Geology 331: The Science Behind the Sparkle
This is webpage is just an introduction to Geology 331. Please note that I will use Learn@UW course tools to teach the class. Login name and password are identical to your "myUW" wisc.edu email account.
Contact Information:
Please note: Geology 331 IS NOT open to students who have taken Geology 306!
Important Class Pages and graded work:
Lectures
Here are a few lecture titles to give you an idea of what the course will be like. Please note that you must use the online learning tools to participate in this course.
- Week 1: Lecture 1: Intro to the Course and Gems
- Week 2: Lecture 2: Chemistry and Geology Refresher
- Week 3: Lecture 3: Physical and Optical Properties
- Week 4: Lecture 4: Color in Gems
- Week 5: Lecture 5: Crystallography
- Week 6: Lecture 6: The many faces of SiO2
- Week 7: Lecture 7: Olivine, Pyroxene, Amphibole
- Week 8: Lecture 8: Feldspar, Garnets, Topaz
- Week 9: Lecture 9: Tourmaline, Beryl, Tanzanite and Lapis Lazuli
- Week 10: Lecture 10: Oxides: Corundum, Spinel, Chrysoberyl
- Week 11: Lecture 11: Malachite, Azurite, Turquoise, Rhodochrosite
- Week 12: Lecture 12: Diamonds and Precious/Important metals
- Week 13: Lecture 13: Organic Gems: Pearls, Ivory, Amber
- Week 14: Lecture 14: Gemstone fakery: Simulants, Synthetics and enhancement
- Week 15: Lecture 15: Gemstone Overview.
Help With the Course Tools:
Instruction for this course will take place over UW Madison's Learn@UW web service. Visit: https://uwmad.courses.wisconsin.edu/ to log in to this course.