LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching provides an interdisciplinary knowledge and approach to the genesis and evolution of the oceanic and continental lithosphere, including processes of element distribution among silicate melts, fluids and rocks leading to formation of mineral deposits. The course deals with the following major aspects: 1) The genesis and evolution of silicate melts and fluids in magmatic and metamorphic environments; 2) the chemical characterization of silicate melts, fluids and rocks; 3) migration of silicate melts and fluids in porous media and the reactivity of these melts/fluids with minerals; 4) the use of trace elements, stable and radiogenic isotopes as tracers of petrogenetic processes. Case studies and specific examples are presented and integrated with field work.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides the petrographic and chemical tools for the understanding and quantitative modeling of magmatic processes (partial melting, melt-rock interaction, magmatic differentiation) and metamorphic processes (dehydration reactions and genesis of metamorphic fluids, fluid-rock interaction ).

Specifically, the student will be trained to:

• Know the behavior of trace elements and isotopes during the fundamental magmatic and metamorphic processes;

• Use analytical methods for modeling magmatic and metamorphic processes;

• Know the distribution and origin of the lithological, chemical and isotopic heterogeneities of the Earth's mantle, and understand its influence on the genesis of magmas;

• Know the relationships between metamorphism and fluid genesis in various geodynamic environments;

• Know the microstructural and chemical tracers of the interaction processes between melts/fluids and rocks, and understand their importance for elemental transport and the genesis of georesources in lithospheric and crustal environments.

• Interprete petrogenetic evolution models;

• Deepen in an autonomous way specific themes treated during the lessons, and return an oral presentation, preferably in English, on the selected topic, in the final verification phase.

PREREQUISITES

To deal effectively with the contents of the course, basic knowledge of petrography, geology and geophysics is required. It is necessary to have acquired and assimilated the knowledge provided by the teaching of "Geomaterial investigation methods".

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures and theoretical and practical exercises on the field.

Lectures in the classroom are delivered through multimedia presentations.

The field work is  aimed at deepening the analysis of rock associations reflecting the petrogenetic processes presented and discussed during lectures.

Please refer to the specific AulaWeb application of this course for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The program deals with the following topics:

• Use of trace elements and radiogenic and stable isotopes to trace the petrogenetic processes, the evolution of the different terrestrial "reservoirs", and for geochronological purposes;

• Magmatism as a messenger of the internal composition of the Earth: mapping of the scale and origin of chemical and isotopic heterogeneities of the Earth's mantle from MORB and OIB magmatism, chemical differentiation of the Earth, evolution of the Earth's mantle through time;

• Metamorphism as the tracer of lithosphere’s dynamics, of fluid and elements transport and release in crustal and mantle environments;

• The ultramafic rocks (xenoliths, oceanic and orogenic peridotites) as witnesses of the structure and composition of the Earth's mantle, mantle depletion, refertilization and metasomatism.

• Mantle melting and magmas genesis in extensional and convergent settings;

• Melt and fluid  migration in porous and fractured media, in crustal and mantle environments; melt/rock and fluid/rock interactions;

• The meaning of the stratified basic complexes (eg Bushveld, Rum, Skaergaard) in the terrestrial evolution and accretion of the crust, and in the finding of georesources;

• The role of fluids in the genesis of mineral deposits at the convergent and divergent plate margins.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

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

The books below are suggested as supporting texts, The recommended texts are available and can be consulted at the M.F.N. Library.

Treatise on Geochemistry, H.D.Holland and K.K.Turekian (Eds), Elsevier, with particular reference to the following volumes:

Volume 3: The Mantle and the Core (R.W. Carlson ed.),

Volume 4: The Crust (R. Rudnick ed.)

J.D.Winter - Principles of igneous and metamorphic petrology. Prentice Hall, ISBN-13: 978-0-321-68132-4.

During the lessons, scientific publications concerning specific aspects of the program will also be provided.