Unit PETROGRAPHY
- Course
- Geology
- Study-unit Code
- 55059709
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Diego Perugini
- Teachers
-
- Diego Perugini
- Hours
- 78 ore - Diego Perugini
- CFU
- 9
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2020
- Offered
- 2021/22
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Ambito mineralogico-petrografico-geochimico
- Academic discipline
- GEO/07
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- Physical and chemical characteristics of magmas. Igneous rocks. Origin of magmas. Basaltic and granitic magmas. Magmatic evolution. Magmatism in Italy. Basic principles of volcanology. Metamorphism. Metamorphic rocks.
- Reference texts
- A. Peccerillo (2002) Introduzione alla petrologia ignea e metamorfica. Morlacchi ed.
- Educational objectives
- This course represents a fundamental moment in the career of a university student who intends to obtain a degree in Geology as it describes the basic processes of formation of rocks, their classification, and their classification in different geodynamic settings.
The main objective of this course is to provide the essential tools to properly describe the different types of rocks and understand the petrogenetic mechanisms and their connection with plate tectonics of the planet Earth.
The main knowledge gained will be:
- Knowledge of the interior of the planet Earth;
- Knowledge of the mechanisms of formation of magmas;
- Understanding of the relationship between magmatism and geodynamics;
- Knowledge of the systems of classification of magmatic rocks (plutonic, volcanic and subvolcanic; macroscopic samples and thin sections under the polarizing microscope);
- Knowledge of the factors of metamorphism;
- Knowledge of the main types of metamorphism and their geodynamic localization;
- Knowledge of basic schemes for the classification of metamorphic rocks (macroscopic samples and thin sections under the polarizing microscope).
The main skills (i.e. the ability to apply acquired knowledge) will be:
- Classifying igneous and metamorphic rocks using both macroscopic samples and thin sections;
- Using the polarizing microscope for the recognition of textures of igneous and metamorphic rocks;
- Knowing how to connect the different types of igneous and metamorphic rocks within the different geodynamic settings. - Prerequisites
- In order to understand and know how to apply the information and techniques described within the course basic knowledge of the following disciplines is necessary: mineralogy optical mineralogy, and geochemistry. The knowledge of these disciplines is an important prerequisite for the student planning to follow the course with profit.
- Teaching methods
- The course is organized as follows:
- Lectures on all subjects of the course ;
- Exercises in the laboratory of petrography and optical microscopy for the study of macroscopic rock samples and thin sections. The students will have free access to the lab for further individual exercises subordinately to the use of the laboratory by other courses. - Other information
- None
- Learning verification modality
- The exam includes an oral and a written test.
The oral exam consists in a discussion lasting about 20 minutes aimed at ascertaining the level of knowledge and understanding achieved by students on the theoretical and methodological topics reported in the program.
The oral exam will also test the ability of communication of the students as well as the use of correct terminology and language and autonomous organization of the discussion on the topics of the program.
The written test consists in the solution of a multiple choice test on theoretical and methodological topics listed in the program and the macroscopic and thin section classification of samples of igneous or metamorphic rocks. The test will last up to 120 minutes and is designed to test the ability to correctly apply the theoretical knowledge, the ability to classify rock samples and the ability to communicate in written form. - Extended program
- Structure and composition of the Earth’s interior. Density, radius of the earth, geothermal and geobaric gradient). Structure and composition of the Earth: crust, mantle, core. Earth dynamics and plate tectonics. Physical and chemical properties of magmas. Chemical composition of magmas: major, trace elements and isotopes. Density, viscosity and temperature of magmas and their relationship with the chemical composition. Composition and solubility of volatile components in magmas. The magmatic minerals. Structure of silicate melts and relations with the chemical composition and physical condition. The magmatic rocks. Definitions. Plutonic subvolcanic and volcanic rocks. Structure of magmatic rocks. Classification of igneous rocks: mineralogical classifications; IUGS mineralogical classification. Chemical classification of igneous rocks. Introduction to the interpretation of the magmatic structures. Genesis and evolution of magmas. Conditions of melting of mantle peridotite under anhydrous and hydrated conditions and in the presence of CO2. Magma genesis in the crustal environment. Processes of fractional crystallization, mixing of magmas and crustal assimilation. Magmatic series. Magmatism and geodynamics. Volcanism. Processes of partial melting in the crust and in the mantle. Mechanisms of magma ascent in the asthenosphere and the lithosphere. Magma chambers. Effusive and explosive volcanism. Types of volcanic eruptions. Depositional and structural features of lavas and pyroclastic deposits. Volcanic landforms. Volcanic risk. Volcanism and the environment. The recent magmatism in Italy. The potassic volcanism in central-southern Italy. The Aeolian Islands. Etna, Ustica and the Canale di Sicilia. Pli-Quaternary magmatism in Sardinia. Geodynamic significance of recent magmatism in Italy. Definition and factors controlling metamorphism. PT fields of metamorphism. The role of the fluid phase. Prograde and retrograde metamorphism. Isochemical and allochemical metamorphism. Types of metamorphism. Metamorphic grade. Metamorphic zones. Concept and definition of facies. The thermal metamorphism. Metasomatism. The regional metamorphism at medium and high geothermal gradient. The burial metamorphism. Ocean-floor metamorphism. Reactions and metamorphic minerals. Geological setting of the various types of metamorphism. The laboratory exercises consist in the classification of macroscopic samples and thin sections of rocks.