IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY - LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Part I - Lab Outline
In the lab portion of this course the following will be covered.
1. Mineral
Identification
Presently you have the ability to identify 8-10 major
minerals or groups of minerals
- plagioclase feldspars
- olivine
- alkali feldspars
- pyroxene
- quartz
- amphiboles
- nepheline
- micas
You will be learning to identify additional
minerals throughout the length of this course, e.g., staurolite,
epidote, actinolite,
chlorite, sericite, kyanite,
sillimanite, andulasite,
serpentine, etc.
2. Plagioclase
Compositions
Determination of plagioclase
compositions by recognizing specific orientations of plagioclase under the
microscope. In all 5 different methods, based on orientation will be
covered.
The remaining labs focus on the identification of
minerals present and description of textures and structures within rocks to provide
as much information as possible on the history of the rock being considered.
3. Igneous
Lithologies
Look at textures, structures and mineralogical
associations in five broad groupings of igneous rocks.
4. Metamorphic
Lithologies
Introduction to metamorphic
minerals and their textures as represented by two lithologic
groupings.
The lab component of this course accounts for 45% of the
final grade, 30% for the labs and 15% for the lab exam. The latter will involve
the identification of minerals in a spotting quiz and the complete description
of a rock using both hand sample and thin section.
Part II - Lab Schedule
Week # Lab Topic
- 1
Plagioclase Feldspars - compositions and orientations
- 2
Igneous Rocks - textures and mineralogical associations
- 3
Plagioclase compositions continued
- 4 Petrology
Report - Igneous Rocks
- 5
Mafic Lithologies
- 6
Intermediate Lithologies
- 7
Felsic Lithologies
- 8
Ultramafic and Feldspathoidal
lithologies
- 9
Metamorphic Rocks - mineralogy, textures and structures
- 10 Pelitic Lithologies
- 11
Amphibolites
- 12 Lab Exam
Lab Regulations
- All labs are to be in my mail
slot in Earth Sciences by4:00 on the Monday immediately following the lab
period. Late labs will be subject to a penalty of 20% per day. Late labs
will not be accepted after that lab has been marked and returned.
- Microscopes will be assigned
in the first lab to all students, with no charge for microscope key
rental. The key is to be returned immediately following the Lab Exam.
Failure to return the key will result in a grade of IN 35 (Incomplete) for
the course, regardless of the actual grade.
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