Earth Sciences

AIMS

To introduce the student to advanced topics in crystallography and mineral physics; i.e., the structures and properties of Earth and planetary materials.

OUTCOMES

Part 1: Knowledge and understanding of the techniques of X-ray and neutron diffraction; and
Part 2: Either

a) The application of these methods, and the use of crystal physics, to the determination of thermoelastic and structural properties of Earth and planetary forming materials;
or
b) the structures and properties of minerals in surface environments and their environmental and economic importance;
or
c) the structures and properties of rock-forming minerals and their applications in geology, e.g. phase equilibria, geobarometry, etc.

CONTENT

The course has a common first-half which provides an introduction to the methods of crystallography and crystal structure determination. This is followed by one of three streams covering either: (a) crystal physics and its applications to Earth and Planetary forming materials, (b) structures and properties of environmental minerals, such as clays and zeolites, or (c) applications of mineralogy to rock-forming minerals.