Petrology of Igneous & Metamorphic Rocks

Part A: Igneous Petrology Origin of the elements and minerals in the universe. Fundamental petrological concepts. Study of the Earth mantle. Classification of igneous rocks. Fundamental thermodynamic concepts. Unary, binary and ternary phase diagrams, the phase rule. Liquid-crystal equilibria in magmatic systems. Processes of magma production and evolution. Basalts, Granites. Geochemical processes in the igneous rocks. Magmatic evolution models. Mantle metasomatism. Magmatic environments. Part B: Metamorphic Petrology Physical and chemical processes of metamorphism. Metamorphic zones, isograds and facies. Metamorphism and plate tectonics. Chemographic projection of mineral assemblages. Composition diagrams, reactions and petrogenetic grids of metamorphic rocks of high, intermediate and low pressure facies series. Geothermobarometry and P–T- t paths of metamorphic rocks.

Objectives

At the end of this course the student should be able to 1. Identify minerals and textures of igneous and metamorphic rocks 2. Apply the thermodynamic rules and evaluate the thermodynamic equilibrium in igneous and metamorphic chemical systems. 3. Use binary and ternary systems for the interpretation of igneous rock systems (granites, basalts, etc.) 4. Use compositional diagrams and petrogenetic grids to infer the P-T-t paths of metamorphic rocks.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisite courses. It is however strongly recommended that students should have at least a well developed background in Mineralogy, Petrography and Geochemistry.

Syllabus

Part A: Igneous Petrology Origin of the elements and minerals in the universe. Fundamental petrological concepts. Study of the Earth mantle. Classification of igneous rocks. Fundamental thermodynamic concepts. Unary, binary and ternary phase diagrams, the phase rule. Liquid-crystal equilibria in magmatic systems. Processes of magma production and evolution. Basalts, Granites. Geochemical processes in the igneous rocks. Magmatic evolution models. Mantle metasomatism. Magmatic environments. Part B: Metamorphic Petrology Physical and chemical processes of metamorphism. Metamorphic zones, isograds and facies. Metamorphism and plate tectonics. Chemographic projection of mineral assemblages. Composition diagrams, reactions and petrogenetic grids of metamorphic rocks of high, intermediate and low pressure facies series. Geothermobarometry and P–T- t paths of metamorphic rocks.