Great professor, material can be interesting if you're into minerals/rocks/physical geology. The difficult part is the amount of work. The lab packets are SO long, nearly 25 pages every week. You have to memorize a huge amount of mineral formulas. Prof. Rioux quizzes you on a handful of new formulas every week but the quizzes also can include the formulas from weeks ago and may even ask a question about them on a test. For this professor also the tests are very hard because of how much detail you are required to know. Overall a very time consuming class.

All about minerals: their chemistry, structure, properties, identification, associations. Also about rocks towards the end of the quarter.

Rioux is very nice and understanding. Hard but fair

Try not to slack because it's hard to catch up. Actually attend section because having the TAs there is very helpful. There's a chance you won't finish or will want to leave early so work with other students on the labs if possible outside of class.

Although I probably wouldn't have taken this if it weren't required, I think the course was well designed & I learned a lot about mineralogy. I'm sure it would have been better in person

Mineral identification, and it would be if I were more interested in rocks themselves!

Matt rocks, he is really kind and knowledgable. He cares about teaching & wants everyone to learn and succeed.

Do your labs in class while you can get help from the TAs and those around you.