Mineralogy

The mineralogy, outdated also Oryktognosie (Greek - German: The knowledge or the science of minerals ), is engaged in the development, characteristics and use of minerals. Minerals are the inorganic building blocks of rocks; they are characterized by a characteristic chemical composition and certain physical crystal structure.

History of Mineralogy

The mineralogy developed practical knowledge of mining and from the natural philosophy of the Greeks. Mining began in the Upper Paleolithic to the mining of clay for the production of ceramics. As humans with metal production started (Bronze Age, Copper Age, Iron Age ), they worked with copper and zinc ore (Bronze consists mainly of copper and zinc) and later with iron ore.

In ancient times, was Mineralogy by a philosophical approach - often by polymath - operated, with quite precise observations of nature were incorporated. So Thales of Miletus initiated around 600 BC from observations of sedimentation and volcanic activity theories from the mineral formation; so he laid the foundation for the development of mineralogy as a science. Pliny the Elder wrote in the year 77 AD, the Naturalis historia, with five volumes devoted to mineralogy.

In the Middle Ages, the mineralogy then developed more to an applied science, which served the mining industry. So led Avicenna ( Abū Alī al - Husayn ibn Abdullāh ibn Sīnā ) around 1000 AD, the first classification system for mineral one (salts, sulfur, metals and stones), the Albertus Magnus in 1269 by its deposit- known Royal work "De rebus metallicis et mineralibus libri V " has been added. In addition, the medieval mineralogy was heavily influenced by the alchemy. The modern mineralogy, however, is based only on empirical observations. It began in 1556 with the publication of " De re metallica libri XII " by Georgius Agricola ( 1494-1555, "the father of mineralogy " called ).

Until around 1800, Mineralogy was a hobby (mostly wealthy ) wealthy individual scholar; later mineralogical institutes were established at universities where significant mineralogists this time, such as Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749-1817) and Friedrich Mohs (1773-1839) taught. As industrialization metal production and mining rose sharply. In the 20th century, the mineralogy walked through the implementation of physical and chemical methods of qualitative to quantitative science. Experiments were more important compared to field observations. In addition, the application of minerals and their synthetic analogues in the technology grew in importance; today it is the main working area for mineralogists.

Object of investigation

The mineralogy is the material science among the geosciences. It thus occupies a bridge position between geology, chemistry, physics and materials science.

The mineralogy investigated at what time, at what speed, how much pressure and the temperature at which emerged in which chemical environment and by what processes are minerals ( geothermobarometry ). This information will be important building blocks for the reconstruction of the evolution of the earth and the universe, but also for the synthesis of minerals for industrial purposes, such as diamond. Mineralogists study the mechanical, optical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and chemical properties of minerals, to open up new uses. The hardness as the most important mechanical property plays a role in the development of mineral hard materials such as boron nitride or sialon in the study of earthquakes and in the treatment of minerals. Optical properties are utilized in the production of yttrium - aluminum-garnet lasers. Thermal properties for the development of ceramic hobs on the basis of the Li - silicate Petalitos important. The high dielectric constant of mica is used for example in the iron as an electrical insulation, the piezoelectricity of the crystal for the construction of clocks. The ferrimagnetism of magnetite allows a reconstruction of the earth's magnetic field and thus the movement of the continents of past geological eras. The chemical composition of the so-called pathfinder minerals helps in prospecting and exploration of deposits.

Methods of investigation

The rock in the speech box with magnifying glass and hydrochloric acid is still the first step of many mineralogical investigations. Here is the exact description of the structure, texture and continuity of mineral deposits in the foreground. Partly are methods of spectroscopy, such as Mössbauer spectroscopy in tin mining, already used in the field. In the laboratory, then takes the preparation of the samples: So thin sections or polished sections for polarization microscopy in transmitted light or reflected light can be produced. It rocks in transmitted light and ores are examined in reflected light. The remaining sample material is ground less than 63 microns in particle size. For chemical analysis of the total sample often X-ray fluorescence analysis is used for point analysis is carried out with the micro- probe or laser ablation mass spectrometry. The identification of individual minerals is carried out with diffraction methods such as X-ray or neutron diffraction. The bonding in the mineral are examined by spectroscopic methods such as IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, or nuclear magnetic resonance. The morphology of the minerals can be described in more detail by scanning electron microscopy. Defects in the crystal lattice can be made visible by transmission electron microscopy. In the technical mineralogy often differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis to be used to investigate the behavior and the reactions of the minerals during a heating process. The technical mineralogy and experimental petrology often make use of the crystal growth to produce synthetic materials using natural role models and to simulate magmatic processes.

Subdisciplines

• General Mineralogy Crystallography
• Petrology
• Petrography
• Geochemistry
• Cosmochemistry

• Special Mineralogy gemmology
• Clay mineralogy

• Applied Mineralogy Technical Mineralogy
• Lagerstättenkunde
• Environmental Mineralogy
• Archaeometry

Courses

In the winter semester 2008/ 09 presented with the University of Mainz, the last German university the stand-alone degree program Mineralogy. Since then, the mineralogy either a specialization of the master's degree program Geosciences (for example, at the Technical University of Freiberg and Friedrich -Schiller- University Jena) or a separate master's degree program ( Materials Science Mineralogy ( University of Bremen), mineralogy, and materials science ( University of Leipzig), Earth Materials and Geochemistry ( Ludwig- Maximilians- University of Munich and Technical University of Munich in cooperation) ). It always is consecutive study courses that are based on a bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences ( University of Leipzig in chemistry). In mineralogical study programs in addition to knowledge of the subject itself also foundations and mineralogical relevant special areas of mathematics ( group theory, statistics), chemistry (thermodynamics, kinetics, atomic models ), physics ( solid state physics ) Materials science (ceramics, glass, cement, crystal growth ), computer science ( programming languages) and geology ( tectonics, sedimentology, Historical Geology ) conveys.

Career Options

Mineralogists working mainly in the raw material processing industry (glass, ceramics, refractories, building materials, binders, rocks and soils, chemical industry, abrasives, electronics, manufacturing optical components, paper industry). There are also areas of activity in environmental protection, mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and jewelery industry as well as in heritage conservation. In addition, offers the public service in the form of universities, research institutes and authorities work opportunities.