AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provides basic knowledge on diagenesis and metamorphism. Topics: diagenesis of sandstones and mudstones; from diagenesis to metamorphism; main factors of metamorphism; metamorphic environments; classification, structures and microstructures of metamorphic rocks; metamorphic phase diagrams; metamorphism of mafic, ultramafic and pelitic rocks; tectonics and metamorphism. Practicals: optical microscopy of thin section of rocks, field excursions.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Tha attendance and participation in the educational activities (lectures, laboratory and filed work) allow the student to acquire the general knowledge of Petrography of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, necessary to face studies professional as well as scientific research activities in the field of Earth Sciences. Specifically, the student will be able to:

- Know, describe and classify the main types of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks;
- distinguish and identify the rock-forming minerals and the structures of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, using theoretical and practical and methodological skills acquired during laboratory activities;
- relate the composition and structure of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks to specific geological environments and to endogenous and exogenous processes of rock formation and evolution;
- produce technical reports for the correct description of macroscopic and microscopic scale rock samples.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching consists of lectures, theoretical and practical exercises in the laboratory and in the field. As learning tests are planned to test the knowledge acquired by students, the attendance to lectures, laboratory and field exercises is strongly recommended.

Classroom lectures are delivered through multimedia presentations.
The laboratory exercises are aimed at the practical application of the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures. 
In particular, the following activities are developed:

- Group exercises aimed at the macroscopic recognition of sedimentary and metamorphic rock samples from the DISTAV educational rock collection;
- Individual exercises at the optical microscope  in polarized transmitted light, to describe and classify rocks based on their mineralogical composition and structure, using thin sections of the educational collection of the DISTAV;
- Field work for observing and understanding outcrops of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

The laboratory exercises are held in classrooms equipped with optical microscopes and specific lighting of the DISTAV.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The program includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:

- Basic knowledge of the diagenetic processes of sediment compaction and lithification and the mineralogical changes during increase in pressure and temperature in sedimentary environments;
- The metamorphic process and the geological implications at various scales.
- The analysis of structures and microstructures of metamorphic rocks, to define the stability of mineralogical paragenesis as a function of pressure, temperature, rock composition, deformation intensity and interaction with fluid phases;
- Metamorphic facies and the representation of paragenetic mineral associations as a function of pressure, temperature and rock composition;
- Metamorphic transformations of the main rock groups: ultramafic, mafic and pelitic
- Study of macroscopic and thin section of metamorphic rock samples under the optical polarizing microscope

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All slides used during the lessons and other educational material will be made available on AulaWeb at the end of each cycle of lessons/laboratory exercises.

The books below are suggested as a supporting text, but students can still use other university level texts. The recommended texts are available and can be consulted at the M.F.N.

K. Bucher, M. Frey. Petrogenesis of metamorphic rocks, ÂÂ Springer Verlag, 244 p dal 1993 sono disponibili 8 edizionic
L. Morbidelli 2010 Le rocce e i loro costituenti, Bompiani Ed. 470 p. ISBN 8888620818

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ELISABETTA RAMPONE (President)

MARCO SCAMBELLURI (President)

LAURA GAGGERO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons of the first semester will start from September 23, 2019, and will be completed by January 17, 2020. 
Lessons of the second semester will start from February 17, 2020 and will be completed by June 12, 2020. 
Refer to the detailed timetable below link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

PETROGRAPHY MOD 2

EXAMS

Exam schedule