Present course, ‘Myths and Facts About Rocks’ is offered by the Tomsk Polytechnic University. This 7-weeks course is intended to students interested in the world environment – minerals and rocks.
The overall objective of this course is to understand and appreciate the surrounding inanimate nature (the Earth surface), consisting of minerals and rocks. The course starts in December, 2015.
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( votes)Course At A Glance
Length: 7 weeks
Effort: 3-4 hours/week
Subject: Myths and Facts About Rocks
Institution: Tomsk Polytechnic University and iversity
Languages: English
Price: Free
Certificate Available: Yes
Session: Course starts in December, 2015.
Providers’ Details
Being the oldest engineering higher school in the Asian part of Russia, Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) has produced generations of graduates who have gone on to become leaders in all areas of society and industry.
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About This Course
The course embraces the following aspects:
-understanding the key geological concepts, including crystal, mineral and rock;
-applying basic methods to determine the properties of minerals and structure and texture of rocks;
-identifying the composition, formation conditions, characteristic features of naturally-occurring and urban environment stone material and to determine its practical significance;
-identifying rocks and minerals so as to understand their specific application in such areas as building construction, civil engineering, as well as distinguishing ornamental stones or gemstones in the collections;
-obtaining theoretical background to further one’s ability to observe and determine the practical value of rocks.
In general, this course provides an overview of some aspects of our world from a geological point of view.
Why Take This Course?
Audit Track is Free. With the Audit Track, you get access to all the course materials, including lecture videos, assignments, and more! it is possible to download the lecture materials so you can browse the content at your own convenience, without having to worry about falling behind. Once you have started your course, you may decide to increase your learning recognition. Our tracks offer you the option to upgrade to a higher certification level up to 1 week before the end of the course. All you need to participate is a stable internet connection! You can study anywhere, at anytime, at your own pace.
Learning Outcomes
The aim of the course is to understand and appreciate the surrounding inanimate nature (the Earth surface), consisting of minerals and rocks. This course will also teach you how to identify the practical importance and value of the rocks surrounding you.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
-distinguish crystals, minerals and rocks;
-identify the most common minerals and rocks;
-know their practical value and their influence on the environment.
Instructors
-Associate Prof. Lyubov Krasnoshchekova
Professor, PhD in Geology and Mineralogy. For more than 20 years has been teaching petrographic courses in crystalline (igneous and metamorphic) and sedimentary rocks.
Requirements
Everyone is welcome to join us and discover the rock and mineral environment the surrounds us. Particular groups that would be interested in the course topic include:
-Students interested in the world environment – minerals and rocks
-Future applicants in geological specialty
-Undergraduates studying the Earth’s crust, including geology, mineralogy and petrology
-Technical specialists and engineers in the field of geological engineering survey
-Naturalists interested in the surrounding world and its rock components
How To Join This Course
Applicants can sign up for free. Applicants can also go for certificate track. As with the Audit Track, you get access to all the course materials, lecture videos, assignments, and more. However, unlike the audit-only option, the Certificate Track also gives you access to an online-proctored exam at the end of the course. This graded exam gives you a chance to showcase the skills you’ve acquired.
Course Structure
-Chapter 1: Crystallography and symmetry around us. Morphology of natural geological formations.
Instructor: Associate Prof. Lyudmila Ananieva
Historical development of geoscience
Mineralization and mineral chemical composition
Crystal structure and habit
Crystal morphology
Aggregate morphology
Apply basic and specialised knowledge related to the structure and evolution of matter in nature; dependency of shape to internal structure and composition of natural objects (minerals, crystals, rocks)
-Chapter 2: Physical properties of minerals
Instructor: Associate Prof. Lyudmila Ananieva
Optical properties of minerals: color and streak
Optical properties of minerals: transparency and lustre
Mechanical properties of minerals: cleavage, jointing, fracture, hardness
Specific properties of minerals
Useful physical properties for identifying a mineral
Apply simple methods in identifying the properties of minerals
-Chapter 3: Mineral Classification
Instructor: Director of the TPU Mineralogical Museum Tatyana Martynova
Rock-forming minerals – salic (light in color) – very broad category
Rock-forming minerals – femic (dark in color) – very broad category
Mineral salts
Rare minerals
Know and identify the most common minerals
-Chapter 4: Ores. Gems and ornamental stones
Instructor: Director of the TPU Mineralogical Museum Tatyana Martynova
Noble metals
Ferrous metals
Non-Ferrous metals
Other metals
Gemstones
Ornamental stones
Know and identify ore minerals and distinguish ornamental stones and gems
-Chapter 5: Igneous rocks
Instructor: Associate Prof. Lyubov Krasnoshchekova
Formation conditions of igneous rocks ( magma and lava-definitions, igneous crystallisation)
Morphology and settings of igneous rocks
Composition, structure and texture of igneous rocks
Common volcanic (extrusive) rocks
Common plutonic (intrusive) rocks
Identify and determine the most common igneous (extrusive and intrusive) rocks among other rocks
-Chapter 6: Sedimentary rocks
Instructor: Associate Prof. Lyubov Krasnoshchekova
Composition, structure and texture of sedimentary rocks
Formation conditions of sedimentary rocks
Clastic rocks (pebbles, gravel, sand)
Chemical and biochemical rocks (chalk, coquina, gypsum, salt)
Identify and recognise the most common sedimentary rocks among other rocks.
-Chapter 7: Metamorphic rocks
Instructor: Associate Prof. Lyubov Krasnoshchekova
Formation conditions (genesis) of metamorphic rocks: Types of metamorphism
Composition, structure and texture of metamorphic rocks
Common metamorphic rocks (slate, gneiss, marble) and their application
Cyclic processes of naturally occurring substances
Identify and recognise metamorphic rocks; determine their transformation conditions
