Syllabus for Mineralogy and Petrology

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Classify the most important rock forming minerals from structural, chemical, physical and optical properties
• Apply polarized optical microscopy in studies on rocks and minerals toward their identification, characterization, and understanding in a geological context
• Discuss the importance of minerals to society, interpret their properties with respect to exploration, mining, processing and technological and environmental applications
• Apply phase equilibria modelling and the principles of thermobarometry to common mineral groups
• Evaluate the origin and evolution of igneous and metamorphic rocks using petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry
• Interpret and model mineralogical and geochemical data
• Apply statistical tools to interpret provenance of sedimentary rocks

Content

Systematic mineralogy and mineral chemistry, including crystal-chemical structure and physical properties of different mineralogical groups. Classification of rocks and chemical principals of petrology. Principles and examples of applied and environmental mineralogy. Igneous petrology and geochemistry from mantle sources to magma evolution and magma storage. Conventional and non-conventional geothermobarometry and phase equilibrium modelling to decipher evolutionary paths of metamorphic rocks. Igneous and metamorphic petrology from a plate tectonic perspective. Provenance analysis of sedimentary rocks based on geochronological datasets and inventory of accessory minerals. Exercises in analytical methodology, mineralogy and petrology, optical mineralogy, geochemical data including whole rock major and trace elements, isotope data and mineral chemistry data, geochemical modelling, statistical analysis of geochronological datasets and thermobarometry. Discussion of natural hazards and natural resources and their impact on the society and environment.

Instruction

Lectures, laboratory experiments, practical exercises. Participation in experiments, practicals and project work is compulsory.

Training in communication skills with feedback is included in this course.

Assessment

Written exam in mineralogy (3 credits), written exam in igneous petrology (3 credits), written exam in metamorphic petrology (3 credits), other course work including seminars, research debates, microscopy assignments and written project reports (6 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.