Laboratory Investigations of Earth Sciences
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students, through a predominantly laboratory and hands-on approach, with the basic notions of Earth Sciences of larger relevance in land and territory planning and sustainable management. The course aims to provide students with a general understanding of the nature of minerals and rocks, with particular reference to lithological materials of use in construction and ornamentation, georesources and the impact on the territory of their use.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to: describe and understand the main physical chemical properties of minerals and rocks; recognize the main lithologies used in ornamentation; recognize the main minerals and lithological materials of use in construction and understand the reasons for their use; recognize the main mechanisms of impact on the territory of georesources mining, with a focus to those of main use in construction and ornamentation.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Introduction to minerals and rocks and to their properties of interest for land analysis, management and planning (with laboratory activity with hand samples of minerals and rocks).
Introduction to optical microscopy and observation of minerals, textures and major structures in thin sections.
Introduction to other major analytical techniques for the study and analysis of rocks.
Introduction to the use of rocks and geological materials as georesources, on their use in urban context and the impact of mining on the territory.
Introduction to optical microscopy and observation of minerals, textures and major structures in thin sections.
Introduction to other major analytical techniques for the study and analysis of rocks.
Introduction to the use of rocks and geological materials as georesources, on their use in urban context and the impact of mining on the territory.
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
The program topics will be presented with a mainly laboratory and hands-on approach. A concise theoretical introduction of the programme topics will be followed by practical activities including: observation of hand specimens of minerals and rocks, preparation of geological samples in the laboratory, visit to urban environments with the presence of lithologies used for ornamental purposes, and possible field trips.
Teaching Resources
Given the predominantly laboratory approach, study materials will consist exclusively of lecture notes made available by the lecturers in electronic pdf format.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral interrogation on the programme topics along with a discussion of rock hand specimens, possibily replaced by a written final report.
Evaluation criteria: ability to organize in the oral speech the acquired knowledge, ability critical reasoning in front of a problem or case study, ability to recognize the nature of a rock and its main properties from observation of a hand specimen, competence and rigor of the lexis used, consistency and accuracy of acquired knowledge.
Final evaluation: approval or non approval rating.
Evaluation criteria: ability to organize in the oral speech the acquired knowledge, ability critical reasoning in front of a problem or case study, ability to recognize the nature of a rock and its main properties from observation of a hand specimen, competence and rigor of the lexis used, consistency and accuracy of acquired knowledge.
Final evaluation: approval or non approval rating.
GEO/03 - STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY - University credits: 2
GEO/09 - MINING RESOURCES, MINERALOGIC AND PETROGRAPHIC APPLICATIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE - University credits: 1
GEO/09 - MINING RESOURCES, MINERALOGIC AND PETROGRAPHIC APPLICATIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE - University credits: 1
Lessons: 24 hours
Professors:
Lotti Paolo, Zucali Michele
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
send an e-mail for appointments
Reception:
8:30-12:30 14:30-17:30
Dipartimento Scienze della Terra "A. Desio" - Geologia-III piano