1. Geol 2312 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
Lecture 1
Introduction to Igneous Petrology and Earth’s Physical and Chemical Structure
Jan. 20, 2009

2. The Realm of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
A Fundamental Dilemma to the Study of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks and the Processes that Create Them
ACCESS
The Realm of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks

3. Igneous Petrology
“Study of Rocks formed by the Crystallization of Magma” What do we want to know about magma? What do we want to know about crystallization processes? How do we study igneous rocks to address these questions?

4. Components of Scientific “Study” Observations/Interpretations of the Natural World

5. Components of Scientific “Study” Observations/Interpretations of Experiments Simulating the Natural World
Crystallization Experiments
Melting
Experiments

6. Components of Scientific “Study” Observations/Interpretations of Theoretical Models the of Natural World
Cobra MELTS Interface
Ghiorso & Sack (1995)

7. Physical and Chemical Structure of Earth

8. Pressure and Thermal Gradients
From Winter (2001)

9. Composition of the Earth
How Do We Know?
Mantle Xenoliths
Seismic Data
Density Constraints
Meteorites
stony ~mantle
iron ~core
chondrites ~whole earth

10. Plate Tectonics drives Two Stages of Crust-making
1. Mantle partially melts to make ocean crust
2. Ocean crust melts to make continental crust

11. Tectono-magmatic environments
5. Back-arc Basins
6. Ocean Island Basalts
7. Miscellaneous Intra-Continental Activity
kimberlites, carbonatites, anorthosites...
1. Mid-ocean Ridges
2. Intracontinental Rifts
3. Island Arcs
4. Active Continental
Margins