	metamorphic rocks	pp. 232-247
11/10	occurrence of metamorphic rocks	pp. 248-273
11/12	structure and properties of metamorphic rocks
11/17	diagenesis and weathering	pp. 274-298
11/19	clay mineralogy
11/24	soil development
11/26	soil classification
12/1	economic uses of rocks and minerals
12/3	rock properties and engineering
12/8	review session, special topics
12/10	exam 3 (Comprehensive)

date	             LABORATORY TOPICS

9/12  	mineral classification & diagnostic properties
9/19  	non-silicate mineral identification
9/26	silicate mineral identification
10/3	FIELD TRIP TO MUSEUM, computer exercise
10/10  	crystallography & x-ray properties of minerals
10/17	* mineral quiz *	
10/24	volcanic rocks
10/31	plutonic rocks and associated ore deposits
11/7	clastic sedimentary rocks
11/14	non-clastic sedimentary rocks
11/21 	 metamorphic rocks
11/28	microscopic examination of rocks
12/5	rock lab quiz

GRADING:  GRADES WILL BE BASED ON BOTH LAB AND LECTURE PARTICIPATION.  LECTURE IS WORTH 2/3 OF THE FINAL GRADE, BASED ON THE 3 EXAMS, OCCASIONAL HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS, AND THE ODD POP QUIZ, AS WELL AS ZEAL
AND CLASS PARTICIPATION.  THE LAB 1/3 WILL BE BASED ON LAB QUIZZES, OCCASIONAL LAB WRITE-UPS, AND ATTENDANCE.

Disability Services:  The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials.  This class will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.  Make sure to let the instructor know if there are concerns of this type.