Name:

Introduction:
An ability to use computers is an essential skill for all of us, especially earth scientists. You are now familiar with the WWW, as it provides abundant resources that were not available to us a few years ago. This lab focuses  on recourses for mineralogy. Remember, however, that material posted on the web may not be peer-reviewed (undergone rigorous scrutiny) or may not have to meet certain standards as required by publication. Always keep this in mind when you are gathering "information" from these sources. It should be carefully evaluated.

Purpose:

This lab is designed for you to explore a few of the resources for mineralogy that are available to you over the world wide web (WWW).  (This lab was modified from one taught by Dr. Phil Brown at the University of Wisconsin). 

Instructions:
If you do not have access to a computer, the department maintains a Departmental computer facility E336. However, you MUST sign a release sheet and you MUST abide by the lab's rules at all times. If you do not, your access will be suspended. 

Due; Sept. 7, beginning of lab, or email your responses to Corine. You may also open this page in a composer window In Netscape) and fill in the blanks. 

If you go to the class web page at http://www.geol.lsu.edu/dutrow/mingy and click on the link for this lab exercise you will reach an html version of this handout. From there you may click on the links in this exercise rather than typing them. Some of the sites listed and many other sites you may find in search engines have useful documents in adobe acrobat format. If your computer is having trouble opening these web documents with addresses ending in .pdf go to http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html to download adobe acrobat reader. If you have any other technical problems with the sites in this exercise or with the computer you are using feel free to email either TA or  dutrow@lsu.edu .

Locate and start up the WWW browser on your computer. In most cases this will be some version of Internet Explorer, Netscape or Mozilla/Firefox.
 

1.

Basic World Wide WEB SEARCHING

(a)

Go to the www.google.com search engine and search for the word Mineralogy. Notice the types of sites that appear.

Take a few minutes to explore these sites.

i. What types of sites are there?

ii. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click 'Next' to view more sites.

iii. There are Mineral Databases, click on these.

 

 Go to: www.webmineral.com

      David Barthelmy has compiled and sorted thousands of minerals by their chemical composition, physical properties,          names, etc. using a variety of classification schemes.
 

iv. What is the chemical formula for purpurite?

v. What is the origin of the name for pyrope?

vi. What is the origin of the name for julgoldite?

vii. What is the type locality for Zaratite?

viii. How do minerals come by their names?

ix. Check out other Mineral Data

x. Follow the links to the Mineral Images, try to find some minerals that show the range of  habits: hexagonal, isometric, foliated, acicular, etc.

xi. How does the Strunz Classification differ from the New Dana Classification?   

(b)

Repeat the search using the search site linked from the search button on your web browser. If you can't find a search button or it is linked to google try www.altavista.com

            What is the name of the site you used and how does it differ? Are the sites the same?

Compare and contrast.

            Did either of these searches find the Mineralogical Society of America (MSA)? 

            If not, check out http://www.minsocam.org/ .
  
        Look at the collector's corner for a few cool mineral pictures.

        How much does it cost to become a student member of MSA?

        Do you want to join?

        Who is the current President for the Society?

 

(c) Repeat using alternate search engines like www.altavista.com , www.yahoo.com , or www.msn.com . List the searches attempted and briefly describe the results. 

 

(d) Which search engine did you find to be the best for "Mineralogy'?

 

2 .Mostly Mineralogy Sites around the World

Gee, everyone is doing what we are!

(a)

Open a connection to Mickey Gunter's site at the University of Idaho:

http://www.uidaho.edu/~mgunter/

This link provides a great place to start our tour of Mineralogy.  Prof. Mickey Gunter has a rich set of resources available including old tests, lecture notes, and links to local Idaho mineral collecting (value added). 

Click on GEOL 249 under Teaching.

        What is a great collecting locality? List at least 7 minerals you can find.

Check out his links to various other mineral sites. (you might even want to bookmark these!)

        Is our class similar to his mineralogy class?

Go back to Mickey's main page and check out the info on the Health Effect of Mineral Dusts. He gave a talk on this subject at LSU as the MSA Distinguished Lecturer .
  

(b) Alternate lectures:

http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~lang/Geol284/Geol284.htm

Check out what the University of West Virginia teaches in Mineralogy. Look familiar? Different order?

You can even download the lectures on Paulings Rules.
 

(c) Alternate lectures II:  http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~jrice/

Click on Online Courses, then Earth Materials.  View the lecture on Crystal Structure.

Ah, more lecture notes.....Check out Crystal Growth...

You may want an alternative explanation to my lectures! Better yet, you can see how EASY our course is by comparison! If you think our course is hard, look at some of these others!
 
And, if you don't like our lectures, what does this website have that may be of use?

http://www.uh.edu/~jbutler/anon/anoncoursemineral.html 

The MSA site has a list of mineralogy courses around the US. Check out some of these. Which looks the

best?

(d) Related courses:

http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~eps2/for Prof. Jill Banfield's course.

An entire web based course in gems and gemology!

Enter and explore this fabulous site.

Under Jewelry, what is the featured gemstone for 2000?

How much does it cost per carat? How did come by its unusual name?

What are its drawbacks as a gem? (Look under on-line materials.)

At the bottom of the page, click on 1st featured gemstone. What is this featured gemstone?

How much does it cost per carat?

How did come by its unusual name?

How old are all diamonds (minimum age)? (Follow the quick link to the syllabus in the Student section to find information on diamonds.)

Where are diamonds formed?
 
 

(e) Don't forget to check back on our your own Mineralogy page: http://www.geol.lsu.edu/dutrow/mingy

for updates, current changes, valuable material
 

(f) Other resources:

 

There is a multitude of resources available via the internet. It merely takes some time to surf over and find them. You can access on line: Periodic Tables, Crystallography sites, movies, do calculations, etc.  Some of these links are on our syllabus - check them out.

This lab has given you the flavor of the richness of resources available on the web. Take advantage of them!