NSCPHD1078 Structural State of Minerals and its Applications

Course description:

• Subject area Crystallography and Mineralogy applied in Geosciences and related areas
• Scientific content

Introduction to crystallographic formalism and diffraction phenomena, Fast single-crystal diffractometer with area detector, Refinement of crystal structure details, Expansion and compression properties of crystals, Equation of State and its application in Geology, Computations in crystal chemistry, High-pressure and high-temperature methods, Ordering state in mineral solid solutions, High-resolution powder diffractometer, Theoretical modelling as an aid in experimental work on crystal structures, Phase transitions and the constitution of the Earth, Treatment of complex materials (twins and exsolutions), Treatment of structural complications (polytypism, disorder, aperiodicity), Rietveld method.

• Learning outcome

Understanding crystal structure of minerals and applying diffraction methods for their structural characterization, quantification in mixtures and analysis of behavior under varying temperature and pressure. Theoretical background and experience with experimental methods, with an introduction to modern diffractometric techniques, databases and calculation methods.