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| This course
is composed of two components |
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| Metamorphic
Petrology (10 weeks) |
This
is an introductory metamorphic petrology course that aims
to educate students to the point where they can identify metamorphic
rocks in the field, use macro- and microscopic textural evidence
to identify the metamorphic environment, and use the mineral
assemblage to identify the protolith and place the rock in
a metamorphic facies framework. Topics covered include: Types
of metamorphism; driving forces behind metamorphism; naming
metamorphic rocks; the zonal scheme of metamorphism; the metamorphic
facies concept; the phase rule; types of metamorphic reactions;
chemographic diagrams for metamorphic rocks; and, basic principles
of thermobarometry. |
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| Practical
exercises focus on studying metamorphic rocks in thin section
and students learn to identify metamorphic minerals via their
optical properties. Mineral assemblages and textures are use
to make deductions about the environment of metamorphism and
the pressure-temperature conditions under which the assemblage
equilibrated. |
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| Principles
of Tectonics (4 weeks) |
Tectonics
is the study of the origin, geologic evolution and architecture
of large parts of the Earth’s lithosphere (the crust
and the upper mantle) and processes that have shaped the Earth’s
crust. It is particular the plate tectonic paradigm that provides
a conceptual thread linking most aspects of the wide field
of Earth Sciences. Structural studies are an essential component
of tectonics used in the analysis of these large-scale processes.
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This
three-week course provides an outline of the principles of
plate tectonics. It discusses the rheological properties of
plates, variations thereof and consequences for deformation.
The various driving forces of plate tectonics are discussed.
The main plate tectonic scenarios and common plate configurations
are presented, both in terms of generic concepts as well as
through case histories. Sedimentary environments, igneous
provinces, metamorphic facies/evolution and styles of deformation
and fabric development will be discussed before the background
of plate tectonics. |
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- To
produce graduates who are competent in the practical application
of metamorphic petrological knowledge, by extracting and
interpreting mineral textural information in thin section,
and coupling this to a theoretical understanding of metamorphic
processes.
- To
providing the student with the theoretical background of
plate tectonics, before which geological data (field, structural,
mineral, sedimentological, geochronological, economic, etc.)
can be interpreted in terms of their regional tectonic setting.
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Metamorphic
Petrology: At the end of this course students should
be able to |
- Assign
metamorphic grade based on mineral assemblage details
- Judge
the relative timing of metamorphic mineral growth relative
to deformation based on porphyroblast fabric relationship
- Constrain
the extent of fluid phase availability and fluid composition,
based on assemblage variance and distribution arguments
- Calculate
PT conditions of equilibration from suitable assemblages,
after having made assessements of issues of equilibration,
the quality of thermodynamic data and likely sources of
uncertainties
- Construct
simple, compositionally relevant phase diagrams and to use
these in conjunction with mineral compositional information
to reach conclusions regarding rock PT evolution
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| Tectonics:
At the end of this course students should be able to |
- Interpret
geological data within a broader tectonic framework
- Analyze
and integrate diverse data sets into a coherent geological
context or geological evolution.
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| Students
should consult the following text books, as necessary |
- BWD
Yardley "Introduction to metamorphic petrology",
Harlow Longmans (1989).
- JD
Winter "An introduction to igneous and metamorphic
Petrology", Prentice Hall (2001)
- Davis
and Reynolds. Structural geology of rocks and regions. Wiley
and Sons (1996)
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| Additional
materials and notes will be provided with the course. |
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| Students
will be directed to case studies in the literature, and online
resources |
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| a)
Metamorphic Petrology |
| The progress
mark for metamorphic petrology is based on: |
- Continuous
evaluation of laboratory practicals, with an exercise being
completed each week (70%).
- Two
1 hour quizzes held in lab class time slots, and based on
thin section descriptions and simple calculations (open
book; 20%)
- A report
on metamorphic aspects of the West Coast Field Trip (10%)
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| b)
Tectonics |
| The progress
mark for tectonics is based on: |
- One
practical excercise (50%)
- One
oral exam at the end of the course (50%).
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| c)
Final Class Mark and Theory Exam |
| The class
mark for the module is based on combining the metamorphic petrology
and tectonics progress marks in the ratio: 70: 30. Students
must obtain a minimum of 40% to gain admission to the final
exam. The exam will NOT be open book. |
| The final
course mark is calculated from the clasa mark (40%) and the
final exam mark (60%). Normal university rules apply for rounding,
second exams, etc. |
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