Environmental Mineralogy

3 units

Topics connected with environmental mineralogy, some selected by students. Topics may include: mineral dust such as asbestos, containment materials for nuclear waste disposal, environmental ramifications of the processing and use of phosphate fertilizers, lead in the environment, acid mine drainage, microbial mediation of sulfide oxidation, minerals in the human body, weathering of building materials, materials engineering, and engineering of materials for more effective recycling. Three class hours and one two-hour laboratory a week. Participation in discussions, term paper, two field trips required. Most readings from primary sources.