EPS 100A is an introduction to the study of minerals and crystals. Minerals are the constituents of rocks but also occur in biological materials such as bones and sea shells. Most of man-made materials, from metals to ceramics and concrete are crystalline. The course introduces the structural principles of minerals, their diversity and conditions of formation. Students learn to identify the most important minerals in hand specimens and become familiar with the petrographic microscope. Usually about half of the students are geologists and the other half from a wide variety of fields. Lecture and labs will be supplemented by student presentations on selected research projects. The course meets for two one-hour lectures and two two-hour laboratory session weekly (Monday, 1:00-4:00 p.m. and Wednesday, 1:00-4:00 p.m. in room 365). Office hours will be announced.
Instructor: Rudy Wenk, 497 McCone, wenk@berkeley.edu
Teaching Assistant:
Course Content
The main topics are:
Introduction to mineral structures
Introduction to crystallography (lattice symmetry, morphology).
Genesis of minerals in rock-forming environments.
Mineral deposits and use.
Mineral composition of earth, moon and planets.
Identification of common minerals in hand specimens.
Methods of optical mineralogy (petrographic microscope).