Courses taught by Paul Spry
Geol 105X Gems and Gemstones (1 credit; second-half of Fall semester)
What should you pay, where should you buy, and how much is that gemstone worth? This 7-week course provides an introduction to almost everything you ever wanted to know about gems and gemstones. The important 4C’s (carats, cuts, clarity, color), gemstone flaws, physical and optical properties of gems, how to identify gems and gemstones, the difference between synthetic and natural gems will be covered. There will also be a demonstration to show how gems are characterized through the use of basic gemological equipment such as a gemscope, loupe, dichroscope, polariscope, and refractometer. Guest lectures by local gem dealers. No prerequisite.
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Syllabus
Geol 311 Mineralogy and Earth Materials (5 credits; Fall semester)
Introduction to mineral classification, elementary crystal chemistry, crystal morphology, mineral stability, and optical mineralogy with a transmitted light microscope. Laboratory problems in mineral identification methods, including hand-specimen identification and x-ray diffraction. Nonmajor graduate credit. Prerequisites: Geol 100 or 201, 305, Chem 163.
Geol 365 Petrology (5 credits, Spring semester)
Nature and origin of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Emphasis on important rock-forming environments and processes and their influence on rock characteristics. Laboratory includes thin section study of rock textures and mineralogy and the interpretation of these features. Non-major graduate credit.
Prerequisite: Geol 311.
Geol 420X/520 Mineral Resources (3 credits; alternate Fall semester – 2008)
The demand for fossil fuels and metallic minerals (e.g., gold, copper) has reached an all time high with record commodity prices. Similarly, the cost of energy resources, including oil has reached an unprecedented high. The focus of this course will be on both fossil fuels and metallic minerals deposits. The impacts of energy-environmental issues are physical, personal, societal, and political. In your lifetimes, there will be (and are) shortages in some fossil fuels. The question is how will society as a whole and you as individuals deal with these shortages? I hope to arm you with some of the facts about energy issues. This course should provide senior undergraduate and graduate students with the necessary geological background to seek employment in the oil and mining industries. These employment opportunities have increased dramatically over the last three years and it is anticipated that these opportunities will be sustainable for the distant future. It will also provide students with knowledge on the relationship between Earth resources and their host rocks.
Geol 507 Midwestern Geology Field Trip (1 credit, Fall semester)
On-site inspection of various metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits, ore districts, mining operations, and mineral processing plants. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only. Field trips each year alternate between ore districts in Missouri, Colorado, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Prerequisite: Geol 365
