EES 314: Metamorphic Petrology Laboratory (1)
Prerequisites (Desirable): Credited or registered in EES 304
Learning Objectives:
In this course students will learn to identify different metamorphic rocks both mega- and microscopically. Emphasis will be given on identification of different mineral reaction textures. Additionally, laboratory exercises will also cover the computational methods to estimate P-T conditions in metamorphic rocks. Further, students will be introduced to thermodynamics based software to construct and interpret equilibrium phase diagrams.
Course Contents:
Classification and Nomenclature of Metamorphic Rocks:
Criteria for identification of equilibrium mineral associations; Relationships between textures, deformation for ordering metamorphic mineral associations.
Megascopic and microscopic study (textural and mineralogical):
Low grade metamorphic rocks: Serpentinites, albite-epidote-chlorite-quartz schists, slates, talc-tremolite-calcite-quartz schists.
Medium to high grade metamorphic rocks: Gneisses, amphibolites, hornfels, garnetiferous schists, sillimanite-kyanite-bearing rocks.
High Grade metamorphic rocks: Granulites, eclogites, diopside-forsterite bearing rocks.
Laboratory Exercises in Plotting Mineral Chemistry Data:
Determination of pressure-temperature conditions using various net-transfer and exchange reactions.
Preparation and Interpretation of Equilibrium Phase Diagrams:
DOMINO-THERAK, PERPLE_X and THERMOCALC.
Suggested Readings :
- Vernon, R. H. and Clark, G. L, 2008, Principles of Metamorphic Petrology (1st Edition), Cambridge.
- Passchier, C., and Trouw, R. A. J., 2005, Microtectonics (2nd Edition), Springer.
- Popular equilibrium phase calculation software resources accessible via http://ees2.geo.rpi.edu/MetaPetaRen/Software/Software.html
Previous | Back to Course List | Next |