Ensino de técnicas de análises de minerais com ênfase na interpretação de dados: teoria e prática na formação do geólogo

Abstract

Teaching of mineral analysis techniques with emphasis on data interpretation: theory and practice for training a geologist. An educational activity devised as part of the Experimental Inorganic Chemistry course aims at the compliance with the National Curriculum Directives for Geology and Engineering Geology undergraduate courses. The activity has allowed to engage theory and practice by means of data interpretation of analytical instrumental characterization of the elemental, structural and mineralogical composition of minerals and rocks. Twelve selected samples of minerals were analysed by X-ray fluorescence, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron EDS probe microscopy and optical microscopy (petrography). The non-interpreted results were made available in a homepage and students were requested to interpret the data to identify the samples. Teachers have evaluated the activity to be suitable for a Descriptive Mineralogy course; it also helps meeting the needs of formation of a geologist, which currently requires entangling knowledge and action as to interpret reality, to understand processes, to identify problems and to generate solutions