Optical Mineralogy in a Modern Earth Sciences Curriculum

Abstract

Optical mineralogy is a subject firmly integrated into geoscience programs that offer mineralogy and petrology modules. Polarized-light microscopy remains a powerful and cost-effective analytical method, both at the educational and the professional level. It is the ideal analytical tool for the teaching laboratory. Virtually any petrographic work that does not specifically require electron-microscope-scale analysis involves an optical microscope, whether in conjunction with other analytical equipment, or not. However, changes in the perspectives of geoscience education and the necessity to accommodate students with interdisciplinary interests alongside those who opt for a classic geology degree create a need for an optical mineralogy course that is concise, but still meets the demands of subsequent course modules that build on it. There is a range of resources that we can make use of to maintain reasonably high levels of theoretical and practical skills in polarized-light microscopy, such as application-focused lab materials and practice-oriented teaching with a strong interactive component, as well as computer-based teaching aids.