Course overview
This course aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of mineralogy and the origin, occurrence and identification of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Students will develop knowledge of the structure, chemistry and physical properties of minerals in hand specimen and down the microscope and use this information to interrogate processes within the Earth. This course will develop students’ practical mineral and rock identification skills and provide a basis for the advanced study of mineralogy and igneous and metamorphic rocks and the environments in which they form.
- Igneous petrology
- Metamorphic Petrology
Course learning outcomes
- Identify and classify common igneous and metamorphic rocks and their rock-forming minerals in hand sample and thin section
- Recognise and explain the processes that can modify magma composition
- Demonstrate the idealised formation of igneous rocks through fractional crystallisation
- Demonstrate the basic processes for the formation metamorphic rocks from low to high grade
- Integrate the chemistry, structure and texture of rocks to interpret past geological processes and the history of the Earth
Degree list
The following degrees include this course