Undergraduate Course: Advances in Metamorphism (EASC10073)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | 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.
|
| Course description |
The Phase Rule
Schrienemakers analysis and chemographic principles
Divariant equilibria and P-X, T-X and pseudosection analysis
Applications of phase diagrams to UHT rocks
Ti-Zr themrometry for UHT rocks
Monazite chemical dating and P-T-time records
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | none |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
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.
|
Reading List
Orogenesis: the making of mountains (CUP, 2012). Authors MRW Johnson & SL Harley
Further references specific to selected case studies are provided in the course website at the time of setting of those case studies. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
use of computer programs for calculation of equilibria
preparation of report on lab investigation
production of report on a literate exapmle of UHT
presentation skills |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
5 x 3 hour sessions introducing the theory and practice of assessing mineral assemlbages in metamorphic rocks using schreinemakers, pseudosections, and new thermometry. (15 hours)
15 hour lab-based project (microscrope examination of thin section |
| 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 |
|
|
University Homepage