Common crustal and upper mantle rock types will be studied, with emphasis on their formation and mineralogy, leading to rock-type classification. Study of the important rock types in the Earth is combined with the investigation of the common rock-forming minerals, with particular emphasis on those minerals that comprise the bulk of the Earth's crust and upper mantle.

The influence of changing pressure, temperature and chemical environment on the origin and occurrence of different classes of minerals and rocks will be discussed. Rocks and minerals are investigated in hand specimens and in thin sections under the microscope. Simple phase relations and phase diagrams relevant to important mineral groups will be examined, in the context of explaining formation and properties of minerals and rocks. Other aspects explored will be the characteristics and economic significance of the most important ore and gem minerals, and the properties of minerals that may cause health problems.

Laboratory: Practical work will give students skills in physical, microscopic, instrumental analytical and numerical techniques necessary for the identification and study of natural minerals and rocks.

Honours Pathway Option

Additional readings of greater conceptual difficulty requiring an advanced scientific understanding will be made available for students enrolled in the Honours Pathway Option. 20% of the marks available on the exam will be answers to alternate questions for HPO students. Integration of this material in the essay will be expected.

Note: Graduate students (EMSC6017) attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Give examples of different mineral assemblages and host rocks, including igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and some ores.
2. Explain that minerals are crystalline materials; that macroscopic symmetry arises from a repeated arrangement of atoms and how this is used for mineral classification.
3. Balance chemical formulas of relevant reactions and determine simple structural formulas from chemical analyses of common minerals.
4. Describe the physical properties of hand specimens of rocks and minerals, with clear sketches and at least provisional identification of mineral species, with explanation of reasoning.
5. Recognise and describe different minerals and rocks using the petrographic microscope and identify minerals and hence classify host rocks.
6. Relate mineralogical and textural observations in a simple way to host rock petrogenesis and tectonic processes.
7. Understand basic phase diagrams and how they relate to mineral solid solutions, partial melting and other deep Earth processes.

Assessment will be based on

• 3 assignments done out of class time (10% each, LOs 1, 2, 3 and 7)
• 3 practical exercises done during Practical Classes and out of class time (10% each, LO 4, 5 and 6)
• 1 closed book exam on whole course content, held at the end of the course (40%, LO 1-7)

Students in the graduate level course (EMSC6017) will be given additional assessment which will be agreed upon in the first week of semester.

A maximum of 65 hours formal contact time, including 26 hours of lectures and 39 hours of laboratory classes. Up to 55 hours non-contact time for completion of assessable practical exercises, assignments and revision.

EMSC1008 

No prescribed textbook. We provide a class library of textbooks for use in class and advice on other useful learning resources.