modules

Igneous and metamorphic rocks are the products of volcanoes and processes that take place deep within our Earth. This course will teach you about volcanoes, about how magmas are produced in the Earth’s mantle and crust, and about how heat and pressure change rocks and form a record of Earth history. Students learn about the most common techniques used to study these rocks including how to use field evidence, mineral assemblages, mineral textures and relationships observed under the optical microscope. The module will help you to develop an understanding of the theoretical frameworks used to interpret observations of minerals and rocks, and the methods used to interpret mineral assemblage and major, trace element and isotope geochemistry.

 

You will find the course difficult unless you have attended the first level Geology and Crystallography and Mineralogy modules, which are formal pre-requisites. It is important that you know the rock-forming minerals, their composition and identify characteristics at the outset of the module.

 

This module is suitable for students with some prior knowledge of geology, crystallography and mineralogy. Visiting students with an appropriate background may choose to attend either semester, with an igneous petrology focus in Semester 1 and a metamorphic focus in Semester 2. The module may also be taken by joint honours students, with an appropriate background.