.
Week 1: Jan 10-14
  • What is petrology?
  • Review of three basic rock types
  • Gross structure/layers of the earth
    • based on chemical properties
      • core
      • mantle
      • crust
      • continetal vs. oceanic crust
    • based on physical properties
      • inner core
      • outer core
      • asthenospheric mantle
      • lithosphere (crust and uppermost mantle)
  • Variation in pressure with depth
    • lithostatic pressure
    • calculating pressure
  • Variation of temperature with depth
    • heat sources in the earth
    • the shape of the geotherm
  • A closer look at magma
    • most abundant elements in most magmas
    • network formers, network modifiers
    • controls on magma viscosity
    • polymerization
    • "granitic magmas" and "basaltic magmas"
  • Two broad types of igneous rocks
    • intrusive
    • extrusive
    • (+ hypabyssal)
  • Intro to intrusions
    • country rock
    • roof / floor
    • roof pendants
    • magma chamber
    • enclaves
      • xenoliths
      • autoliths or cognate xenoliths
      • restite
      • mafic enclaves
      • schlieren
  • Types of intrusions - in what forms do we find plutonic rocks?
    • sills
    • dikes
      • sheeted dikes
      • radial dike swarms
      • ring dikes
      • cone sheets
      • dike emplacment "observed" in Hawaii
    • (cont'd next week)

Petrology homepage | Saint Louis University | Earth & Atmospheric Sciences