Enrollment year
2018/2019
Academic discipline
GEO/07 (PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Course
APPLIED GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Period
Annual (01/10/2018 - 14/06/2019)
Lesson hours
114 lesson hours
Learning outcomes
Students are expected to: (i) understand the relationships between magmatic/metamorphic processes and plate tectonics; (ii) analyze the rocks of mantle, magmatic and metamorphic origin at the outcrop scale; (iii) correlate structures and micro-structures with geochemical data; (iv) acquirethe main geological and petrological characteristics of the Alpine-Apennine belt.
Course contents
The fossil oceanic lithosphere (ophiolites). Main geological characteristics of Northern Apennines, Western Alps and Corsica. Geology and petrology of the Jurassic ophiolites that will be visited in the field excursions (Northern Apennine, Western Alps and/or Corsica). Ophiolites with subduction-related tectono-metamorphic overprint.
State of the art knowledge of the composition, structure and architecture of Mid-Ocean Ridges. Structure and petrology of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle and the continental crust in different geodynamic settings. The classroom activity is combined with field excursions aimed at studying: (i) the Jurassic ophiolites exposed along the Alpine-Apennine belt, and (ii) the nearly complete section of continental crust of the Adria plate exposed in the Southern Alps close to the Insubric Line, which consist of the so called Ivrea-Verbano Zone and Serie dei Laghi.
Teaching methods
The course consists of oral lectures, exercises in the field and exercises at the optical microscope. I particular, the rocks observed in the field will be the object of micro-structural investigations at the optical microscope. The course also includes some didactic seminars.
Reccomended or required readings
- Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Wiley, Myron G. Best
- Radiogenic Isotope Geology, Cambridge University Press, Alan P. Dickin
- Scientific articles indicated by teachers at the beginning of the course.
Assessment methods
Oral exam dealing with the subjects explained during oral lectures and field/petrographic exercises. The evaluation will consider how students integrate the contents of three main course modules, and the use of an appropriate scientific language.
Sustainable development goals - Agenda 2030