Undergraduate Course: Advances in Metamorphism (EASC10073)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Earth Science |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The 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.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Metamorphic petrology and chemical equilibria courses
Mathematics including calculus |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Assessment Methods
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| 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.
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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 |
| Keywords | EASC10073 metamorphismthermodynamicsphase diagramsaccessory mineralsU-Pb geochronologyP-T pathUHT |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Simon Harley
Tel: (0131 6)50 8547
Email: s.harley@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Katie Leith
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: Katie.Leith@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2013 The University of Edinburgh - 13 January 2014 3:52 am
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