Module Identifier | EA11610 | |||||||||||||||||
Module Title | ROCKS AND MINERALS | |||||||||||||||||
Academic Year | 2007/2008 | |||||||||||||||||
Co-ordinator | Dr Bill Perkins | |||||||||||||||||
Semester | Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters) | |||||||||||||||||
Other staff | Professor Alex Maltman, Dr Charles Bendall | |||||||||||||||||
Course delivery | Lecture | 20 Hours. 1 HOUR LECTURES | ||||||||||||||||
Practical | 20 Hours. Laboratory. 10 X 2 HOURS | |||||||||||||||||
Assessment |
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Objectives
The student will gain familiarity with the more common minerals and rocks, learn the principles of classification and methods of identification, and will be able to identify them both in hand-specimen and under the microscope. The student will gain practice in the systematic description of rocks and minerals and appreciate the importance of practical work in geology. To develop the basic recording skills required for mineral and rock description and identification. A laboratory notebook will be used throughout the practical course and collected as part of the assessment.
A basic training will be provided in the application of the petrological microscope in geology.
Igneous rocks will be considered as physical and chemical systems. The classification of igneous rocks will be introduced and their mode of occurrence described. The practical identification and description of the more common igneous rock types will be emphasised in this section of the course. The factors which control the evolution of igneous rocks will be described.
Sedimentary rocks will be described. The formation of sedimentary rocks: erosion, transport, deposition and diagenesis. Siliciclastic sedimentary rocks; carbonates - main rock types will be studied in practical classes. Common fossils. Evaporites, coal and ironstones.
Metamorphic rocks are outlined in the lectures and the accompaying practical classes provide an introduction to recognising the most important varieties.
This module is at CQFW Level 4