MDN 210E - Mineralogy and Petrography

Course Objectives

Minerals are the “bricks” of materials that make up the earth and all other solid bodies in the universe. They also make up various rocks. Minerals are also the raw materials on which much of society’s technological development and economic productivity are based. Therefore, they are of crucial importance to human civilization.
Most of the minerals are solid crystalline substances. Studying minerals helps us to understand the origin of the Earth and the processes which have been shaping it.
The aim of this course is to teach the students of Engineering the classification, occurrence, composition, origin, formation, and economical importance of minerals, as well as igneous and metamorphic rocks.
The course specifically focuses on describing and classifying minerals and igneous/metamorphic rocks with special reference to their origin and distribution in the Earth’s crust and mantle.

Course Description

For earth scientists and specifically for Engineers, a basic knowledge of mineralogy and petrography of the igneous & metamorphic rocks is of crucial importance because only it can provide them with vital information about nomenclature and classification of minerals & rocks, basic terminology, and a number of other important issues e.g., understanding the origin of minerals and rocks, tectonic setting in which they occur and their geological evolution.