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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2018/2019

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Igneous, Metamorphic and Ore Processes (EASC10107)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will provide an outline of modern concepts of the formation and evolution of the solid Earth through the study of igneous and metamorphic petrology and geochemistry, volcanology and ore-forming processes.
The course will investigate the genesis of magmas from the mantle through to eruption, from a geochemical prospective as well as physical volcanic processes at the surface.
The course will investigate the relationships between mineral assemblages, rock composition and pressure-temperature conditions of metamorphism. These will be linked to the facies concept and P-T paths, and their importance for reconstructing tectonic settings and evaluating orogen evolution explained.
An overview of ore-forming processes will be presented drawing, in part, on your newly acquired knowledge of igneous and metamorphic genesis.
Course description This course will be taught as a mixture of lectures and practicals over ten weeks. Students will gain hands-on experience of petrology and numerical modelling of natural data to investigate the formation of the solid Earth.

Week 1: The mantle and introduction to trace elements, partial melting and fractional crystallisation.
Week 2: Crustal formation from mantle to crust through isotopic evolution.
Week 3: Silicic magma genesis
Week 4: Modern techniques in igneous petrology and volcanology. Volatiles as a driving force of volcanic eruptions.
Week 5: Volcanic conduit processes and effusive eruptions.
Week 6: Explosive volcanic eruptions. Metamorphic facies, the phase rule and representation of mineral assemblages.
Week 7: Analysis of the metamorphism of pelites and its quantification. P-T estimation: geothermobarometry and phase diagram analysis.
Week 8: HP-UHP and HT-UHT metamorphism. P-T time paths, thermal and tectonic settings of metamorphism. Thermal modelling of P-T-t in orogens.
Week 9: Introduction to Ore deposits and igneous ore-forming processes.
Week 10: Hydrothermal and surficial ore-forming processes.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Earth Dynamics (EASC08001) AND Geomaterials (EASC08021) AND Global Tectonics and the Rock Cycle (EASC08020)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Prohibited Combination:
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology EASC09008. Students who take this new course will be able to take revamped Volcanology EASC10091 and Ore Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry EASC10094 as options in the 4th year. Students who have taken Volcanology and Ore Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry prior to this new course commencing cannot take this course as an option in 4th or 5th year.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesCourse Organiser approval is required and student should have covered the same material as in the UK pre-requisites.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 30, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 30, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 116 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 50% Exam and 50% Coursework Assessment
Feedback Students will be able to have individual feedback informally in each practical session from both academic staff and postgraduate demonstrators.
Students will be given feedback through written comments as material is returned and informally in practical sessions.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Gain a broad understanding of the petrology and geochemistry of igneous, metamorphic and ore-forming rocks.
  2. Understand the processes leading up to volcanic eruptions and the associated eruption mechanisms and deposits.
  3. Review metamorphic facies, facies series and their distribution as well as thermal and tectonics controls on metamorphism.
  4. Use, manipulate and evaluate a range of specialist data using a range of modelling approaches.
Reading List
Scientific articles will be cited throughout for students to refer to.

Recommended reading (selectively):
- Igneous Rocks and Processes: A practical handbook. By R. Gill (2010). Wiley-Blackwell.
-Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology by MG Best (2003). Blackwell Science.
- Volcanoes by Peter Francis and Clive Oppenheimer (2nd Ed)
- Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology by Elisabeth Parfitt and Lionel Wilson.
-An Introduction to Metamorphic Petrology by BWD Yardley. Longmans.
- Ore Forming Processes by L. Robb 2004. Blackwell Science.

Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsIgneous,metamorphic,petrology,volcanology,geochemistry,ore geology
Contacts
Course organiserDr Kate Saunders
Tel: (0131 6)50 2544
Email: Kate.Saunders@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Ashley Stein
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: v1astei5@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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