Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

Undergraduate

This course will focus on the classification and interpretation of Igneous (both volcanic and plutonic) and Metamorphic rocks in the context of plate tectonics. Throughout the term we will discuss on rock fabric, texture, mineralogy, and chemistry in the context of the tectonic processes that operate on Earth today and throughout geologic history. Much of the latter half of course will focus around a final research project to investigate a set of samples collected on a course field trip, or related to current research in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. This project will be carried out over the course of the term both in class and during labs, and is designed to give students insight into the collection and interpretation of novel data in field and petrographic context.