Mineralogy and Materials Science

Undergraduate

provides a review of elementary crystallography, introduction to space groups and crystal structures, bonding, properties of metals, semiconductors and insulators, crystallographic aspects of order-disorder, solid solution and mixing. Crystal growth, chemical zoning and diffusion. Phase changes in the solid state (exsolution, polymorphism and polytypism). Students will be introduced to the techniques used to study solids (X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electron-microprobe analysis, luminescence, and computer simulation). Laboratory work will emphasize practical skills using these techniques. Examples will be chosen from among minerals, ceramics, semiconductors, metals and glass, making the course suitable for Earth Scientists, Engineers, Chemists and Physicists.