Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

2020 – 2207 Main Mall

Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada

EOSC_V 220: Introductory Mineralogy 2024W1

Instructor: Dr. Lucy Porritt

Website: https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/148244
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: TBD, or by appointment
Class times: ESB 1012 Tuesday/Thursday 13:00-14:00
Lab Times: EOSC 127 L1A Thurs 9:30-12:30, L1B Fri 9:00-12:00, L1C Tues 14:00-
17:00, L1D Thurs 14:00-17:00, L1E Tues 09:00-12:00
Teaching James Nott (Head TA), Ian Goan, Elly Thistlethwaite
Assistants: Jonathan Clarke, and Dylan Spence

Land Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge that the University of British Columbia, Point Grey campus, is
located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xwmәθkwәy̓әm (Musqueam)
people. Your home town may also be located on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territories of
other First Nations. Take a moment to look up your home town and where you currently live
https://native-land.ca/ and reflect upon this, as we work together to discover more about the
beautiful minerals that are found on the Earth and beyond.

Academic Calendar Entry

Introduction to crystallography, physical and chemical properties of minerals. Recognition and
identification of common minerals. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion List:
https://vancouver.calendar.ubc.ca/faculties-colleges-and-schools/faculty-science/bachelor-
science/credit-exclusion-lists .
Pre-reqs: One of CHEM 110, CHEM 111, CHEM 120, CHEM 121, CHEM 141, SCIE 001

Course Format
This course is synchronous, meaning that you should aim to attend classes and labs in person to
connect with your peers, your instructional team and the materials on a regular basis.

The Canvas website for the course contains required online homework readings and quizzes, as
well as the materials for this course. To access this information, login to Canvas using your
Campus-Wide Login (CWL), click on EOSC 220 and look on the Home Page for links to class and
lab materials, and homework activities.

Course overview, content and objectives

This course is about investigating the atomic structure and physical properties of common minerals
and mineral groups. Together we will develop an understanding of how these features can be used
to identify minerals in hand specimens and connect you to the geological resources you use in
your everyday lives.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

a. Use atomic structure and crystallography to identify and explain the properties and
groupings of common rock-forming minerals.
 Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
2020 – 2207 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada

b. Explain correlations between chemical concepts (e.g., substitution, solid solution) and the
parts of chemical formulas that control the properties and classification of the major mineral
classes on Earth.
c. Observe, describe, and measure properties of hand specimens to confidently identify
minerals and to place them in groups.
d. Evaluate the diversity with geologic time of minerals on Earth, and on other terrestrial
planetary bodies, through the concept of “mineral evolution”.
e. Develop interpersonal and practical skills useful in future careers by working in groups to
evaluate problems and to make decisions.
f. Apply mineralogy concepts to broader geological, materials science, analytical,
environmental, biological, and economic topics.

Recommended textbook(s): several different texts are available to use as supporting information
in this course. Having access to one of these is very highly recommended.
a. Highly Recommended e-text: Dyar, Gunter & Tasa, 2014, Mineralogy and Optical
Mineralogy, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23 (purchase from iTunes to
read in iBooks only – see reading list for specific pages). (DT&G)
b. Highly recommended paper-based text: Klein & Philpotts, Earth Materials: Introduction to
Mineralogy and Petrology, Cambridge University Press (purchase from UBC Bookstore or
online – see reading list on Canvas for specific chapters and pages); note that the second
edition was published in 2017 – either the first edition (2013) or the second edition (2017)
can be used (and the book is also used in EOSC 221 Introductory Petrology in Term
2).(K&P1; K&P2)

Need a little refresher or additional background on physical geology? See “Physical Geology – 2nd
Edition” by Steven Earle (published by the B.C. Open Textbook Collection). Read online or
download for free from https://opentextbc.ca/physicalgeology2ed/

Lab materials:
a. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals (purchase at UBC Bookstore or online) –
any rock and mineral guide will do (see also Mineral Database app below).
b. “Mineral ID Kit” (purchase from Dawson Club at beginning of first lab) – you must have a
hands lens, magnet, scratcher, and scratch plate to complete the labs.

Apps you may want to use:

Mineral Database (purchase from iTunes or Microsoft Store) – highly recommended for lecture and
lab
Minerals Catalogue A-Z – (free) not fully tested, but might also be useful, has a quiz function

Criteria for assessing student comprehension of course material (i.e., grades):

Homework Assignments (Canvas) 10%*
Lecture Midterm 15%
Lecture Final Exam 35%
Lab Grade (see detailed breakdown in lab overview) 40%**
TOTAL 100%
 Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
2020 – 2207 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada

*Six on-line homework assignments – the top five marks will be used to calculate the homework
mark.
**Faculty of Science regulations indicate that in any science course with both laboratory work and
written examinations, students must complete and pass both parts to pass the course. A student
who fails the laboratory work may be refused permission to take the final written examination (see
Examinations in the Academic Calendar – Faculty of Science, Bachelor of Science). Regular
attendance is expected in both class and lab – students who neglect their academic work and
assignments may be excluded from final examinations.

Faculties, departments, and schools reserve the right to scale grades in order to maintain equity
among sections and conformity to University, faculty, department, or school norms. Students
should therefore note that an unofficial grade given by an instructor might be changed by the
faculty, department, or school. Grades are not official until they appear on a student's academic
record.
Note: final written lecture and lab exams are tests and not learning experiences – as such,
permission to review final exams is not routinely given.

Course Outline
Recommended readings from one of the sources listed above – you do not need to read all of the
books!
STUDY ADVICE: make sure to read over these short sections in any one of the recommended
texts to help reinforce key concepts. Read the summary sections to individual chapters – try
answering the “review questions” at the end of the chapters for practice.

Week Class Topics (ESB Recommended Reading Labs (EOSM 127)

1012) and Homework
(HW)
Week 1 Sept 3: Imagine Day – No Labs
no class

Sept 5: Introduction  K&P1: Chapter 1, 3-13

and course overview  K&P2: Chapter 1, 1-11 (whole
chapter)

Week 2 Sept 10: Minerals • DG&T: e-Chapter 1, 1-30 Lab 1: Introduction to Minerals
• K&P1: Chapter 2, 15-24, 24-37 and their Physical Properties
(rocks – useful geo-knowledge)  DG&T: e-Chapter 2, 1-65
Sept 12: • K&P2: Chapter 2, 13-21, 21-35  K&P1: Chapter 3, 39-53
Crystallography 1: (rocks – useful geo-knowledge)  K&P2: Chapter 3, 37-52 (up
symmetry (whole chapter) to section 3.8)

• DG&T: e-Chapter 4, 1-21; e-

Chapter 12, 58-67
• K&P1: Chapter 5.1-5.3.1
• K&P2: Chapter 5.1-5.3.1
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Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada

Week 3 Sept 17: DG&T: e-Chapter 12, 68-76 Lab 2: Crystallography and
Crystallography 2: • K&P1: Chapter 5.3.3-5.3.5 (not habit
crystal faces, Hermann-Maugin notation)
Miller indices, crystal • K&P2: Chapter 5.3.3-5.3.5 (not
systems Hermann-Maugin notation
HW 1 Due 9am Sept
19

Sept 19: Crystal • DG&T: e-Chapter 3, 1-44; e-

chemistry Chapter 7, 1-28; e-Chapter 8, 1-37
• K&P1: Chapter 4.5, 75-80
• K&P2: Chapter 4.5, 73-78

Week 4 Sept 24: Crystal • DG&T: e-Chapter 8, 1-37 Lab 3: Systematic

structure • K&P1: Chapter 4, 63-75; Chapter Mineralogy I Mineral Class
5.8 (polymorphism) and ID
• K&P2: Chapter 4, 61-73 (up to
section 4.5); Chapter 5.8
(polymorphism)

Sept 26: Substitutions • DG&T: e-Chapter 7, 44-47

& mineral growth • K&P1: Chapter 4.6 (atomic
HW 2 due 9am Oct 1 substitutions); Chapter 5.6 (twins)
• K&P2: Chapter 4.6 (atomic
substitutions); Chapter 5.6 (twins)

Week 5 Sept 30 (Mon): Lab 4: Systematic Mineralogy

National Day for Truth Engineers and Geoscientists of II with Sulphides, oxides &
& Reconciliation British Columbia hydroxides
Oct 1: EGBC Careers https://www.egbc.ca/

Oct 3: Properties of DG&T: e-Chapter 7, 29-43

minerals • K&P1: Chapter 3, 39-53
• K&P2: Chapter 3, 37-52 (up to
section 3.8); Chapter 8, 229-230
(section 8.11-8.11.2), 232 (Box 8.7)

Week 6 Oct 8: X-ray • DG&T: e-Chapter 15, 1-22, 30-31, Lab 5: Systematic
crystallography 52-68 Mineralogy III with
HW 3 due 9am Oct 10 • K&P1: Chapter 3, 53-61 Carbonates & sulphates
• K&P2: Chapter 3, 52-59 (section
3.8 to end chapter)
Oct 10: Mineral
classification •DG&T: e-Chapter 21, 1-44 + TBA
Week 7 Oct 14 (Mon): No Labs – use your lab time to
Thanksgiving practice and review for next
Oct 15: MIDTERM • DG&T: e-Chapter 5, 1-39; e- week’s lab midterm
Chapter 6, 1-40; e-Chapter 22, 14-22
Oct 17: Silicates + • K&P1: Chapter 7.4-7.6
tectosilicates 1 • K&P2: Chapter 7.4-7.6; Chapter
8.9.5 (plagioclase)
 Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
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Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada

Week 8 Oct 22: Tectosilicates •DG&T: e-Chapter 22, 4-13, 23-39 Lab 6: Lab Midterm;
2 • K&P1: Chapter 7.7-7.10, 10.15, Mystery, Danger & Beauty in
HW 4 due 9am Oct 24 13.22, 13.27 Mineralogy
• K&P2: Chapter 7.7-7.10, 11.15, • K&P1, Chapter 17, 469-485
14.23, 14.28 • K&P2, Chapter 18, 523-542
(whole chapter)
Oct 24: Phyllosilicates • DG&T: e-Chapter 22, 40-60
• K&P1: Chapter 7.16-7.18, 10.4,
13.14-13.17, 15.17
• K&P2: Chapter 7.16-7.18, 11.4,
14.14-14.17, 16.17

Week 9 Oct 29: Inosilicates • DG&T: e-Chapter 22, 61-89 Lab 7: Silicates 1:
• K&P1: Chapter 7.11-7.15, 13.7- Tectosilicates & phyllosilicates
13.13
• K&P2: Chapter 7.11-7.15, 14.7-
14.13

Oct 31: Sorosilicates + • DG&T: e-Chapter 22, 102-109, 90-

cyclosilicates 101
• K&P1: Chapter 7.21-7.23, 13.18-
13.20, 13.23-13.24
• K&P2: Chapter 7.21-7.23, 14.19-
14.21, 14.24-14.25

Week Nov 5: Nesosilicates • DG&T: e-Chapter 22, 110-123 Lab 8: Silicates 2:

10 • K&P1: Chapter 7.19-7.20, 13.2- Inosilicates and Cyclosilicates
13.6, 13.21
• K&P2: Chapter 7.19-7.20, 14.2-
14.6, 14.22; Chapter 8.9.5 (olivine)

Nov 7: Native • DG&T: e-Chapter 23, 1-8, 9-16, 17-

elements, sulphides + 32, 33-48
oxides • K&P1: Chapter 7.24-7.32; Chapter
HW 5 due 9am Nov 15.1-15.12
14 • K&P2: Chapter 7.24-7.32; Chapter
16.1-16.12

Week Nov 12: Fall Reading Fall Reading Break – no labs

11 Break (Nov 11-13) – this week
no class

Nov 14: Carbonates, • DG&T: e-Chapter 23, 49-56, 60-66,

sulphates + 67-75
phosphates • K&P1: Chapter 7.33, 10.5-10.14,
15.15
• K&P2: Chapter 7.33, 11.5-11.14,
16.15

Week Nov 19: Applied • K&P1: Chapter 16.1 Lab 9: Silicates 3:

12 mineralogy 1 – • K&P2: Chapter 17.1 Nesosilicates & sorosilicates
cements
 Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
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Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada

Nov 21: Optical • DG&T: e-Chapter 5, 1-34

mineralogy • K&P1: Chapter 6, 135-146
• K&P2: Chapter 6, 135-146 (up to
section 6.8)

Week Nov 26: Applied Readings TBA Lab Final – in your normal
13 mineralogy 2 – critical lab time
metals

Nov 28: Mineralogy of • DG&T: e-Chapter 20, 1-7, 20-29

the “Deep Earth”
HW 6 due 9am Dec 3
Week Dec 3: Mineral No Labs
14 evolution on Planet Readings TBA
Earth

Dec 5: Final class

Registered Centre for Accessibility students: Please let the Instructor know if you require that a
lecture exam be written at the Centre for Accessibility. Lab exams cannot be written at the Centre
for Accessibility due to the materials involved. Please make sure to arrange well in advance with
the Head TA for your Lab Exam and the Centre for Accessibility for Lecture exams.

Makeup of graded exam(s) that are missed due to illness or other reasons is solely at the
discretion of the instructor. It is each student’s responsibility to inform the instructor as soon as
possible if/why they cannot take an exam at the scheduled time or if/why they missed an exam(s),
so that the instructor can decide if and/or how the exam(s) will be made up. EXCEPTION: Specific
UBC Academic Concession regulations apply to the final lecture exam; if you miss or will miss a
final lecture exam due to illness, conflict with a religious holiday, or other reasons, see a Faculty
Advisor.

Academic Integrity
The academic enterprise is founded on honesty, civility, and integrity. As members of this
enterprise, all students are expected to know, understand, and follow the codes of conduct
regarding academic integrity. At the most basic level, this means submitting only original work
done by you and acknowledging all sources of information or ideas and attributing them to others
as required. This also means you should not cheat, copy, or mislead others about what is your
work. Violations of academic integrity (i.e., misconduct) lead to the breakdown of the academic
enterprise, and therefore serious consequences arise and harsh sanctions are imposed. For
example, incidences of plagiarism or cheating may result in a mark of zero on the assignment or
exam and more serious consequences may apply if the matter is referred to the President’s
Advisory Committee on Student Discipline. Careful records are kept in order to monitor and
prevent recurrences.

A more detailed description of academic integrity, including the University’s policies and
procedures, may be found in the Academic Calendar at
http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/?tree=3,286,0,0
 Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
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Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada

Equity and Inclusion

The lab and classroom are both learning environments that we will cultivate together, to support
each other and provide an equitable and inclusive learning space for everyone. All
communications with each other, your TA’s and myself should be thoughtful and respectful.
Communicate with me if you have specific requests or concerns for which I could be a resource.
These could include:
 A different name or set of pronouns you would like me / our class to use
 Different learning needs (e.g. if you experience anxiety, mental illness, or any life
circumstance for which you could use additional time or support, please let me know how I
can best support you)
 Concerns about any class-related interactions that lead to feelings of exclusion or
marginalization (this includes any circumstance in which I as the instructor could have dealt
with a situation better).
We are a diverse group of individuals, connected by many things – one of which is this class, and
we should all feel welcome here and have a sense of belonging to the group.

Student Support
UBC provides resources to support student learning and to maintain healthy lifestyles but
recognizes that sometimes crises arise and so there are additional resources to access including
those for survivors of sexual violence. UBC values respect for the person and ideas of all members
of the academic community. Harassment and discrimination are not tolerated nor is suppression of
academic freedom. UBC provides appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities and for
religious, spiritual and cultural observances. UBC values academic honesty and students are
expected to acknowledge the ideas generated by others and to uphold the highest academic
standards in all of their actions. Details of the policies and how to access support are available
here.
https://senate.ubc.ca/policies-resources-support-student-success

Instructor contact information: Please write ‘EOSC 220’ in the subject line of your email or it
may go astray. Enquiries related to course administration (registration, Centre for Accessibility
forms, conflicts, absences, etc.) should be directed to the Lead Instructor (Lucy Porritt:
[email protected]). Enquiries related to the labs should be directed to the Head TA (James
Nott: [email protected])

Instructors: Lucy Porritt office EOS-South 154 [email protected]

Head TA: James Nott office EOS-Main 305 [email protected]

We encourage you to fully participate and look for meaningful connections between your life and
the course material. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and ask lots of questions. Your TA’s and I are
here to help you learn and be successful in your goals for this course. We hope you enjoy it!