IGNEOUS ROCKS

see also E-Learning - Magmas, Igneous Rocks, Volcanoes, and Plutons...
Igneous Petrology

Igneous rock formation animation
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MINERAL DEPOSITS

Australian Mineral Systems
Classification of Mineral Deposits
Mineral Sand Deposits
Salt Deposits   courtesy of  http://www.saltinstitute.org
Olympic Dam Type Deposits     
Tin Deposits
Uranium Deposits
Insitu Leach Uranium Deposits
Bauxite - aluminium from laterites
Evaluating Mineral Deposits
Brief Glossary of Common Ore Deposit Terms
Gold Placer Deposits and the  Palmer River Goldfield
Gemstone Names
Diamond Deposits
Oil Deposits
Geothermal Related Deposits
Acid Mine Drainage
Ancient MiningTechniques
the following mineral deposit overviews courtesy  - BC and Yukon Chamber of Mines
Introduction to Prospecting and Exploring for Mineral Deposits (adapted)  by Dr. Gerry Carlson
Magmatic Base Metal Deposits (abridged) By Luca Riccio ,John McDonald
Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Deposits by Dave Watkins and Bruce Downing
Ni-Cu-Co Type Magmatic Massive Sulphides from NewfoundlandMining
Epithermal Vein-Type Gold Deposits modified from notes by Christine Norcross
Prospecting Guidelines for Chromium, Nickel and Platinum (abridged) by Luca Riccio
Porphyry Copper Deposits by Bill McMillan 
Skarn Deposits (adapted) by Larry Meinert and Dr. Kenneth Dawson, Ph.D., P.Geo 
Vein Type Deposits (adapted) byTom Schroeter
Lithium Deposits  Australia
Mineral Deposit Sampling Techniques
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SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
      see also E-Learning - Sedimentary Rocks and Resources
Sedimentary Provenance - general overview
Sedimentary Rocks and Resources

Fundamental concept - superposition      Sorting in sedimentary rocks      Types of sedimentary bedding

Clastic Sediments

Makeup of clastic sediments      Size chartof clastic sediments

Shape of Sedimentary Clasts

Roundness and Sphericity      Names of shapes      Change in mineral composition of sediments as they travel downstream      Pore space in sedimentary rocks      Grain vs. Matrix supported sediments

Siliceous Sediments:

Arenites / Wackes / Mudstones - general      Arenites and Wackes - detail

Sedimentary rock formation animation

A Photographic Atlas of Rock Breakdown Features in Geomorphic Environments  - opens in new window(15Mb! PDF file)
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ROCK DEFORMATION

Stress and Strain      Stages of Deformation      Brittle-Ductile Properties of the Lithosphere Deformation in Progress      Evidence of Former Deformation      Fracture of Brittle Rocks      Normal Faults
Horsts and Gabens      Half-Grabens     Reverse Faults      Thrust Fault     Strike Slip Faults      Transform-Faults      Evidence of Movement on Faults      Folding of Ductile Rocks      Monoclines          Anticline    Synclines      Geometry of Folds      Classification of Folds      The Relationship Between Folding and Faulting      Folds and Topography
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METAMORPHIC ROCKS

     see also E-Learning Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks...

Metamorphic Petrology - general overview

Pressure -temperature diagram showing metamorphic rock types     Foliated texture in metamorphic rocks
Metamorphic rock formation animation

The importance of xenoliths and inclusions in rocks:

Xenoliths and Xenocrysts - hitchikers form the deep

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MINERALS / MINERAL OPTICS

Mineral Identification

• mineral identification basics
• mineral groups
• crystal systems
• metallic minerals and their properties
• list of common minerals and their images

List of common minerals and their images

'click on any name to see an image..."
anhydrite   apatite 1   2   arsenopyrite   asbestos   barite   calcite1  2    cassiterite  chalcopyrite 1  2   chlorite   chromite  corundum   diamond   feldspar-albite   feldspar-microcline      feldspar-orthoclase 1  2  3  4     feldspar-plagioclase1  2  3  fluorite1 2 galena1  2   garnet   gold   graphite   gypsum 1  2  halite(salt)   hematite/haematite    hornblende 1  2  ilmenite   kyanite  limonite   magnetite1  2     manganese ore   mica-biotite1  2  mica-muscovite1  2  3   mica-phlogopite  molybdenite   olivine  pyrite1  2  pyroxene1  2    pyrrhotite   quartz1  2  3  4  5  6  rutile  siderite   smaltite  sphalerite1  2  stibnite   talc1  2  3   topaz1  2   tourmaline  zircon

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Global Mineral Codes Page - a quick reference
      see also E-Learning - An overview of Minerals - atoms / crystal structure / ionic substitution /chemical composition / general properties Percent crustal abundance of the common minerals
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Mineral Optics

Light
Transparency
Reflection of Light
Refraction
Total Internal Reflection
Dispersion
Plane Polarized Light
Minerals
Crystal Symmetry
Crystal Systems
List of Major Gemstones by Crystal System
Optical Effects in Gemstones
Lustres
Sheen
Interference of Light
Iridescence
Play of Colour
Diffraction
Opalescence
Chatoyancy
Asterism
Spectroscope
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ENERGY

FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY

Oil and Gas in the Marine Environment

Offshore Oil Drilling
Refining of Crude Oil
Oceans & Oil Spills
Fuels
Methane -  natural gas in Australia
Oil Deposits
Oil Shale and Tar Sands

E-Learning - Fossil Fuels

Hydrogen H₂ Energy

Hydrogen Energy in Australia - Green or Fossil Fuel?
Our Hydrogen Future
Australia as a Major Exporter of H2 Hydrogen - questions that need to be addressed

COAL

Coal Seam Gas
Coal Mining and Coal Formation
"Clean coal" electricity generation
Carbon capture and sequestration - CSS technologies

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NUCLEAR

Geology of Uranium Deposits
Insitu Leach Uranium Deposits
Nuclear Reactors

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

GEOTHERMAL

Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Related Deposits

SOLAR

Solar Energy and Photovoltaics

WAVES / WIND

Wave Power
Wind Power
Ancient Vertical shaft windmills
Wind towers - passive cooling
Qanats - redirecting underground water

BIOFUELS

Biofuels - Biodiesel and Alcohols 

HYDROELECTRIC

Hydroelectric Power and RAM Pumps

FUELCELLS

Fuelcells


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ROCK IDENTFICATION / PETROLOGY

The Rock Cycle 1    The Rock Cycle  2 (Large)
Rock Identification Page

Images of Common Rocks in Hand Specimen Page
Petrology Page
      Igneous Petrology - general overview
     Metamorphic Petrology - general overview
     Sedimentary Provenance - general overview
     Xenoliths / Xenocrysts and their Uses
Breccias - types, origins, distinguishing features
Petrology - rock textures under the microscope as an aid in identification

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