Mineralogy & Petrology: A Guide to the Formation of Rocks and Minerals (FLEX)

Rocks are all around us.  From the seemingly mundane limestone formed in calm waters to basaltic rocks born from fiery volcanoes, every rock has a story to tell.  Each rock is composed of a variety of minerals, which act as geological building blocks.  The goal of this class is to introduce students to what a mineral is, the different types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic), the minerals found in these rocks, and how they form.  This will be a four-week class that will taught in a flexible format.  Once a week, a presentation will be uploaded and narrated by the instructor.  This will allow students to learn at their own pace.  The class schedule will be as follows:

Week One:  Minerals
Week Two:  Igneous Rocks
Week Three:  Sedimentary Rocks
Week Four:  Metamorphic Rocks

Students will be given assignments either after class to reinforce their knowledge of the class material or before class as introductory exercises.  In addition, discussion boards will enhance student learning and engagement both with the instructor and each other.

At the completion of this class, students will have an appreciation and understanding of how geological processes have formed the rocks we see all over the planet, in addition to becoming knowledgeable about what minerals are found in a wide array of rocks.