GEO2110 – Mineralogy
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course provides an introduction to the crystallographic, physical, and chemical properties of the most common minerals. You will learn about atomic bonds, different mineral groups, and the systematics of minerals. You will also get an insight into where different minerals occur, and how they grow, deform, and react. We combine theory with practical exercises for identifying minerals.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you will be able to
- use different symmetry elements in a crystal to deduce its crystallography
- explain the relationship between a mineral’s chemical composition and its structure
- describe the classification of minerals
- reflect on the occurrence of and relationships between minerals in different geological environments?
- recognize and explain important mineralogical principles and processes
- accurately describe the properties of minerals and identify the most common minerals?
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The course includes a compulsory field course and excursions. A health-and-safety course for safety in the field must be passed before you can go on these:
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with GEL2110 – Mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry (continued).
Teaching
2*2?hours of lectures, and 2 hours of compulsory exercises, per week. The compulsory exercises must be approved and weekly quizzes in Canvas must be submitted before taking the final examination.
There are 2 compulsory excursions.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out separate travel and personal risk insurance.?Read about your insurance cover as a student.
General information about excursions at the Department?of Geosciences
Examination
- The compulsory exercises must be approved, the quiz in Canvas be submitted and the practical test in mineralogy must be passed before sitting the final examination.
- A practical test in mineralogy counts 30% towards the final grade.
- The final written examination counts 70% towards the final grade.
- Both the practical test and the final examination must be passed separately in order to pass the course.
Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course:
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
Courses taught in English will only offer the exam paper in English. You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.