“Rocks and Minerals” with David Walker (Oct 2000)

by | Jul 24, 2023 | Deep Earth Research

Rocks and Minerals

Guest Scientist: David Walker 

Originally presented Oct 2000 

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Welcome/Introduction to “Earth2Class”

View the introductory slide presentations

Guest Scientist: David Walker

Dr. Walker is the Higgins Professor in Columbia’s Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, with many achievements in the field of Geochemistry.

View Dr. Walker’s slides presentation

Basic to teaching Earth science. In this program, we find out how a petrologist looks at them, especially the crystalline state that characterizes minerals. The best way to demonstrate that minerals are crystalline is to show that they diffract X-rays. The variety of diffraction patterns produced is extremely useful in distinguishing different minerals from each other. A demonstration of diffraction and the theory behind it will be presented with practical applications.


Rocks and Minerals Resources

Educational Technology,

Virtual Simulations of Microscopy and Optics – Make sure you check out the Polarized Light Microscopy to see how crystallized specimens appear when viewed through a polarized light microscope. Samples include a Moon rock, a dinosaur bone, spinach, amethyst and many others.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/tutorials/index.html