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
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crystal.
The principles and operation of Debye-Scherer photography
diffractometer.
Application to qualitative and quantitative analysis of minerals.
and
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,
Geoelec-tricity, plate motions
Elasticity,
Seismology,
Geomagetism,
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)
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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 H 2O,
O2, S, and CO.
Advanced Petrology
Instructor：Houng-Yi Yang, two semester credits, offered for the first-year
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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;
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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
a. Finite difference method;
b. 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;
a. Inorganics;
b. Organics;
3. Properties of biological contaminants;
4. Contaminant transport processes;
a. Physical;
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b. Chemical;
c. Biochemical;
5. Monitoring and remediation of groundwater contaminants;
6. 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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