Geology 308 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology - Spring 2012

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GEOLOGY 308 - IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY
SPRING 2012

http://mason.gmu.edu/~jnord/geol308/

Geology 308 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology - Spring 2011

PREREQUISITE GEOL 101, 102, GEOL 302 MINERALOGY (C or above) and MATH 105 or MATH 113
CLASS MEETS Monday / Wednesday 10:30 - 11:55 a.m., University Hall 1206
LAB meets Mondays at 1:30 - 4:15 p.m., 2074 David King Hall
INSTRUCTORS Dr. Julia Nord, 3055 David King Hall
Email Address - jnord@gmu.edu

Kim Cone,
Email Address - kcone@gmu.edu
OFFICE HOURS Wednesday 1:30-3:00 p.m. in DK 2074. Or by appointment.
TEXTS An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology John D. Winter, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2010

As with any text, there are errors. During the first week of class please go to http://www.whitman.edu/geology/winter/ and click on "tech support" and correct the errors in your textbook.
LABORATORY TEXT Introduction to Optical Mineralogy by Nesse (from GEOL 302)

any "guide to rocks and minerals" such as Simon and Schuster or Peterson. Get this at a local bookstore.

OPTIONAL Any "Atlas" of minerals and rocks in thin section. I will have copies of these for your use

additional websites will be listed here
OBJECTIVES LECTURE Petrology from petra rock and logos explanation. The study of rocks.
(in this case the "hard rocks" not the "soft rocks")
  • Understand the significance of different rock associations and mineral assemblages.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of plate tectonic theory
  • Learn about igneous melt generation, evolution, and crystallization processes.
  • Understand igneous and metamorphic processes at mid-ocean ridge systems, subduction zones and other plate tectonic settings.
  • Learn about metamorphic processes, occurrences of metamorphic rocks and general metamorphic principles.
  • Relate the basic principles of thermodynamics to these mineral assemblages.
  • Analyze the histories of igneous and metamorphic rocks from their mineral assemblages, the growth of the minerals and the relationships of their microstructures
OBJECTIVES LAB
  • Recognize, describe, and classify many igneous and metamorphic rocks in both hand specimen and thin section.
  • Interpret the histories of igneous and metamorphic rocks from their mineral assemblages, the growth of their minerals and the relationships of their microstructures
  • Work with both mathematical and graphical methods of describing igneous and metamorphic rocks and assemblages of rocks.

Completion of the labs will require significant time outside of the lab period.
I expect a "lab" to take approximately 6 hours of dedicated "work"
If it is taking much longer than that please come and see me

Please expect to work during the dedicated lab time as you will have me as a resource.
I also plan to be in the lab late Wednesday afternoon specifically for lab-related questions
FIELD TRIP (S)

39th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium. Thursday April 19th - Sunday April 22nd.
= 1 lab

The Rocks of the Blue Ridge. Saturday May 5th - Sunday May 6th.
= 2 labs

Hike of Old Rag Mountain
Hike of Difficult Run
What is under the American Legion Bridge?.....The Sykesville melange!
= 1 lab each
GEOLOGICAL MEETINGS

To enhance you geological knowledge I am strongly recommending that you attend the Geological Society of Washington's Meeting. These are professional papers given in professional format. The knowledge in the talks is often new / cutting edge BUT you also get to meet fellow geologists and hear how to ask (and answer) the tough questions. http://www.gswweb.org/





COURSE SCHEDULE



Geological Society of Washington
DATE TOPIC READINGS LABORATORY
JANUARY. 23
Monday
 Introduction to class.
The big picture.
Time Scale		 Chapter 1

As with any text, there are errors. During the first week of class please go to http://www.whitman.edu/geology/winter/ and click on "tech support" and correct the errors in your textbook. For the second edition, you only need to ones in RED
 LAB 1
The 10 main minerals in hand sample (HS)
Introduction to the description of igneous rocks (HS).

Igneous terminology Chapter 3

watch movie (25 min)
Secrets in Stone
This movie is part of a USGS lecture in 2004

JANUARY. 25
Wednesday
 Stellar and Earth Evolution. Meteorites Chapter 1
JANUARY. 30
Monday
 Plate Tectonics overview Chapters 1 and any Physical Geology Text Lab 2.
Microscope review
The 10 main minerals review
Introduction to Igneous textures
Identifying new minerals
Accessory minerals

Plate tectonics
FEBRUARY. 1
Wednesday

Geological Society of Washington		 Crust Mantle Core
Seismology
Temperature and Pressure gradients 		Chapters 2 and 10

TAKEHOME 1 Calculations on the interior of the Earth.
Due February 8th
FEBRUARY. 6
Monday 		IUGS Classification

Mantle Rocks
Mantle melting
Generation of Basalts		 Chapters 2 and 10 Lab 3
IUGS Classification

Mantle rocks
Ophiolite sequences

One component systems.
Clapeyron equation
Phase rule
GFE
Chapters 5 and 6

FEBRUARY. 8
Wednesday


 Primary Magmas

Rare Earth elements		 Chapters 10 and 9.3
FEBRUARY. 13
Monday
 Diversification of Magmas
Partial Melting
Differentiation.
Magma Mixing.
Assimilation		 Chapter 11 Lab 4
Layered Mafic Intrusions

Movie: The Bushveld

Binary systems.
Chapter 6
FEBRUARY. 15
Wednesday
 Layered Mafic Intrusions
Processes in a Magma Chamber
 Chapter 12

Takehome 2. Phase diagrams: Binary
Due FEBRUARY. 29!!!
FEBRUARY. 20
Monday
 EXAM 1

 Covers Chapters 1, part of 2 and 3, Chapters 10 and 11. One component systems, Chapter 6 Lab 5
Lab Quiz 1

Mafic Volcanic rocks

Melting and crystallization

Ternary and quaternary systems
Basalt tetrahedra
Chapter 7
FEBRUARY. 22
Wednesday
 Mid Ocean Ridge Volcanism.
Basalts. MORB		 Chapter 13
FEBRUARY. 27
Monday
Ocean Island basalts. OIB Chapter 14

Takehome 3. Normative minerals .
Due March 7		 Lab 6

Normative mineral calculations.
Appendix

Summary of Igneous Phase diagrams.

Major elements, trace elements and isotopes. Graphical representations and diagrams.

Bring questions you may have
FEBRUARY. 29
Wednesday
 Continental Flood Basalts. CFB's Chapter 15
MARCH. 5
Monday
 Island arcs and Continental Arcs. An Introduction Chapters 16 and 17 Lab 7
Intermediate and Continental Alkali Rocks

Due after Spring Break
MARCH. 7
Wednesday


Geological Society of Washington		 Magnetism. Self Reversals. Guest - Gordon Nord Chapter 17
MARCH. 12-18


Geological Society of Washington. March 14.

SPRING BREAK

    
MARCH. 19
Monday
 Continental arcs. The Andes. Chapters 18 and 20 Lab 8


Granites. Unusual Igneous rocks.

Chapters 18, 19 and 20
MARCH. 21
Wednesday
 Granites. The granite problem. Anorthosites and unusual igneous rocks Chapter 18
MARCH 26
Monday
 EXAM 2
Igneous Rocks and igneous phase diagrams 		Lab 9
Lab Quiz 2

Metamorphic rocks

Introduction to Metamorphic Minerals and Metamorphic fabrics
MARCH 28
Wednesday


Geological Society of Washington		 What is metamorphic petrology?

Classification of metamorphic rocks. 		Chapters 21 and 22
APRIL. 2
Monday
 Metamorphic systems

Metamorphic structures and textures		 Chapter 23

Takehome 4. Metamorphic phase calculations.
Due April 11th		 Lab 10
Metamorphic Mineral assemblages

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium assemblages.

Reactions on AKFM diagrams

APRIL. 4
Wednesday
Phase rule and stable assemblages in metamorphic rocks
Chapter 24
APRIL. 9
Monday
 Metamorphic Facies.
Prograde and retrograde reactions.
Main metamorphic trends
Geothermometry, Geobarometry. 		Chapter 25 Lab 11
Metamorphosed Mafic rocks
Low, medium and high P/T trends


Final lab project assigned
APRIL. 11
Wednesday
 Metamorphosed mafic rocks Chapter 25
APRIL. 16
Monday
 Metamorphism of Pelitic rocks Chapter 28

Takehome 5. spider diagrams
Due April 25th		 Lab 12
Regional metamorphic rocks
pelitic, calcareous and ultramafic rocks
APRIL. 18
Wednesday		 Metamorphism of Calcareous rocks rocks Chapter 29
APRIL. 23
Monday
 Visit to Smithsonian Work on final project
APRIL. 30
Wednesday
 Contact, dynamic metamorphism and metasomatism Chapter 30
MAY. 2
Monday
 Hot topics in Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology TBD Lab 13
Field Trip preparation
Contact and dynamic metamorphism. Charnokites etc
APRIL. 25
Wednesday


 Introduction to field trip Assigned readings
May 5 - May 6
Saturday / Sunday
Field trip reading assigned Participation in field trip = 2 labs
May 9
Wednesday
Geological Society of Washington
MAY. 9
Wednesday
 FINAL EXAM 10:30 a.m. Mandatory

LAB IS REQUIRED
Lab topics will not always coincide with lecture topics

GRADING
Exam I16 points
Exam II16 points
Final Exam20 points
Lab Quizzes6 points
13 labs / lab equivalents)
from 13 Labs + field trips		26 points
Lab project6 points
Takehomes10 points

 

IMPORTANT - ALL STUDENTS NEED TO READ THIS

  • ALL EXAMS MUST BE TAKEN AS SCHEDULED
  • MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN FOR EXCEPTIONAL (DOCUMENTED) CIRCUMSTANCES
  • NO-ONE MAY START AN EXAM AFTER THE FIRST STUDENT HAS FINISHED AND LEFT THE ROOM
  • All exams will emphasize material presented in lecture BUT you are also responsible for material contained in the readings in your text AND the other assigned readings.
  • Exams will also test your ability to apply the knowledge-learned to other situations.
  • The course operates under the rules of The Honor Code.

    • Please be familiar with THE HONOR CODE.

  • Exams are closed book and your answers must be your own.
  • Quizzes - you can have your notes - your answers must be your own.
  • It is advisable to read the assigned material before it is covered in class, especially for the labs
  • Labs must be turned in at the beginning of the following lab period. Late labs will be graded for 1/2 credit. Labs will NOT be accepted after they have been handed back
  • Weather permitting, we may supplement the class with additional non-mandatory field trips.