Earth Sciences

Gem mineralogy

Instructor: Shu-Cheng Yu (2 credits, junior, 2nd semester)

  1. Diamond (8 weeks)
  2. Colored stones (8 weeks): ruby, sapphire, emerald, rock crystal, agate, tiger’s-eye, garnet, jade, nephrite, cat’s-eye, turquoise, peridot, tourmaline, etc. including chemical composition, physical properties, optical properties, cutting, polishing, and identification.

X-ray crystallography

Instructor: Shu-Cheng Yu (3 credits, graduate course)

Generation of x-ray, x-ray scattering by an electron, by an atom and by a small crystal, reciprocal lattices, Integrated intensity, structure factors, powder diffraction techniques, single crystal diffraction techniques, applications (phase identification, order-disorder phase transformation, quantitative analysis, thin film analysis, texture analysis, structure analysis).

Optic mineralogy

Instructor: Ching-Lang Tsai

Credit: 2

The nature of light in crystal, such as velocity, vibration direction, absorption, color, pleochroism. The operation of petrographic microscope to study of minerals.

Observation of interference figure. Measurement of optic properties of mineral such as refractive index, optic path difference, color, pleochroism, optic axial angle.

Observation of exsolutin, twinning, optic zoning. Systematic identification of mineral.

X-ray mineralogical analysis

Instructor: Ching-Lang Tsai

Credit: 2

Nature of X-ray, Reaction between X-ray and material. X-ray diffraction of crystal.

The principles and operation of Debye-Scherer photography and diffractometer.

Application to qualitative and quantitative analysis of minerals.

Engineering Mathematics

Instructor: Robert Sun

Credit: 4

Differential equations, Fourien series, Vector analysis, Linear albebra, Complex functions.

Introduction to Geophysics

Instructor: Robert Sun

Credit: 2

Earth’s physical properties, Elasticity, Seismology, Geomagetism, Geoelec-tricity, plate motions

Numerical Analysis

Instructor: Robert Sun

Credit: 3

Most earth Science-related Mathematical problem cannot be solved via analytical methods, but can be solved approximately using numerical methods on computers. This course introduces various topics for this purpose, includes nonlinear equations, linear equations, interpolations, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, error analysis, convergence analysis and stability analysis.

Geophysical Exploration

Instructor: Robert Sun

Credit: 2

This course introduces various physical methods applied in underground geology exploration, includes seismic method, gravity method, geomagnetic method, geoelectric method, radioactive method.

Petrology (1) (2)

Instructor：Houng-Yi Yang, four semester credits, offered in the fall and spring semesters for juniors.

Genesis and geological environments of minerals. Plate tectonics and petrology. Classifications, textures and structures of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Compositions, genesis, and crystallization of magmas. Igneous provinces and series. Systematic igneous rocks. Metamorphism, metamorphic zones and facies. Controls of metamorphism. Stability of minerals and mineral assemblages. Mineral reactions. Systematic metamorphic facies. Petrographic microscopic identification and examination of minerals and textures of rocks in thin sections in laboratory.

Geological thermodynamics

Instructor：Houng-Yi Yang, three semester credits, offered for senior in the fall semester.

Laws of thermodynamics, Thermochemistry. Chemical equilibrium. Phases and phase rule. Phase equilibrium of one-, two-, three, and four-component systems. Application in geological and material sciences.

Electron Probe Microanalysis

Instructor：Houng-Yi Yang, three semester credits, offered for the first-year graduate students in the fall semester.

Structure of an electron microprobe. Wavelength-dispersion and energy-dispersion analysis. Qualitative and quantitative analysis. Application in geological material sciences.

Advanced Geological Thermodynamics

Instructor：Houng-Yi Yang, two semester credits, offered for the first-year graduate students in the fall semester.

High-pressure phase equilibrium. Phase equilibrium of systems containing H2O, O2, S, and CO.

Advanced Petrology

Instructor：Houng-Yi Yang, two semester credits, offered for the first-year graduate students in the spring semester.

Phase reactions of rock-forming minerals. Genesis and evolution of magmas. Metamorphism and metasomatism. Case studies of the well-known igneous and metamorphic terranes of the world.

Historical Geology

Instructor: Kuang-Jji Chung (two semester credits, offered in the fall semesters for junior)

1.The Origin of the Earth 2.Division of Earth history 3.Paleoclimate, Paleogeography 4.Earth movements in geological time 5.Geological Units of China, North America, Europe 6.Life of Geological time 7.Identification of Geological events 8.Character of Index fossils.

Advanced Paleontology

Instructor: Kuang-Jji Chung (two semester credits, offered in the fall and spring semesters)

Micro-fossils, Protozoa (Foraminifera, Radiolarian), Mollusca (Pteropoda), Arthropoda (Ostracoda), Coelenterata (Oral), Porifera, Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Echinordermata

Environmental Geology

Instructor: Jiin-Shuh Jean (three semester credits, offered in the fall semesters for junior)

  1. City in relation to geology: including geology and urban development, water supply, waste disposal, and engineering problems;
  2. Geological hazards: including earthquake and tidal wave, landslide, volcanic eruption, flooding, land subsidence, etc.;
  3. Geology and urban future development.

Land Use and Waste Disposal

Instructor: Jiin-Shuh Jean (three semester credits, offered in the spring semesters for junior)

  1. Land use and reclamation;
  2. Environmental impact assessment and permitting procedure;
  3. Solid waste disposal;
  4. Liquid waste disposal;
  5. Gaseous waste disposal.

Groundwater Modeling

Instructor: Jiin-Shuh Jean (three semester credits, offered in the fall semesters)

  1. Introduction to models;
  2. Analog modeling;
  3. Conceptual modeling;
  4. Numerical modeling
  5. Finite difference method;
  6. Finite difference.

Introduction to Hydrogeology

Instructor: Jiin-Shuh Jean (three semester credits, offered in the fall semesters)

  1. Physical properties of groundwater;
  2. Chemical properties of groundwater;
  3. Groundwater geology;
  4. Flow net;
  5. Groundwater and hydrological cycle;
  6. Chemical evolution of natural groundwater;
  7. Groundwater resources evaluation;
  8. Groundwater contamination;
  9. Geological Processes of groundwater.

Contaminant Hydrogeology

Instructor: Jiin-Shuh Jean (three semester credits, offered in the fall semesters)

  1. Groundwater contamination;
  2. Properties of chemical contaminants;
  3. Inorganics;
  4. Organics;
  5. Properties of biological contaminants;
  6. Contaminant transport processes;
  7. Physical;
  8. Chemical;
  9. Biochemical;
  10. Monitoring and remediation of groundwater contaminants;
  11. Case studies.

Geomorphology

Instructor: Ming-Chee WU (2 Credits, 1st Semester of Sophomore)

This class is divided into two sections: (1) to discuss the development of landforms by endogenic and exogenic processes of earth; including catastrophes, weathering, and slopes. (2) to discuss the geomorphic characteristics produced by the natural process, including fluvial processes and fluvial landforms, wind processes and landforms, glacial processes and glacial landforms, sea water processes and coastal landforms, and solution processes and Karst landforms.

Seminar

Instructor: Ming-Chee WU (2 Credits, 1st Semester of Senior)

This class is for students to learn the process of conducting an oral presentation. Firstly, the students are to study the assigned materials or the personal selections, then to present it in front of a group of audience, and taking the questions from the audience. Purpose of this class is to train the students to prepare and conduct a presentation, as well as to have the opportunity to discuss the subjects with other audiences. The subjects may include problems of the universe, extinction of dinosaurs, plate tectonics, continental drifting; or even the topics of optical fibers, structures of superconductors; any subjects related to the earth sciences.

Mechanics of Porous Media

Instructor: Ming-Chee WU (3 Credits, 1st Semester of Graduate)

This class is designed to introduce and discuss the mineral compositions, grain size distribution, degree of consolidation and cementation of porous materials (rocks or soils); including the discussions about the effects of the physical and mechanical properties of the porous materials on the civil constructions, geological environments, groundwater resources, and contaminant transports.

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