GEOL474-08S2 (C) Semester Two 2008

Igneous Petrology and Geochemistry

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2008
End Date: Sunday, 16 November 2008
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2008
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 12 October 2008

Description

This course will concentrate on the geochemical aspects of igneous petrology. At every stage we will be seeking to discover what magma chemistry can tell us about the nature of igneous processes and the relationships between igneous rocks. Following coverage of "core material" we will discuss particular igneous processes, the petrogenesis of certain rock suites and select some of the "hot topics" in igneous petrology.

This course will concentrate on the geochemical aspects of igneous petrology that are not covered in the Canterbury undergraduate course. At every stage we will be seeking to discover what magma chemistry can tell us about the nature of igneous processes and the relationships between igneous rocks. Following coverage of “core material” we will discuss particular igneous processes, the petrogenesis of certain rock suites and select some of the “hot topics” in igneous petrology.

Learning Outcomes

Core Material
Introductory geochemistry – some definitions and calculations.
Major element variation in volcanic rock suites.
Trace elements and their partitioning in melts.
Rare-earth elements and their applications in igneous petrology.
Geochemical-tectonic discrimination diagrams, spiderdiagrams etc.
Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes in dating and petrogenesis.

Topics chosen from the following
Crystallization of igneous melts.
Mafic-felsic interactions in high level magma chambers.
The genesis of subduction-related igneous rocks.
Mantle geochemical reservoirs and the genesis of different basalt magmas.
The A-Z of granite petrogenesis.
Plumes and LIPs.
Any other topics of interest.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Steve Weaver

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Essay 31 Aug 2008 25% Essay
Oral presentation 25% Oral presentation of a topic during Term 4
Final examination 50% Final examination on pre-chosen topic

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Rollinson, Hugh R; Using geochemical data : evaluation, presentation, interpretation ; Longman Scientific & Technical ;, 1993.

Winter, John D; An introduction to igneous and metamorphic petrology ; Prentice Hall, 2001.

Notes

N.B. A new academic staff member may contribute to this course so content may change.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $635.00

* 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 Geological Sciences .

All GEOL474 Occurrences

  • GEOL474-08S1 (C) Semester One 2008 - Not Offered
  • GEOL474-08S2 (C) Semester Two 2008
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