University of Jordan
Dept. of Geology
Prof. Ghaleb Jarrar
Petrology 0305231
(Pre-req: 0305221)
Spring 2010
Class time: Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday 12:00-12:50
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Petrology, study of rocks, (from Greek petra “rock” and logos, “discourse or explanation”, occupies a central
position among the Earth Sciences since the Earth, excluding the atmosphere and the hydrosphere, is built of
rocks. Rocks are naturally occurring, mechanically coherent aggregates of minerals or mineraloids (coal,
volcanic glass, opal). Most of rocks consist of several different minerals and are traditionally divided into three
distinct types: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. The American Geological Institute’s Glossary of
Geology defines the three types as follows:
Igneous rock: A rock that solidified from a molten or partially molten material, that is, from magma.
Sedimentary rock: A rock resulting from the consolidation of loose sediment that has accumulated in layers.
A clastic rock consisting of mechanically formed fragments of older rock transported from their source and
deposited in water or from air or ice; or a chemical rock formed by precipitation from solution; or an organic
rock consisting of the remains or secretions of plants and animals are examples.
Metamorphic rock: Any rock derived from pre-existing rocks by mineralogical, chemical and structural
changes, essentially in the solid state, in response to marked changes in temperature, pressure, shear stress,
and chemical environment at depth in the earth’s crust; that is below the zones of weathering and cementation.
Transitional or borderline rocks also exist. Pyroclastics, serpentinites and migmatites are examples.
The keywords of this course are summarized below:
Igneous rocks: structures, textures, chemistry, magmas, mineralogy and classification; sedimentary
rocks: textures, structures, sedimentary processes; classification and description of the main sedimentary
rocks ; metamorphic rocks: textural and structural aspects, mineral assemblages, metamorphic
conditions.
Objectives: After having completed this course, the student should be able:
1. To distinguish between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks;
2. To describe, using the specialized geologic terminology, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
including their mineralogy, texture and structure;
3.
To name and classify common igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks based on internationally
recognized schemes and criteria;
4.
To understand the processes of generation, migration, crystallization and differentiation of magmas
solidify to form igneous rocks.
5. To recognize the common varieties of sedimentary rocks and the processes and environments in
which sediments and sedimentary rocks form.
6. To understand mineralogical and textural changes that take place in rocks as a result of changes in
physical conditions (pressure, temperature, etc.) and are called metamorphism.
Topic
1. Introduction and field relationships
2. Igneous minerals, chemistry and classification
3. Crystallization of magmas and binary phase diagrams
4.Origin and evolution of magmas
5. Igneous rocks of oceanic lithosphere
6. Igneous rocks of convergent plate boundaries
7. Igneous rocks of continental lithosphere
First exam
8. Occurrence of sedimentary rocks
9. Weathering and soils
10. Conglomerates and sandstones
11. Mud rocks
12. Limestones and dolostones
13. Other types of sedimentary rocks
Second exam
14. introduction to metamorphism: isograds, facies, and
P-T evolution
15. Macroscopic properties of metamorphic rocks and
minerals of metamorphic rocks
16. Assemblages, reactions, and equilibrium in
metamorphic rocks
17. Metamorphism of mafic and ultramafic rocks
18. Metamorphism of aluminous (pelitic) rocks
19. Metamorphism of calcareous rocks
A field trip to the Neoproterozoic basement complex in
south Jordan for 2 days is planned
A one day field trip to sedimentary outcrops is planned
lectures
Readings in
Textbook
2
2
3
4
1
2
1
March 15
1
2
2
1
3
3
April 14
2
xvii-19, 71-91
20-70
92-103
116-135 (partial)
151-167 (partial)
169-190 (partial)
191-213 (Partial)
2
359-379
3
381-410
2
3
2
2 days
411-426
427-445
446-463
Mostly 6-7 of March
2009
217-231
232-243
244-269
270-281
282-309
310-335
339-357
1 day
Textbook:
Harvey Blatt & Robert Tracy & Brent Owens (2006) Petrology: Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
3rd edition 530 pp. W. Freeman and company.
Supplementary textbooks:
Loren A. Raymond. 2002. The study of Igneous, Sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Mackenzie et al. 1982. Atlas of igneous rocks and their textures. Longman 148 pp.
McBirney, A. 2007 Igneous Petrology. Jones and Bartlett, 550 pp.
Winter, J 2001: Introduction to igneous and metamorphic petrology. Prentice Hall., 701 pp.
The final grade is based on:
First exam (25%)
second exam (25%)
Final exam (50%)
Selected internet links:
http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~lang/Geol285/geol285.htm
http://www.brocku.ca/earthsciences/people/gfinn/petrology/321lect.htm
http://www.whitman.edu/geology/winter/