Mike Horne FGS

"Chemistry in Context " course.

"The Chemistry of the Earth"

by Mike Horne FGS

for the University of Hull

Department of Chemistry

Aims -

Think about -

The "Scientific Method" - how do we do science?

Relationships - how are the sciences related? how does science interact with our lives?

Communication - how can we tell the public about science?

Content -

A bit of mineralogy - How can we identify a mineral? - what are its physical properties and optical properties? Relationship of Chemical bonding to crystal shape to physical properties (e.g. forms of carbon).

Introduction to Silicate Chemistry - Si-O bonds; Si-O arrangements produce groups of minerals with distinct properties; Solid Solution Series.

A bit of geochemistry - Chemical abundance in the planet Earth.

Crystallography - symmetry and crystallographic systems.

Optical mineralogy.

Chemistry of the Silicates.

The original nanoparticles and nanotubes - clays and asbestos

Public Understanding of Science

The relationship between geology and other sciences - mind maps/spider diagrams.

Methods -  Informal talks using OHP, practical work with mineral specimens, discussions and a slide show.

You will need - notepaper and pencil. A penknife and magnifying glass may be helpful if you have them.

some recommended reading :

Bell R 1996. Yorkshire Rock British Geological Survey. 64pp.

Brownlow A H 1979. Geochemistry. Prentice-Hall Inc, NJ. 498pp isbn 0133510646

Bryson B 2003. A short history of nearly everything. Black Swann Books, London. 485pp

Dana - Minerals and how to study them

Day F H 1963. The chemical elements in nature. George G Harrap & Co Ltd, London, 372pp.

Gill R 1996. Chemical fundamentals of Geology (2nd edn.) Chapman & Gall 298pp. isbn 0412549301

Hamblin W E 1989 - The Earth's Dynamic Systems

Kirkaldy - Minerals and Rocks

Mackenzie WS & A E Adams 1994. A colour atlas of Rocks and minerals in thin section. Manson Publishing, London. isbn 1874545170

Penguin Dictionary of Geology

Press F & Siever R 1994 - Understanding Earth

Rothery D A 1997. Teach yourself geology. Hodder & Stoughton, London. 236pp. isbn 0-340-67992-1

Selinger B 1998. Chemistry in the Marketplace. Harcourt Brace, Australia. 588pp. isbn 0 7295 3300X

Woodcock N 1994. Geology and environment in Britain and Ireland. UCL Press, London. isbn 1-85728-054-7.

Wright D1994 - Field Guide - Rocks and Minerals

copyright Mike Horne - October 2016

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