Course Aims:
To provide an overview of igneous and metamorphic rocks as a background for discussing their origin and distribution in relation to plate tectonics.
To provide students with knowledge and skills necessary to identify, classify, and explain processes involved in the formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Classify igneous rocks using mineral composition and geochemistry
- Describe different processes of magma generation and tectonic settings of magmatic systems
- Classify metamorphic rocks and describe different types of metamorphism
- Infer metamorphic conditions from mineral assemblages
Course status: Core
Credit Rating: 12 credits
Total hours spent: 120 hours [45 hours lectures, 30 hours practical, 15 hours Assignments, and 30 hours independent study]
Course Content
Igneous Petrology: Origin, cooling and crystallization of magmas; magmatic fractionation processes; intrusive rocks, shape and size of igneous rock fabric and texture, phanaretic and aphanitic and glass rocks; essential and accessory minerals in igneous rocks, classification of igneous rocks, colour index. Mineralogical and textural characteristics of common igneous rock types including peridotite, gabbro, and granite and their extrusive equivalents. Generation and evolution of magmas; batch and fractional melting; magmatic series; tholeiitic, calc-alkaline, alkalic and peralkaline magmas; chemical variation diagrams. Harker and AFM plots; Fractionation indices.
Metamorphic Petrology: The concept of metamorphism. Types of metamorphism, controlling factors, Classification of metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic reactions and metamorphic facies: the phase rule and variance of metamorphic reactions. Model metamorphic terrain: index minerals, isograds and metamorphic grade. Elements of metamorphism of pelites, calcareous and igneous rocks. Metamorphic textures and structures; Relationship between regional metamorphism and tectonic processes. Metamorphic textures. Textures as a record of PT-deformation histories. Principles of Thermobarometry.
Assessment
Coursework 40%, Final Examination 60%.
Key Textbooks
- Best, M. G. (2013). Igneous and metamorphic petrology. John Wiley & Sons.
- Winter, J. D. (2013). Principles of igneous and metamorphic petrology. Pearson Education.
- Philpotts, A., and Ague, J. (2009). Principles of igneous and metamorphic petrology. Cambridge University Press.
- Barker, A. J. (2013). Introduction to metamorphic textures and microstructures. Routledge.
- MacKenzie, W. S., Donaldson, C. H., and Guilford, C. (1982). Atlas of igneous rocks and their textures (Vol. 12). Harlow: Longman.
Prerequisite: GY120, GY229
- Teacher: Mosses Ndayiragije Makoko