Earth and Space Rocks

Mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry of terrestrial rocks and space materials (meteorites, cosmic dust, asteroids, comets). Introduction to thermodynamics of natural systems, phase transformation of minerals, phase diagrams. Alteration of Earth and Space materials. Advanced instrumental analysis and characterisation of rocks and minerals. Isotope and trace element analysis. Remote sensing and mineral/rock reconnaissance and mapping with hyper-spectral images. Rock classification for engineers, chemical, physical and textural properties. Sampling methods of rocks. Geometallurgy, textural analysis with image processing, core logging, and other engineering properties with case studies. Planetary and space exploration. Simulant and analogue rocks for space exploration and construction technologies (additive manufacturing / 3D printing).