GEOL 4100 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

4 unit(s)

The origin, description, and interpretation of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Lecture focuses on concepts, processes, theory, and research concerning the genesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks; laboratory focus is on identification, classification, and interpretation. Course entails use of optical microscope to study rocks. Field trips.

Prerequisites: GEOL 2100 and GEOL 2102; GEOL 3250.

Hours: (Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours)

Course Learning Outcomes List
Students will:

Identify the minerals in most common igneous and metamorphic rocks both in hand specimen and in thin section;
Identify and interpret the textures in common igneous and metamorphic rocks both in hand specimen and in thin section;
Understand the layered structure of the Earth and how pressure and temperature are interpreted to vary with depth;
Understand the basic principles of chemical equilibrium and apply them to igneous and metamorphic systems;
Interpret igneous and metamorphic phase diagrams and apply them to real rocks;
Know the basics of igneous geochemistry and understand how major elements, trace elements, and stable and unstable isotope geochemistry is used to constrain theories on the origin of igneous and metamorphic rocks;
Know the basic igneous rock associations;
Understand the facies concept in metamorphism;
Plot metamorphic assemblages on chemographic diagrams and how to interpret such diagrams; and,
Constrain approximate conditions of metamorphism and chemical type of parent rock given any metamorphic rock.

Schedule of Classes | University Bookstore