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Have you ever wondered what the Earth’s mantle is made of, how it melts to generate magma, why the magma erupts where it does and why magmas erupting in different tectonic settings have different compositions? This course will provide answers to these questions and many more. It will examine the nature, origin, and interpretation of igneous rocks and mineral assemblages, as well as the magmatic processes that have produced these materials. Additionally, students will develop an understanding of the petrological evolution of the crustal lithosphere within a modern plate dynamic framework. Case studies will be used from across the globe to provide examples of various magmatic systems, but there will be a particular emphasis on those from the Pacific island nations, including Aotearoa New Zealand. Students taking this course will receive a broad grounding in the experimental, petrographical and geochemical aspects of igneous petrogenesis and magmatic processes. This will be achieved in two lectures and one laboratory class each week, along with half a day of fieldwork to collect geochemical data and a subsequent laboratory class to describe, evaluate interpret those data. Completion of activities in each lecture, marked output from lab classes and a discussion in which the student demonstrates the level of their understanding of key concepts will contribute to the course mark.
This course will build upon students’ understanding of the nature and origin of magma and the igneous rocks that crystallise from it, and the relationship between the magma that erupts or is exposed at the surface and the underlying mantle. Students will also develop an ability to critically collect, handle, evaluate and interpret quantitative data from igneous rocks using examples from across the globe, but in particular the Pacific, including Aotearoa New Zealand.
1. Realise the importance of igneous rocks in geology and to society.2. Explain the structure and composition of the Earth’s mantle and the influence that this has on magma and igneous rocks seen at the surface. 3. Understand how rocks melt to form magma.4. Identify and classify igneous rocks and infer the geological environments in which they form.5. Create, handle and manage data.6. Analyse volcanic rocks and compositional data from across the globe, particularly the Pacific, including Aotearoa New Zealand, to understand magmatic systems and processes.7. Communicate effectively key concepts and acquired knowledge.
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
Globally aware
Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.
GEOL242
GEOL309, GEOL336
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Two lectures per week.One lab per week.One-day field trip (Summit Road, Porthills, first weekend of term 4).
Alex Nichols
Sarah Smithies
Recommended textbook(s):Winter, J.D., Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (various editions, available in EPS library)(or similar igneous rocks and processes textbook)Rollinson, H.R., Using Geochemical Data: Evaluation, Presentation, Interpretation (available as ebook from UC library) https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/canterbury/detail.action?docID=1602058Other useful books for the laboratory work are:Shelley, D., Optical Mineralogy, Elsevier (out of print, but available in Science Shop, also available in EPS library)Deer, W.A., Howie, R.A. and Zussman, J., An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals (various editions, available in EPS library)Students will also be directed to relevant journal articles and book chapters throughout the course, and will be expected to undertake their own research and reading.
Prerequisites: GEOL242Restrictions: GEOL309 (cross-coded)Recommended preparation:A basic understanding of chemistry, mathematics, mineralogy, and some experience of using Excel or an alternative spreadsheet and graphing program would be helpful.
Domestic fee $978.00
International fee $4,988.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Earth and Environment .