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Ε6209 - PETROGENESIS OF IGNEOUS ROCKS AND OPHIOLITHIC COMPLEXES

INSTRUCTORS

Lectures:

P. Pomonis, Prof.

D. Kostopoulos, Assoc. Prof.

Lab. Training:

P. Pomonis, Prof.

D. Kostopoulos, Assoc. Prof.

eClass Webpage

COURSE KEY ELEMENTS

LEVEL / SEMESTER:

EQF level 6; NQF of Greece level 6 / 6th

TYPE:

Specific background, Specialization of general knowledge, Skills development

TEACHING ACTIVITIES - HOURS/WEEK  - ECTS:

Lectures, Practical exercises
2 hours of lecturing,
1 hour of practical exercises per week,
4 ECTS credit

Prerequisites:

 

Language of instruction and Assessment:

Greek  (V.S.1 English)

Availability to Erasmus+ Students:

YES in English

COURSE CONTENT:

  • Phase Diagrams in Geology - Study of phase equilibrium in one, two, three and four component diagrams as a function of pressure, temperature and water (use of petrology software).
  • Petrogenetic processes in the lithosphere and asthenosphere - Partial melting in the crust and mantle - Mantle heterogeneity - Xenoliths and their relationship to the surrounding volcanic rocks - Methodology for studying xenoliths for petrogenetic inference.
  • Formation and evolution of magmas - Classes of magmas and their origin - Magma composition - Magma differentiation, fractional crystallization, contamination, magma mixing .
  • Introduction to the relationship between magmatism and global tectonics - igneous rocks of mid-ocean ridges, island and continental arcs, back-arc basins, fault zones, etc.)
  • Types and members of ophiolite complexes - Tectonites - Cumulate rocks – Isotropic gabbros -  Sheeted dyke complex - Basaltic pillow lavas - Ophiolitic mélange. Nomenclature and classification of rocks that make up ophiolitic complexes based on geochemical criteria - Differences and similarities between ophiolitic sequences of divergent and convergent plate boundary environments.
  • Lithospheric plate theory and ophiolites - Earliest historical milestones in the development of ideas about the formation and emplacement of ophiolitic complexes - Modern definition of an ophiolitic complex - Current theories of lithospheric plate behaviour and their relationship to ophiolite complexes - Mechanisms controlling ophiolite emplacement - Magmatic processes in back-arc and fore-arc environments.
  • Description of the main petrogenetic processes for the formation of ophiolite complexes – Mantle source composition - Formation of primary basaltic magma - Primary magma - Differentiation processes - Geotectonic environment of formation - Petrogenetic modelling (Estimation of degree of partial melting for the creation of primary magma using geochemical data and use of modern petrogenetic methods) - Estimation of physico-chemical conditions (examples of geothermal barometry, ways of calculating oxygen fugacity) - The importance of the presence of primary amphiboles - Conditions of metamorphism and metasomatism of the ocean floor - Phenomena of hydrothermal alteration, rodingitization and carbonation - The role of water and CO2 in metasomatic processes - Serpentinization in subduction zones, relation to volcanism and metasomatism.
  • Processing of geochemical models and use of mineral chemical data to determine the geotectonic environment of ophiolite formation - Interpretation of normalized rare earth diagrams and multi-element diagrams - Use of geochemical diagrams for geotectonic classification - Determination of the geotectonic environment using mineral chemical data - Isotopic data as tools for determining the geotectonic environment.
  • Description of the main Greek ophiolitic bodies - Examples from the ophiolites of Vourinos, Pindos, Koziakas, Othrys, Euboea, Gevgeli, Halkidiki, Soufli, Samothrace, Lesvos, Cyclades and Crete - Distinguishing the Greek ophiolitic deposits on the basis of their geotectonic environment of formation.
  • Reference to typical occurrences of ophiolite complexes in the world - Examples from the Troodos (Cyprus), Mirdita (Albania), Semail (Oman), Liguria (Italy), Western Alps, Nicoya (Costa Rica), Teitao (Chile), Smartville (California, U.S.A.), Smartville (California, U.S.A. (California, USA), Betts Cove (Canada), Zambales (Philippines) - Classification based on their formation environment.
  • Mineralization in ophiolitic rocks
  • Mineralization of PGE group.
  • Fe-Cu-Ni-Co sulphide deposits
  • Podiform chrome deposits - their relationship to the geotectonic environment of genesis, nickel laterite deposits, talc-magnesite deposits, zinc and tin deposits and their relationship to ocean floor hydrothermal veins.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES - TEACHING METHODS:

PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

Activity Student’s effort
Lectures26 hours
Practical Exercises13 hours
Fieldwork8 hours
Homework33 hours
Preparation for final Assessment20 hours
Total student effort100 hours

ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA

The final grade (in theory and laboratory) will be the sum of 60% for the examination in the course syllabus and 40% for the examination in the laboratory syllabus.

The final written final examination for the Course will include short answer questions from the deliverable material as well as judging questions.

The laboratory examination will include examination of selected thin sections of ophiolitic rocks under a polarizing microscope, as well as an oral examination on topics delivered in the laboratory exercises.

RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Suggested Bibliography

  • Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Myron G. Best – 2002)
  • Μαγματικά Πετρώματα (Κοκκινάκης Ανδρέας , Πανεπιστημιακές Σημειώσεις – 2002)
  • Ophiolite Concept and the Evolution of Geological Thought (Yildirim Dilek, ‎Sally Newcomb – 2003– GSA Special Paper 373)
  • Ophiolites, Arcs, and Batholiths (James Earl Wright, ‎John W. Shervais – 2008 – GSA Special Paper 438)

Related scientific Journals

 

 

1 V.S.: Visitor Students (e.g. ERASMUS)

STUDY: