Entry requirements

120 credits with 75 credits in physics and mathematics, or with 75 credits in earth science, 15 credits in physics and 15 credits in mathematics.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• Derive and use relationships between different physical rock properties
• Determine appropriate tools and methods for calculating physical properties of rocks.
• Carry out laboratory and field measurements of rock density, seismic velocities, magnetic susceptibility, and conductivity
• Interpret geophysical field observations (e.g., a seismic section) and provide possible explanations for the features observed.
• Derive synthetic forward models (e.g., synthetic seismograms from borehole sonic and density data).
• Describe scale-dependence of physical properties and their variations in the Earth’s crust and below.

Content

Porosity, density, and permeability, Darcy’s law, elasticity, fourth rank stiffness and compliance tensors. Relationships between porosity and seismic velocity. Seismic properties of rocks and rock-forming minerals. Attenuation, anisotropy, dispersion, and shear-wave splitting. Dynamic and static properties of rocks. Diamagnetism, paramagnetism, and ferromagnetism. Magnetic susceptibility and remanence. Effect of pressure and temperature on magnetic properties. Electrical resistivity and conductivity, Archie’s law. Thermal conductivity, specific heat, and radioactive heat production. Heat budget of the Earth. In-situ and downhole physical property measurements.

Instruction

Lectures, homework, problem solving, computer exercises, lab and field measurements, seminar.

Assessment

Written examination (2 credits), homework assignments (1 credit), computer projects (1 credit), and written report (1 credit).