GEOL 510T-2: Igneous Petrogenesis (GEOL510T-2)
Prerequisites: graduate standing, or instructor consent
Meetings in SLC-203/MH-263: Tues. 6-8:45 P.M.
Instructor: Dr. Diane Clemens-Knott
Office Hours: Tu: 1:30-5:30
Office: MH-254, 264B
Phone: 278-2369
Lab: 278-5248
Course Description
Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. Theoretical studies necessary for
graduate research in igneous petrology. Emphasis on quantitative evaluation and modeling of
magma generation, modification, transport, emplacement, crystallization and eruption. Required
field trip(s).
Objectives
 to apply qualitative and quantitative methods to the interpretation of mineralogic, textural
and geochemical data collected from igneous rock suites, specifically
o to increase understanding of geochemical systems used to investigate magma
origins and the processes of magmatic differentiation;
o to learn quantitative strategies for constraining rates (e.g. flow, cooling, eruption)
and process extent (e.g. partial melting, crystallization, mixing);
o to increase facility with the interpretation of binary, ternary and quaternary phase
diagrams, and practice application of these interpretations to natural samples.
Assessment
 weekly leadership of peer-teaching sessions (15%)
 participation in peer-teaching sessions and discussion of critical thinking problems (5%);
 weekly problem sets involving quantitative exploration of chemical and physical aspects of
magmas (including computer models) (20%);
 research biography of prominent petrologist (15%)
 midterm exam (25%)
 group creation, presentation and assessment of a GEOL303B petrology lab (15%).
 field trip participation (5%)
Grading Policy
Your grade will be determined solely on the points earned in the above categories. There is no
extra credit. I will determine the assignment of letter grades after grading the term paper, but I
guarantee the following ranges: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, and F = 059%.
Text
Best, M.G. and Christiansen, E. H., 2001, Igneous Petrology: Blackwell Science, Inc., 458 pp.
Ancillary materials: selected articles from journals such as Contributions to Mineralogy and
Petrology, Journal of Petrology, Geochimica and Cosmochimica Acta, and Journal of Geophysical
Research.
TUESDAY
COURSE SCHEDULE
Peer-teaching topics/Exercises
Lecture/Lab
READING
(unless
indicated)
8/24
8/31
9/7
9/14
9/21
9/28
FRI-SUN
10/1-3
10/5
10/12
10/19
MON 10/25
(5-8 PM)
10/26
11/2
11/9
11/16
11/23
11/30
12/7
Finals
Introductions; thesis descriptions; course
design
Geochemistry: classifications, trace elements,
Geochemistry: stable and radiogenic isotopes
in igneous petrology
Thermodynamics and kinetics; melts and fluids
Phase Diagrams
Diffusion, nucleation, crystallization
Sierra Nevada field trip
NO CLASS (field trip recovery)
Textural analysis
Physical and Thermal Dynamics
Meet with GEOL500 class (MH-327; 5-7PM);
in-class midterm (7:30-8:30 PM)
NO CLASS
Magma ascent and emplacement
Magma extrusion
Magma generation
NO CLASS (Thanksgiving week)
Magma differentiation
Petrotectonic Associations
Revised lab exercises due
Review
Chpt 1
Chpt 2
Mapping the mantle Hoffman,
1997
Chpt 3 + 4
Chpt 5
trip logistics
Chpt 6
Chpt 7
Chpt 8
Sierra Nevada
batholith research
Take home
midterm
Sheets vs. diapirs
Chpt 9
Chpt 10
Chpt 11
Chpt 12
Chpt 13