Mineralogy Laboratory

Welcome to EENS 2110 mineralogy lab. Students in these photos are identifying the physical properties of minerals. Among the properties discussed are: crystal habit, cleavage, hardness, density, luster, streak, color, tenacity, magnetism, and taste. By Identifying minerals in this manner, students develop techniques that can be used in the field where instrumentation like x-ray diffractometers or microscopes cannot be easily used.

Professor Nelson and lab instructor, Erika Gonzalez help students identify minerals using the polarizing microscope.

This fall 2008 class is one of the largest mineralogy classes the department has had in the past 20 years.

Students using polarizing microscopes. Professor Nelson has taught this class for many years and still enjoys studying a good specimen under the microscope.