| Effective Term: | 2024/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Optical Mineralogy |
| Unit ID: | SCGEO2102 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (SCGEO1103) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (SX617) |
| ASCED: | 010703 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This course introduces students to the study of minerals and rocks using transmitted and reflected light microscopy. Mineral and rock relationships are studied in detail, and students use rock and mineral microstructures textures to interpret geological relationships. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | |  | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Identify and communicate concepts of the interaction of light with minerals including linking crystalline internal order and symmetry to external crystallographic form |
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| K2. | Identify and communicate the basic optical properties of minerals and other transparent materials |
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| K3. | Recognize optical properties of the common rock forming minerals by means of a standard polarizing microscope |
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| K4. | Discuss the relationship between mineral properties and their paragenesis and provenance |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Operate a polarising microscope in the study of minerals and rocks in thin section |
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| S2. | Demonstrate familiarity with common minerals including predict mineral properties using knowledge of crystal structures |
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| S3. | Interpret mineral and rock textures |
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| S4. | Demonstrate research and communications skills |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Display proficiency with a polarising microscope |
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| A2. | Decipher rock microtextures, and communicate results |
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| A3. | Consult and use mineralogical databases |
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| A4. | Identify minerals from a range of samples |
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| Unit Content: |
Topics may include: 1. Theory of polarised light and its interaction with crystalline matter. 2. The polarising microscope and its application to mineralogy noting the significance of crystallographic principles 3. The optical properties of the common rock forming minerals and their classification and signficance. 4. The paragenesis of the common rock forming minerals. 5. Reflected light microscopy, common ore minerals and their paragenesis 6. Lattice and crystal symmetry and classification, miller indices, crystal spatial information and space groups. |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2, A3, A4 | Submission of a range of practical assignments pertaining to crystallography, the use of the Polarising microscope to identify minerals and rocks and to interpret rock textures. | Practical Exercises/Work | 20-40 % | | 2. | K1, K2, K3, K4, S2, A3 | Present understanding of key concepts of mineral identififactaion using a microscope including crystollgrahic significance. | Report | 10% | | 3. | K1, K2, K3, K4, S2, S3, A1, A2 | Assessment of students comprehension of key theoretical concepts linking transmission and reflected light microscopic identification of minerals, as they relate to mineral paragenesis and interpreting geology. | End of semester Theory Test(s) | 20-30 % | | 4. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2, A4 | Assessment of students ability to effectively use the polarising microscope to identify minerals, interpret mineralogy and textures to assist in interpreting geology. | Practical test(s) | 20-30% |
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