Υ3201 - IGNEOUS ROCKS-MAGMATIC PROCESSES

INSTRUCTORS

COURSE KEY ELEMENTS

COURSE CONTENT:

A. Lectures

• Rocks and the rock-cycle (Definitions)
• From the birth of the Universe to the creation and evolution of the Earth - Petrological perspective
• The interior of the Earth (Crust - Mantle - Core).
• Lithospheric plates, magmatism and volcanism.
• Composition of igneous rocks.
• Classification (geological, structural, mineralogical, petrochemical, chemical) of igneous rocks
• Textures of igneous rocks: degree of crystallinity, grain size, shape, mode of bonding, arrangement and orientation, degree of deformation or recrystallisation.
• Magma (origin, characteristics in terms of mineralogical and chemical composition, homogeneous melt and volatile content, temperature, density, viscosity, flow)
• Thermodynamics of magmas (introduction) – Phase Rule
• Melting and crystallization
• Phase diagrams (simple one-component, binary, ternary) examples from igneous petrology. Equilibrium, fractional crystallization and melting, water and silicate melts.
• Formation of magmas (primary and derived magmas) - Partial melting.
• Basaltic magma (origin, mantle source, parent rocks, physico-chemical controls on partial melting)
• Granitic magma (origin, mantle source, parent rocks, physico-chemical factors controlling partial melting)
• Magma diversity (primary and derived magmas, magmatic differentiation, magma contamination or assimilation, magma mixing)
• Rise of Magma
• Crystallisation of magma
• Igneous structures (types of magmatic bodies)
• Volcanoes and volcanism (classification, explosivity, products)
• Volcanic centres of world interest
• The Aegean volcanic arc

B. Practical & Laboratory Exercises

• Exercises 1&2:  Practice in methods of classification of igneous rocks (geological, mineralogical, chemical). Use of igneous rock nomenclature. Practice in projection on I.U.G.S. ternary diagrams. Calculation of normative mineralogy of a rock by converting its chemical composition into equivalent mineral percentages using MS Office Excel.
• Exercises 3&4:  Identification of structural characteristics of igneous rocks (texture) based on morphological, mineralogical and tectonic parameters.
• Exercise 5: Identification and determination of petrographic characteristics (macroscopic and microscopic) of acid plutonic rocks (Granitoids).
• Exercise 6: Identification and determination of petrographic characteristics (macroscopic and microscopic) of intermediate and basic plutonic rocks (Diorite, Gabbroic).
• Exercise 7: Identification and determination of petrographic characteristics (macroscopic and microscopic) of ultramafic rocks (Peridotites, Pyroxenites) and Ophiolite Complexes Units.
• Exercise 8: Identification and determination of petrographic characteristics (macroscopic and microscopic) of acid volcanic rocks.
• Exercise 9: Identification and determination of petrographic characteristics (macroscopic and microscopic) of intermediate and basic volcanic rocks.
• Exercise 10: Identification and determination of petrographic characteristics (macroscopic and microscopic) of subvolcanic rocks.    
• Exercise 11: Identification and determination of petrographic characteristics (macroscopic and microscopic) of pyroclastic rocks.
• Exercises 12&13: Construction and interpretation of binary phase diagrams.

C. Fieldwork

ONE DAY FIELDWORK IN ATTICA - CORINTHIA: Triassic pyroclastic rocks (Parnitha), Ophiolite complex of Gerania (Corinthia), Quaternary volcanic rocks (Corinthia). Study of igneous rocks of various lithologies (acidic pyroclastics, mantle rocks, lavas and pyroclastics of basic composition). Training in fieldwork methods, development of sampling methods, identification of the main mineralogical constituents of igneous rocks, their structural and morphological characteristics, classification of igneous rocks based on their macroscopic petrographic characteristics. Collection, synthesis and evaluation of petrological and geological data, report writing.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES - TEACHING METHODS:

PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA

The assessment process is conducted in Greek (there is the possibility of examination in English for Erasmus students).

In the theoretical part, the assessment is based on the written examination which includes:

• Written examination (50%)

In the practical part the assessment is based on the written examination and rock identification as follows:

• Written examination (21%)
• Rock identification (21%)
• Fielwork (8%)

RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Suggested Bibliography:

• Textbooks and notes uploaded on the electronic platform e-class

Additional Teaching Material:

• Κοκκινάκης, Α. (2011): «Μαγματικά Πετρώματα», σελ. 389.
• Best, M.G. (2002): Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (2nd Edition), p. 752.
• Philpotts, A. & Ague, J.J. (2009): Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (2nd Edition), p. 684.
• Winter, J.D. (2009): Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (2nd Edition), p. 720.

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