Geol 354 Metamorphic Petrology and Tectonics
Prof. Alex Kisters & Dr Matt Mayne
Course Synopsis
This course
is composed of two components
1) Metamorphic
Petrology
This
is an introductory metamorphic petrology course that aims
to educate students to the point where they can identify metamorphic
rocks in the field, use macro- and microscopic textural evidence
to identify the metamorphic environment, and use the mineral
assemblage to identify the protolith and place the rock in
a metamorphic facies framework. Topics covered include: Types
of metamorphism; driving forces behind metamorphism; naming
metamorphic rocks; the zonal scheme of metamorphism; the metamorphic
facies concept; the phase rule; types of metamorphic reactions;
chemographic diagrams for metamorphic rocks; and, basic principles
of thermobarometry.
Practical
exercises focus on studying metamorphic rocks in thin section
and students learn to identify metamorphic minerals via their
optical properties. Mineral assemblages and textures are use
to make deductions about the environment of metamorphism and
the pressure-temperature conditions under which the assemblage
equilibrated.
2) Principles
of Tectonics
Tectonics
is the study of the origin, geologic evolution and architecture
of large parts of the Earth’s lithosphere (the crust
and the upper mantle) and processes that have shaped the Earth’s
crust. It is particular the plate tectonic paradigm that provides
a conceptual thread linking most aspects of the wide field
of Earth Sciences. Structural studies are an essential component
of tectonics used in the analysis of these large-scale processes.
This
three-week course provides an outline of the principles of
plate tectonics. It discusses the rheological properties of
plates, variations thereof and consequences for deformation.
The various driving forces of plate tectonics are discussed.
The main plate tectonic scenarios and common plate configurations
are presented, both in terms of generic concepts as well as
through case histories. Sedimentary environments, igneous
provinces, metamorphic facies/evolution and styles of deformation
and fabric development will be discussed before the background
of plate tectonics.
Course Goals
To
produce graduates who are competent in the practical application
of metamorphic petrological knowledge, by extracting and
interpreting mineral textural information in thin section,
and coupling this to a theoretical understanding of metamorphic
processes.
To
providing the student with the theoretical background of
plate tectonics, before which geological data (field, structural,
mineral, sedimentological, geochronological, economic, etc.)
can be interpreted in terms of their regional tectonic setting.
Course Outcomes
Metamorphic
Petrology: At the end of this course students should
be able to
- Assign metamorphic grade based on mineral assemblages, and use simple phase diagrams to illustrate the relationships between these mineral assemblages, PT conditions, and bulk rock chemical composition.
- Judge the relative timing of metamorphic mineral growth relative to deformation based on porphyroblast fabric relationships
- Constrain the extent of fluid phase availability and fluid composition, based on assemblage variance and distribution arguments
- Understand how PT conditions of equilibration from suitable assemblages are calculated, after having made assessements of issues of equilibration,mineral compositional zoning, and the quality of thermodynamic data and likely sources of uncertainties
- Understand relationships between crustal heat flow, styles of metamorphism, P-T-t paths and plate tectonic settings
Tectonics:
At the end of this course students should be able to
Study Materials and Textbooks
Students
should consult the following text books, as necessary
BWD
Yardley "Introduction to metamorphic petrology",
Harlow Longmans (1989).
JD
Winter "An introduction to igneous and metamorphic
Petrology", Prentice Hall (2001)
Davis
and Reynolds. Structural geology of rocks and regions. Wiley
and Sons (1996)
Additional
materials and notes will be provided with the course.
Learning Opportunities
Students
will be directed to case studies in the literature, and online
resources
