G1141k Optical Microscopy in Geology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Dalibor Všianský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. RNDr. Nela Doláková, CSc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Petr Gadas, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Petra Šišková (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Dalibor Všianský, Ph.D.
Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Ing. Jana Pechmannová
Supplier department: Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of mineralogy and paleontology.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 16 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of this practically focused subject is: - to acquaint students with the basics of optical microscopy as a method in mineralogy and micropaleontology - Using a binocular microscope, students will learn to identify several groups of microfossils. - Most of the teaching time is devoted to polarization microcopy of rock-forming minerals, students will learn to recognize 20-30 minerals in thin sections.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will be able to: - identify basic groups of microfossils - identify 20 - 30 rock - forming minerals, or their groups (amphiboles, pyroxenes, carbonates, etc.) in thin sections
Syllabus
1. Micropaleontology, micoscopy of basic groups of microfossils - theoretical foundations - sample preparation - practical work with binocular microscopes 2. Polarizing microcopy of minerals: - theoretical foundations - practical part - identification of minerals in thin-sections (quartz, alkali feldspasr, microcline, plagioclases, biotite, muscovite, carbonates, olivine, amphiboles, pyroxenes, garnet, titanite, chlorite, tourmaline, apatite, zirconium, epidote, serpentine group minerals, glauconite)
Literature
  • GREGEROVÁ, Miroslava; Bohuslav FOJT and Václav VÁVRA. Mikroskopie horninotvorných a technických minerálů (Microscopy rock-forming and technical minerals). 1st ed. Brno: Moravské zemské muzeum, 2002, 315 pp. monografie. ISBN 80-7028-195-2. info
  • DYAR, M. Darby and Mickey E. GUNTER. Mineralogy and optical mineralogy. Illustrated by Dennis Tasa. Chantilly, Va.: Mineralogical Society of America, 2008, xxiv, 706. ISBN 9780939950812. info
  • OKRUSCH, Martin and Hartwig E. FRIMMEL. Mineralogy : an introduction to minerals, rocks, and mineral deposits. Berlin: Springer, 2020, xi, 719. ISBN 9783662573143. info
Teaching methods
10 % - theoretical foundations 90 % - laboratory excercises
Assessment methods
Written test and practical identification of minerals in thin sections.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught in blocks.
Note related to how often the course is taught: Pouze prezenční varianta.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/predmet/sci/jaro2021/G1141
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Spring 2019, Autumn 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2026/G1141k