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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Advances in Metamorphism (EASC10073)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaEarth Science Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThe study of metamorphic rocks and their implications for understanding mountain belts and the tectonic evolution of the Earth has undergone a radical transformation over the past decade - with extreme metamorphism at ultrahigh T and P being now recognised as central to any models for the Earth, vastly improved thermodynamic methods allowing better P-T estimation, and advances in mineral dating enabling much better time constraints to be placed on processes.

This course will cover these advances. Formal lectures, tutorials and practical sessions will be complemented by assignments and exercises undertaken by the students.

The following topics will be covered:

Metamorphic Phase Diagrams ? from AFM to Schreinemakers? analysis, P-T pseudosections and further contoured phase diagrams.

Migmatites, melting and the importance of cordierite as a volatile-bearing phase. Calculated water activities during melting in the crust, role of CO2.

Advances in thermometry of UHT rocks using Ti in zircon and quartz, and Zr in rutile. Results, implications, caveats.

Reaction textures: Principles of interpretation and caveats, the roles of fluids, formation mechanisms, examples.

Advances in accessory mineral age dating: Zircon behaviour and linkage to P-T via reactions and chemistry; monazite and its behaviour; P-T-time paths and implications for rates and settings.

Practical (laboratory examination of material, graphical analysis and computer-based calculations of equilibria) will accompany all topics.

The option will utilise a basic knowledge of mineralogy, chemical equilibria and metamorphic petrology drawn from G3 course work.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesMetamorphic petrology and chemical equilibria courses
Mathematics including calculus
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
No Classes have been defined for this Course
First Class First class information not currently available
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
The student will develop an understanding of the graphical and thermodynamic principles and techniques used in the analysis of mineral equilibria in high-grade metamorphism. This will give them an appreciation of the ways in which the understanding of metamorphism and metamorphic processes is developed. He/ she will gain skills in applying these to perform calculations on metamorphic examples to extract P-T information, and be able to integrate this with microtextural observations and mineral age data to construct P-T-t records of crustal rocks. He/she will develop detailed knowledge of a selected UHT area in order to critically appraise relevant current literature.
Assessment Information
50% laboratory-based exercise, individually constructed for each student (combinations of Schreinemakers? analysis, THERMOCALC, Zr-Ti thermometry, cordierite water activity estimation, monazite age calculation).

50% Presentation and critique of metamorphic work on a selected UHT metamorphic area.
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsEASC10073 metamorphismthermodynamicsphase diagramsaccessory mineralsU-Pb geochronologyP-T pathUHT
Contacts
Course organiserProf Simon Harley
Tel: (0131 6)50 8547
Email: s.harley@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Emma Latto
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: emma.latto@ed.ac.uk
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 5:54 am