Rocks are made of minerals and, as minerals are natural crystals, the geological world is mostly a crystalline world. This free course, Minerals and the crystalline state, introduces the study of minerals and crystal structures, using online text and interactive activities, including questions and answers, video clips, slidecasts and a Digital Kit.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Introducing crystals
- 1 Introducing crystals
- 2 States of matter
- 2 States of matter
- 3 Physical properties of minerals in hand specimen
- 3 Physical properties of minerals in hand specimen
- 3.1 Crystal shape
- 3.2 Colour
- 3.3 Lustre
- 3.4 Cleavage
- 3.5 Density
- 3.6 Hardness
- 4 The atomic structure of crystals
- 4 The atomic structure of crystals
- 4.1 Metallic structures and bonding
- 4.2 Ionic structures and bonding
- 4.3 Covalent structures and bonding
- 5 Crystal defects and twinning
- 5 Crystal defects and twinning
- 6 Crystal symmetry and shape
- 6 Crystal symmetry and shape
- 6.1 Crystal symmetry
- 6.2 Crystal lattices and unit cells
- 6.3 Crystal systems
- Conclusion
- Glossary
- Acknowledgements
Tags
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Reviews
5.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review
4.6 rating at OpenLearn based on 18 ratings
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This text-based course gives an excellent overview of minerals and their crystalline structure. We are taught how different crystals are shaped differently as well as their hardness and density. If you know absolutely no chemistry, some parts might be slightly tricky, but the explanations are very clear for anyone with basic scientific knowledge. A link to a "digital geology kit" allows learners to view plenty of minerals, rocks, and fossils and their properties.
