Monday, September 29
Introduction to course
Nature of Science
Some aspects of geology

Reading for Monday: Prelude, p. 3-10.  Do read this book�s prelude.  It is both interesting and informative�but don�t bog yourself down trying to memorize everything. Pay special attention to �P.3 Themes of this Book� and Box P.1 �The Scientific Method�.
 

Wednesday, October 1
Composition and Structure of Earth
Introduction to minerals

Reading for Wednesday: Chapter 2, p. 35-49; pay special attention to p. 41-48.  In Wednesday�s class, we will discuss the elemental composition of the Earth, and Earth�s physical and chemical layering.
 

Friday, October 3 
Minerals

Reading for Friday: Chapter 5, Minerals.  Mineralogy is a whole science unto itself.  In fact, the geology department offers an entire course on the subject.  Consequently, there is far more material in this chapter than we�ll be able to cover in lecture.  I recommend first reading the chapter summary on p. 127 and then the captions to each figure.  Then, to prepare for class, read p. 109-112 (What is a mineral?); p. 115-117 (The Formation and Destruction of Minerals); p. 121-122 (the Mineral Classes).  Pages 118-121, on mineral identification, will be useful for this week�s lab.

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