Minerals and Rocks

The first version of this text was written to serve as lecture notes for a first term geology course in “Minerals and Rocks” at Aarhus University in Denmark in 2003. In Aarhus this course is accompanied by a general “Introduction to Geology” course that presents, for example, the structure of the Earth, plate tectonics and paleontology. These topics are therefore not treated here, and some knowledge of the Earth´s structure and plate tectonics is assumed.

After a brief introduction to the Rock Cycle, this text presents the physical properties of minerals and an introduction to crystallography. The most important rock-forming minerals are then dealt with in a systematic way, followed by the three main rock groups – igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.

A lecture course in Minerals and Rocks must be accompanied by a parallel sequence of practical classes where, for example, crystal structures, minerals and rock types dealt with in theory are demonstrated in practice.

J. Richard Wilson
June 2010

1. Introduction
   1. Igneous rocks
   2. Sedimentary rocks
   3. Metamorphic rocks
   4. The Rock Cycle
2. Minerals – an Introduction
   1. Definition of a mineral
   2. Properties of minerals
3. Crystallography
   1. Symmetry
   2. Crystal systems
   3. Crystal classes
   4. Indices of crystal faces
4. Systematic Mineralogy
   1. Silicate minerals
   2. Non-silicate minerals
5. Igneous rocks
   1. Classification of igneous rocks
   2. Magma
   3. Eruption of magma
   4. Volcanoes
   5. Plutonic rocks
   6. The origin of magma
   7. Igneous mineral deposits
6. Sedimentary rocks
   1. Introduction
   2. Weathering
   3. Classification of sedimentary rocks
   4. Sedimentary structures
   5. Where do sediments form?
7. Metamorphic rocks
   1. Introduction
   2. Metamorphism – causes and effects
   3. Types of metamorphic rocks
   4. Grades of metamorphism
   5. Environments of metamorphism
   6. Where do metamorphic rocks occur?