G6100 Methods of laboratory research of minerals and rocks

Faculty of Science
Spring 2002
Extent and Intensity
2/2. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Ing. Jiří Faimon, Dr. (lecturer)
RNDr. Petr Sulovský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Petr Sulovský, Ph.D.
Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Petr Sulovský, Ph.D.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course provides students of the Bachelor program with basic knowledge and skill in laboratory research of rocks and minerals. The course focuses on basic operations (sampling and sample treatment, mineral separation), chemical methods (wet silicate analysis) and instrumental analyses (electron microscopy, electron microprobe, spectral methods in gamma, X-ray, UV, VIS, IR range, electrochemical and chromatographic methods) of rock samples. The course involves lab practicals.
Syllabus
  • Sampling and sample treatment: Sampling of rocks and minerals in the field, technical tools. Optimum sample size, representativeness. Criteria for the choice of suitable analytical methods (purpose, price, sensitivity, required sample size). Sample preparation for analysis - crushing, sieving, homogenisation. Mineral separation techniques: gravitational (panning, heavy liquid separation), magnetic (with permanent magnet, electromagnetic). Elutriation (Stokes law, Kopecký's elutriator), flotation. Hand picking. Preparation of thin and polished sections.

    Macroscopic determination of mineral and rock properties: subjective colour scale, hardness, scratch, smell, cleavage, fluorescence, radioactivity. Density measurement. Refractive index measurement. Mineral luminescence, radioactivity, radiographic methods.

    X-ray methods: Theoretical basics (Bragg equation). Powder method, diffractometer arrangement. Specimen preparation. Evaluation of X-ray patterns - qualitative analysis, phase identification. Quantitative phase analysis (RIR, internal standard method). Determination of lattice parameters, Rietveld refinement method. Monocrystal methods. The possibilities of X-ray data usage.

    Thermal methods: Differential thermal analysis - method principles, thermal reactions of minerals, instrumentation. Interpretation of DTA and TG patterns, qualitative and quantitative analysis. Differential calorimetry, dilatometry, thermoluminiscence, decrepitometry. Examples of application of thermal methods in geology.

    Electron microscopy Basics of scanning and transmission electron microscope, imaging modes. Electron diffraction. Image analysis.

    Electron microanalysis Wavelength-dispersive method, energy-dispersive method. Less common microanalytical methods (ion microprobe, laser ablation probe). X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.

    Chemical analysis: Analytical error, accuracy and rightness of the results, relative and absolute error, relative and absolute error, systematic, random and gross error, normal distribution of random errors, standard deviation, error propagation, confidence interval. Classification of analytical methods, their applicability. Choice of appropriate method, direct and indirect methods, analytical costs.

    Classical methods: Gravimetric methods, precipitation, filtration, decanting, examples of usage (determination of SiO2, S), typical analytical error. Volumetric methods, titration, titration agent, indicators, examples of usage (complexometric determination of Ca, Mg, Al, oxidimetric determination of Fe, acidimetric determination of SiO2), typical analytical error. Separation methods, extraction, ion exchangers.

    Instrumental methods. Classification (optical - spectral, non-spectral, electrochemical, chromatographic), usage, typical errors, evaluation in relative methods (calibration curve, standard addition, inner standard method).

    Emission spectral methods Spectrum formation (radio-wave, micro-wave, far-, near-and medium infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-ray range), possible uses, methods (emission spectrography, flame photometry, emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma, neutron activation analysis).

    Absorption spectral methods: Formation of absorption spectra, Lambert-Beer law, methods (vibration spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, infrared spectrometry), possible uses, typical instrumental arrangement.

    Electrochemical and chromatographic methods: Electrochemical potentials, pH measurement, ion-selective electrodes; polarography. Chromatography, instrumental arrangement, mobile and stationary phase, gas- and liquid chromatography, application, advantages, errors.
Literature
  • Kőssler I.: Kvantitativní infračervená spektrometrická analýza. SNTL, Praha 1970
  • Slavík, Novák, Kokta: Mineralogie. Academia, Praha 1974.
  • Dubanský: Analýza uhlí elektronovou mikrosondou. Metodická přír. ÚÚG, Praha 1983
  • Táborský, Tomas: Příprava vzorků pro mineralogické studium. Metodická příručka ÚÚG č.5, Praha 1987
  • Hulínský V., Jurek K.: Zkoumání látek elektronovým paprskem. SNTL, Praha 1983.
  • Blažek: Termická analýza. SNTL, Praha 1972.
  • Klika Z., Martinec P.: Analytické metody v geochemii. Skripta VŠB, Ostrava 1982.
  • Bouška V., Kašpar P.: Speciální optické metody. Academia, Praha 1983.
  • Borovec Zd. (1992): Metody laboratorního výzkumu hornin a minerálů. Skripta PřF KU Praha, 1992, 316 stran
  • Johan Z., Rotter R., Slánský E.: Analýza látek elektronovými paprsky. SNTL, Praha 1970
  • Krištín Josef et al. (1984): Metody laboratorného výskumu geologických materiálov, II. část. Skripta PrF UK Bratislava, 1984,139 stran
  • Zussman: Physical Methods in Determinative Mineralogy. Academic Press, N. York 1983
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2000, Spring 2001.
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