You have reached the home page for the Year 3 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology course offered at Brock University. These web pages, like all others, are constantly being updated. Currently the browser may burrow deeper into the course. Links are provided to course notes, handouts, overheads and the schedule of labs.
- Introduction
- Start here for access to the 2015-2016 Course Outline (PDF File)
NOTE: To access and download copies of the lecture PowerPoint slides click on PDF following each topic. All other links will take you to the course content material.
INTRODUCTION (PDF)
Igneous Rocks
IGNEOUS ROCKS 1 (PDF)
IGNEOUS ROCKS 2 (PDF)
- Nomenclature and Classification
- Silica Gradation/Colour Gradation/Saturation Concept
- Chemistry
- Modal Analysis
- Normative Analysis
- Variation Diagrams
IGNEOUS ROCKS 3 (PDF)
Phase Chemistry and Phase Diagrams
PHASE DIAGRAMS – INTRODUCTION (PDF)
Binary Diagrams
BINARY DIAGRAMS – INTRODUCTION (PDF)
Binary System #1 – Simple system (Di-An)
An – Di BINARY SYSTEM (PDF)
Binary System # 2 – Congruently Melting Intermediate Compound
Binary System # 3 – No Solid Solution, Incongruently Melting Compound (Fo-Qtz)
Fo – Si BINARY SYSTEM (PDF)
Binary System # 4 – Solid Solution (Ab-An)
Ab – An BINARY SYSTEM (PDF)
Ab – Or BINARY SYSTEM (PDF)
Ternary Diagrams
TERNARY PHASE DIAGRAMS I (PDF)
TERNARY PHASE DIAGRAMS II (PDF)
ISOTHERMAL SECTIONS (PDF)
Ternary System #1 – Simple Ternary System (An-Wo-Sp)
An-Wo-Sp TERNARY SYSTEM (PDF)
Ternary System #2 – Incongruent Melting (Fo-Si-An)
Fo-Si-An TERNARY SYSTEM (PDF)
Ternary System # 3 – Solid Solution (Di-Ab-An)
Di-Ab-An TERNARY SYSTEM (PDF)
- Composition, Proportions, Tie Lines
- Equilibrium Crystallization 1
- Equilibrium Crystallization 2
- Fractional Crystallization
Complex Ternary System
Lime-Silica-Corundum TERNARY SYSTEM (PDF)
Metamorphism
METAMORPHIC ROCKS 1 (PDF)
METAMORPHIC ROCKS 2 (PDF)
METAMORPHIC ROCKS 3 (PDF)
- Compositional Groups
- Barrovian Metamorphism
Assignments
- Binary Diagrams – simple and complex
- Ternary Diagrams – simple
- Ternary Diagrams – complex
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 Plagioclase Feldspars – compositions continued
- 3 Igneous Rocks – textures and mineralogical associations
- 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 (Open Book)
Lab Regulations
- All labs are to be handed to the Instructor at the end of the Wednesday lecture 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.
A collection of plane light and crossed polarized views of 27 common isotropic, uniaxial and biaxial minerals. Each individual mineral page also contains a summary of the optical properties useful in recognition. The minerals represent those covered in Optical Mineralogy (ERSC 2P22) with the remainder being introduced in Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (ERSC 3P21).
Optical Properties of Common Minerals
Select one of the minerals listed below to get a summary of the optical data and view representative plane light and crossed polar images. The minerals listed below are those which are introduced in ERSC 2P22 — Optical Mineralogy and 3P21 — Petrology and Petrography at Brock.