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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Global Tectonics and the Rock Cycle (EASC08020)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryPlate tectonic processes play an important role in the distribution of rock types on the surface of the Earth. This course analyses the physical processes responsible for the formation and destruction of tectonic plates. It considers the principle tectonic components of the Earth such as mid-ocean ridges, subduction zones and mountain ranges, and develops an understanding of the specific rock types formed in these environments. The course also considers the mechanisms by which sediment is generated as a result of the tectonic processes is analysed, as well as processes on in-situ sediment production. Sediment formation and transport processes are studied as well as the sediment and rock types that are generated. We then demonstrate how sedimentary rocks are used to reconstruct ancient tectonic and other environments.
Practicals and a weekend field trip will develop concepts from the lectures.
Course description Lectures in the first section of the course will cover details of tectonic processes and focus on the different types of rocks formed in different tectonic settings, backed up by practicals which will address plate motion, understanding how plates interact at their margins and resolving relative motion, as well as hand sample and microscope to identify and study the different rocks formed in different tectonic settings. There will also be lectures and practicals covering metamorphic processes and metamorphism related to tectonic processes. The final section of the course includes lectures and practicals which cover sedimentology and surface, biological and chemical process related to the tansportation and deposition and the generation of sliciclastic and carbonate rocks.

There will be a total of 20 lectures and 20 practicals which includes two assessed practicals and compulsory field trip to East Lothian and the Borders on 24th and 25th March 2018.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Earth Dynamics (EASC08001)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements To enter this course, you will have to have a pass in Earth
Dynamics or an approved exemption based on equivalent previous studies.
such as a good grade in Geology A-level.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students will be expected to have introductory knowledge of geology including plate tectonics and the main rock types.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  90
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 152 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Feedback Opportunities for feedback
Practicals (non-assessed): Students will be able to get help and feedback on their practical during scheduled practical sessions, or at other times upon request to the course organisers.
Course work: Students will receive written feedback on work (both assessed and non-assessed) which is handed in during the course.
Individual Meetings: Students can arrange individual meetings with the CO/lecturer at any time for advice, support, feedback etc.
Online (Adaptive Learning): the course will have online materials developed to help students with the course material, to consolidate learning and identify areas in which further help is required.
End of semester exams: Students will be able to view their corrected manuscripts upon request, and discuss their results with the course teaching team.

Examples of feedback can be found here:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/geosciences/teaching-organisation/staff/feedback-and-marking
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)3:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)3:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. An understanding of modern tectonic theory and plate tectonic processes.
  2. Knowledge required to explain major features of current and past tectonic activity, and the geological processes involved.
  3. An understanding of the mode of formation of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in the context of global tectonics and the ability to identify and interpret them under a petrological microscope.
  4. A knowledge of the techniques required to analyse sedimentary successions in the laboratory and the field and the criteria used to reconstruct ancient sedimentary environments
  5. An understanding of the surface, biological and chemical processes involved in the generation and transport of siliciclastic sediments (eg. Sands) and carbonates (eg. limestones and dolomites) over the globe, and their plate tectonic association
Reading List
1. Kearey, P., Klepeis, K.A. and Vine, F.J. 2009. Global Tectonics. Wiley-Blackwell 3rd edition
2. Rogers, N., Blake, S., Burton, K., Widdowson, M., Parkinson, I. and Harris, N. 2008. An Introduction to Our Dynamic Planet. Cambridge University Press.
3. Leeder, M., 1999, Sedimentology and Sedimentary Basins: from turbulence to tectonics. John Wiley and Sons.
4. Bridge, JS. and Domecco, R. 2008. Earth Surface Processes, Landforms and Sedimentary Deposits. Cambridge University Press.
5. R. Gill, Igneous Rocks and Processes: A Practical Handbook, 2010. Wiley-Blackwell.
6. Best, M.G., Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, 2nd Edition, 2002 (Blackwell Publishing)

http://www.docs.is.ed.ac.uk/docs/library/ResourceLists/Resource_Lists_and_the_Accesible_and_Inclusive_Learning_Policy.pdf

Additional Information
Course URL http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/16-17/dpt/cxeasc08020.htm
Graduate Attributes and Skills Rock identification skills in both hand specimen and thin section; Field skills; Numerical skills.
Additional Class Delivery Information Semester: Semester 2

Lectures: Monday 2-3 pm Grant MLT 201
Thursday 12-1 pm Grant MLT 201

Practical class: Mon 3-6pm or Tues 10-1pm
AND
Thurs 2-5pm or Fri 2-5 pm JCMB Lab 6231

Tutorial: n/a

Further information:
Syllabus
1. Oceanic plates, Transform faults, and plate flexure
2. Plate Motion: boundary motion vectors, direct and indirect plate motion determination, triple junction stability
3. Lithospheric properties: Heat flow and plate cooling models
4. The Subducted Slab: tomography, seismics, thermal structure, phase changes and buoyancy
5. Igneous rocks and the rock cycle; classification of Igneous rocks; silica saturation; subalkaline, transitional and alkaline magmas; Bowens reaction series; relationship between magma types and global tectonics
6. The Earths mantle, mantle melting and the genesis of basic magmas; relationship between composition and degree and depth of mantle melting under dry conditions; contrasted mineralogy of subalkaline and alkaline basic igneous rocks; formation of oceanic crust
7. Subduction zone processes; effect of water on mantle melting and subsequent evolution of magmas; formation of the continental crust; origin of granite.
8. Granites and granitic rocks; classification into I-, S- and A-type granites; recycling of crustal rocks into S-type granite; subsolvus and hypersolvus granites
9. Reading Metamorphic Rocks from Mineral Zones to the Facies Concept and Metamorphic Facies
10.The Impotance of Potoliths
11. Mapping Metamorphism
12. Facies Series, P-T paths and Tectonics
13. Global sediment production and preservation in a plate tectonic context
14. Fluid dynamics and transport of grains
15. Bedforms and sedimentary structures
16. Continental Settings
17. Deltaic Settings
18. Deep Water settings
19. Sediment petrology and provenance
20. Carbonate Systems
KeywordsGTRC
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jennifer Tait
Tel:
Email: Jenny.Tait@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Nicola Clark
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: nicola.clark@ed.ac.uk
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