Identifying Data 2018/19
Subject (*) Geology Code 610G01006
Study programme
Grao en Química
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Graduate 2nd four-month period
First Basic training 6
Language
Spanish
Galician
English
Teaching method Face-to-face
Prerequisites
Department Física e Ciencias da Terra
Coordinador
Lado Liñares, Marcos
E-mail
marcos.lado@udc.es
Lecturers
Lado Liñares, Marcos
Paz Gonzalez, Antonio
Vidal Vázquez, Eva
E-mail
marcos.lado@udc.es
antonio.paz.gonzalez@udc.es
eva.vidal.vazquez@udc.es
Web
General description Galego
Esta materia inclúe coñecementos básicos sobre a materia cristalina en estado sólido, a súa estructura e simetría. Unha parte importante da asinatura céntrase nos procesos naturais que dan lugar ós minerais e nalgunhas das propiedades que permiten recoñecer ós mesmos.

Castellano
Esta materia incluye conocimientos básicos sobre la materia cristalina en estado sólido, su estructura y simetría. Una parte importante de la asignatura se centra en los procesos naturales que dan lugar a los minerales y en algunas de las propiedades que permiten reconocer a los mismos.

English
The aim of this course is to provide the students with basic knowledge on crystalline solid-state-matter, its structure and symmetry. Also, an important part of this course is focused on the natural processes that lead to the formation of minerals and on the recognition of common minerals based on some of their properties.

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A1 Ability to use chemistry terminology, nomenclature, conventions and units
A3 Knowledge of characteristics of the different states of matter and theories used to describe them
A6 Knowledge of chemical elements and their compounds, synthesis, structure, properties and reactivity
A9 Knowledge of structural characteristics of chemical and stereochemical compounds, and basic methods of structural analysis and research
A12 Ability to relate macroscopic properties of matter to its microscopic structure
A15 Ability to recognise and analyse new problems and develop solution strategies
A16 Ability to source, assess and apply technical bibliographical information and data relating to chemistry
A20 Ability to interpret data resulting from laboratory observation and measurement
A23 Critical standards of excellence in experimental technique and analysis
A24 Ability to explain chemical processes and phenomena clearly and simply
A25 Ability to recognise and analyse link between chemistry and other disciplines, and presence of chemical processes in everyday life
A27 Ability to teach chemistry and related subjects at different academic levels
B1 Learning to learn
B3 Application of logical, critical, creative thinking
B4 Working independently on own initiative
B5 Teamwork and collaboration
B6 Ethical, responsible, civic-minded professionalism
B7 Effective workplace communication
C1 Ability to express oneself accurately in the official languages of Galicia (oral and in written)
C2 Oral and written proficiency in a foreign language
C3 Ability to use basic information and communications technology (ICT) tools for professional purposes and learning throughout life
C6 Ability to assess critically the knowledge, technology and information available for problem solving
C7 Acceptance as a professional and as a citizen of importance of lifelong learning

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
The study of minerals, as natural inorganic chemical compounds, and mineral formation processes, provides knowledge on the reactivity of chemical elements that result in natural compounds A1
A3
A6
A12
B1
B3
C1
C2
Laboratory work includes the analysis of crystal forms and the identification of common minerals through a critical analysis of its symmetry, the development and training of spatial perception and the students’ abstraction capabilities. A1
A12
A15
A16
A23
A25
A27
B1
B4
B5
B7
C6
The student will face practical and theoretical aspects of minerals and crystalline matter, and the relationship between atomic arrangement and macroscopic properties A9
A12
A16
A20
A25
C1
C2
The internal structure of each mineral class, crystal system and the most representative unit cells are analyzed A1
A3
A6
A16
B3
B7
C1
C2
C3
The student will be able to relate mineral properties (density, cleavage, hardness, piezoelectricity) and mineral chemical composition, bonds and internal structure A6
A12
B1
C6
C7
Small group assignments are focused on solving problems related, in general, to practical aspects of mineralogy. The student should be able to present it in a synthetic manner, and to establish the interactions between the problem and other disciplines A15
A16
A20
A24
B1
B5
B6
B7
C1
C2
C7
The student will learn to recognize crystalline matter, to analyze its structure, and to describe its internal symmetry A1
A3
A6
B1
B3
B4
C1
C2
The student will become familiar with the international standard terminology both in crystallography and mineralogy studies A1
A3
A16
B1
B4
B7
C1
C2

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
Crystallography and symmetry of crystalline matter 1. Introduction to crystallography and mineralogy. Definition of crystal and mineral. Main properties of crystalline matter. Fundamentals of crystal chemistry: coordination.
2. Crystal systems: Orthorhombic, tetragonal, hexagonal, monoclinic, triclinic and isometric.
3. Point symmetry: symmetry elements, symmetry class.
4. Morphology of crystal forms: crystallographic axis, axis relations, faces, Miller indices.
5. Crystallographic projections (spheric and stereographic).
6. Planar symmetry: 2-dimensional order and planar lattices. Planar symmetry and groups.
7. Space symmetry: 3-dimensional order. Bravais lattices. Space symmetry (glide planes and screw axes). Space groups. Relations between point groups and space groups.
8. Molecular symmetry and Schoenflies notation.
Geological processes, mineral formation, and types of rocks 9. Formation of chemical elements.
10. Formation of minerals.
11. Types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
12. The most aboundant minerals in Earth crust: silicates.
Chemical and physical properties of crystalline matter 13. Physical properties of minerals: cleavage and fracture, hardness, piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, magnetic properties.
14. Optical properties: X-ray diffraction, color, luster and streak, refraction, luminescence and phosphorescence).

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Guest lecture / keynote speech A1 A3 A6 A9 A12 A20 A25 B1 B3 B6 C1 C2 C7 26 60 86
Laboratory practice A12 A15 A16 A23 B1 B3 B4 B5 B7 C1 C2 C6 15 22.5 37.5
Collaborative learning A1 A9 A12 A15 A24 A25 A27 B1 B5 B7 C1 C2 C3 4 6 10
Problem solving A15 A20 A23 B7 C1 C2 C7 5 7.5 12.5
Mixed objective/subjective test A1 A3 A6 A9 A12 A15 A16 A20 A23 A25 B1 B3 B7 C1 C2 2 0 2
Introductory activities B1 B3 C7 1 0 1
 
Personalized attention 1 0 1
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Guest lecture / keynote speech 50-min sessions that will cover the theoretical aspects of the course using audiovisual contents
Laboratory practice Hands-on activities where the students will learn to identify crystal groups, symmetry operations, and point groups based on model structures. These activities will include also the recognition of the most representative minerals in the rocks of the area.
Collaborative learning These sessions will be conducted in small groups, where students will solve problems and discuss the theoretical aspects that were developed in the keynote speeches.
Problem solving These sessions will be focused on the individual work of students solving problems related to crystal lattices and the identification of combinations of symmetry elements in point groups.
Mixed objective/subjective test A written test that will be conducted in order to verify the knowledge and competences that the student developed during the course.
Introductory activities An introductory session during the first day of the course, where the methodology, contents, assessment criteria and time schedule of the different activities will be discussed.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Problem solving
Collaborative learning
Description
Personalized attention will be provided through individual meetings between the professor and the students, in dates previously selected. Moreover, non-presential tools, mainly e-mail, will be used to solve questions and doubts related to the course. Special attention will be provided to those students that can experience more difficulties during the learning process and to part-time students.

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Mixed objective/subjective test A1 A3 A6 A9 A12 A15 A16 A20 A23 A25 B1 B3 B7 C1 C2 A test designed to assess the theoretical background of the adquired during the course. The minimum grade to pass the test will be 5 points out of 10 70
Problem solving A15 A20 A23 B7 C1 C2 C7 The assessment will consist on a booklet with problems that the student needs to solve 3
Laboratory practice A12 A15 A16 A23 B1 B3 B4 B5 B7 C1 C2 C6 The assessment will include questions to be aswered during the laboratory work and a test about crystalline structures 20
Collaborative learning A1 A9 A12 A15 A24 A25 A27 B1 B5 B7 C1 C2 C3 The assessment will include activities related to information analysis, brief oral presentations, discussions and problem solving. The effort, participation and presentation will be assessed 7
 
Assessment comments
The requisite to pass each of the activities included in the assessment is to obtain a minimum grade of 5 out of 10 points in each of those activities. Otherwise, the student will not pass the course. In those cases when the average of all grades of the different activities is higher than 5, but the student did not obtain a minimum of 5 in all the activities, the grade that will be assigned in the official records will be 4.

Once all the activities have been passed, the final grade of the course will be the sum of the different grades obtained in the tests and activities. The mixed test will yield 70% of the final grade. Laboratory work and small-group activities will result in the other 30% of the final grade. Nevertheless, it will be strictly necessary to obtain 5 points out of 10 in each of the activities: the mixed test, the laboratory work, and the small group activities. The attendance to lectures, laboratory work, and the completion of the individual and group exercises are compulsory in order to be evaluated.

The student will be assessed as NOT PRESENTED only if he/she did not participate in those activities whose contribution to the final grade is higher than 10%.
The tests of May-June (first opportunity) and July (second opportunity) will be evaluated similarly in terms of percentages and requirements to pass the course. The qualification obtained in the laboratory work and group activities will be preserved until the second opportunity, while the mixed test qualification in the second opportunity will replace the one obtained in the first one.

Honors will be given only to students whose evaluation is conducted during the course and will pass the tests in any of the two opportunities, until the maximum number of Honors dictated by the institution regulations is reached.

The students who haven’t pass the course in previous years will have to participate in all the activities and pass a new assessment of all the activities, since the learning-teaching process, which includes the assessment, is only valid for one academic year.

Part-time students are not obligated to attend to lectures and small-group activities, although they must attend to laboratory work. The percentage of the final grade corresponding to small-group activities will be replaced by the corresponding increase in the percentage of the mixed objective/subjective test, both in the first and second opportunities.


Sources of information
Basic Borchardt-Ott, W. (2012). Crystallography: An Introduction. Springer
Phillips, F.C. (1972). Introduccion a la Cristalografía. Paraninfo
Gay P. (1977). Introduccion al estado cristalino. EUNIBAR
KLEIN, C. y HURLBUT, C.S. Jr (1996). Manual de mineralogía basado en la obra de J. Dana. Reverté
Web resources: http://webmineral.com http://www.xtal.iqfr.csic.es/Cristalografia/index-en.html http://www.iucr.org/
Complementary Amorós, J.L. (1990 ). El cristal. Morfología, estructura y propiedades físicas. Atlas
Galán, E. y Mirete, S. (1979). Introducción a los minerales de España. IGME
Web resources: http://www.nature.com/news/specials/crystallography-1.14540 Tindle, A. 2010. Andy Tindle’s Pages. The Open University (checked on July, 2017). http://www.open.ac.uk/earth-research/tindle/

Recommendations
Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before

Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously

Subjects that continue the syllabus

Other comments


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.