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| Unit name |
Advanced Igneous Petrology |
| Unit code |
EASCM0049 |
| Credit points |
10 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Jon Blundy |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
All mandatory units in first, second and third year Geology or Geology with Study Abroad programmes.
|
| Co-requisites |
N/A
|
| School/department |
School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Science |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit builds on knowledge and skills learned in the Mineralogy and Petrology unit in year 2 of the Geology programmes (EASC20035). The following topics will be explored:
- Melting of crust and mantle rocks
- Crystallisation of magmas, including kinetics
- Volatile solubility in silicate melts
- Application of ternary phase diagrams to igneous petrology
- Methods of constraining magmatic variables, such as pressure, temperature, redox state
- Case studies of selected volcanoes to illustrate crustal magmatic processes
- Links between petrology and volcano monitoring
- Application of thermodynamics to igneous processes
- Experimental petrology
- Microbeam analysis
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
- Understand melting and crystallisation processes with the Earth’s crust and mantle
- Understand the controls on trace element distribution within the Earth
- Understand the controls of volcanic gas chemistry
- Determine magmatic intensive parameters using mineral and glass chemistry
- Be aware of the different types of experimental and analytical equipment used in petrology
- Link magmatic processes to the volcanic and plutonic rocks they produce
- Use complex phase diagrams to interpret igneous rocks and their textures
- Use thermodynamic data to describe igneous processes
- Understand the links between magmatism and mineralisation
- Describe the eruptive history of several case study volcanoes
- Understand the importance of heat in driving crustal magmatism
- Pursue a topic using search engines such as Web of Knowledge or Google Scholar
- Synthesise a topic in igneous geology using published literature
- Write an extended essay on a topic of igneous geology using primary literature sources
Teaching Information
15 lectures and 5 practicals
Assessment Information
3-hour closed examination (70%) and 2000 word essay (30%) to be completed by the end of the term in which the unit is taught. A choice of essay topics will be provided to students during the unit, together with a selection of primary references for each topic from the published literature.
The written exam will include questions based on the entire course.
Practicals will not be marked but individual feedback will be given.
Reading and References
Background reading
- Cox, Bell & Pankhurst, The Interpretation of Igneous Rocks (Allen & Unwin)
- Philpotts, Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Prentice Hall)
- Wood & Fraser, Elementary Thermodynamics for Geologists (Oxford University Press)
- Gill, Igneous Rocks and Processes (Wiley Blackwell)
