Meteorites and origin of the solar system - distribution of elements – isotope Geology and radiometric age determination – basic thermodynamics – reaction kinetics - crystal chemistry – water chemistry – organic geochemistry – oxidation and reduction – chemical evolution of magma – metamorphic reactions - hydrothermal processes and ore genesis.
Crystallization in solutions and magma – crystal symmetry – crystal forms and habits – crystallographic systems – crystal lattices – chemical and physical properties of minerals – classification and nomenclature of minerals – origin and distribution of minerals - physics of light and its interaction with crystalline matter – the polarizing microscope – thin section preparation – refraction indices – optical indicatrix – optical sign determination – mineral identification – qualitative and quantitative analysis of minerals. (One day field trip)
