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| Unit name |
Physical and Chemical Geodynamics |
| Unit code |
EASC30045 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Juliet Biggs |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Successful completion of years 1 and 2 of the Geology degree programme curriculum
|
| Co-requisites |
n/a
|
| School/department |
School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Science |
Description including Unit Aims
The Earth is a dynamic system that is driven by heat escaping from the planet. The objective of this unit is to learn how the process works and what imprints the process makes on the Earth's physical and chemical structure. The course will address the initial development of the Earth and its evolution to the present mode of heat loss, which gives rise to plate tectonics. Plate structure and motion will be explored. Tools to describe the constitution of metamorphic and igneous rocks will be presented through the concepts of chemical equilibrium, the phase rule, and crystallization from liquids.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
- enumerate the energy sources driving Earth evolution
- calculate relative plate motions
- reconstruct past positions of plates
- understand earthquake focal mechanisms and the local tectonic information that they convey
- apply heat flow principles to calculate temperatures inside the Earth
- understand basic parameters governing convection
- describe how the Earth's magnetic field arises and how its history is known
- apply the model system approach in the understanding of the metamorphic process in various common protolith rock types
- understand the interaction of metamorphism and deformation
- discuss the role of kinetics in crustal processes
- understand the application of geochronology in metamorphic rocks
- understand the relationships among various tectonic settings and their characteristic metamorphic conditions and discuss/analyse the results of forward modelling of processes of continental thickening and subduction in relation to the characteristics of metamorphic rocks thought to have been generated in such settings.
Teaching Information
Lectures and practicals
Assessment Information
The coursework is assessed through a closed book, end-of-year examination (80%) and through exercises and practicals (20%).
Reading and References
- (CH) Cox & Hart (1986). Plate tectonics, Cambridge Press.
- (TS) Turcotte & Schubert (1982 or 2002). Geodynamics. Cambridge Press.
- (SW) Stein & Wysession (2003). An introduction to seismology, earthquakes and earth structure. Blackwell Publishing.
- (S) Spear, F. S. (1993). Metamorphic Phase Equilibria and Pressure-Temperature-Time Paths. Washington, D. C., Mineralogical Society of America.
- (Y) Yardley, B. W. D. (1989). An Introduction to metamorphic petrology, Harlow, Longmans.
- (PA) Philpotts, A. and Ague, J. (2009). Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Cambridge.
