Igneous Petrology

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Dr Eleanor Jennings
• Assessment: a workbook based on lectures 1-6 (50%) and a 2000-word report (50%)

In this module we introduce the main concepts of igneous petrology and relate the occurrence of igneous rocks to plate tectonics and orogenic activity. You will also study igneous rocks using a petrological microscope so that you can identify and interpret their mineralogy and textures.

The module includes one weekend field class in Cornwall.

Indicative syllabus

• The recognition, geological occurrence and petrogenesis of common igneous rocks
• Classification of igneous rocks
• Recognition of rock-structure and textures
• The generation and consolidation of magma
• The use of experimental data from natural and synthetic melts
• The relationship between metamorphism, igneous activity and plate tectonics
• The integration of descriptive and interpretative petrology is the main aim of practical work

By the end of this module, you will:

• understand the chemistry and mineralogy of igneous rock
• be able to relate igneous rocks to plate tectonics
• understand basic petrogenetic processes
• be able to interpret information derived from thin-section and hand-specimen analysis
• have developed reasoning based on evidence from mineralogy and chemistry of rocks
• have basic scientific literacy
• understand binary and ternary phase diagrams
• be able to place various types of rock in a plate tectonic context
• be able to interpret numerical and chemical data
• be able to write scientific descriptions of rock samples.