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CODE 114513
ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025
CREDITS
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR GEO/07
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 2° Semester
TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

The course provides advanced knowledge on the petrological processes tracing the chemical and tectonic evolution of the lithosphere-astenosphere system along mid-ocean ridges and spreading centers within back-arc basins at supra-subduction zones. The students are trained to a multidisciplinary approach, integrating information deriving from petrology with field studies and geophysical models. A field trip excursion is planned to provide a field-based approach to petrologic processes.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides the knowledge and the interdisciplinary methodological approach on the genesis and evolution of the oceanic lithosphere, comparing seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges and in back-arc basins. The following scientific topics will be presented: 1) geochemical heterogeneity of the Earth mantle and processes of partial melting and melts extraction, 2) melts migration and melt-rock interaction processes in the oceanic lithosphere, 3) geochemical composition of MORBs recording their heterogeneous mantle source and processes of fractional crystallization in the magmatic crust, 4) distribution and formation of the sedimentary cover with focus on the pelagic sediments. Study cases will be presented, supported by specific examples with practical exercises on the field.

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 (fluid-rock interactions, hydration reactions within the oceanic lithosphere and cooling of the oceanic crust).

Specifically, the student will be trained to:

  • Know the behavior of trace elements and isotopes during the fundamental magmatic processes involved in and driving the evolution of the Earth oceanic lithosphere;
  • Use analytical methods for modeling magmatic and metamorphic processes;
  • Know and recognize the bathymetric characteristics of the different geodynamic systems of spreading centers, from slow- and fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges to back-arc basins;
  • 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 MORBs basaltic magmas;
  • Know the structure and geochemical composition of the oceanic crust and understand how to interpret the chemical heterogeneity;
  • Know the relationships between metamorphism and magmatism at spreading centers;
  • Know the hydration processes of the oceanic lithosphere;
  • Know the microstructural and chemical tracers of the interaction processes between melts/fluids and rocks, and understand their importance for elemental transport in lithospheric environments;
  • Interpret 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.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The program deals with the following topics:

  • Use of trace elements and radiogenic and stable isotopes to trace the petrogenetic processes and the evolution of the different "reservoirs" sources of MORB-type melts;
  • 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 oceanic mantle from MORB and OIB magmatism, chemical differentiation of the Earth, evolution of the Earth's mantle through time;
  • Partial mantle melting and magmas genesis in extensional settings such as mid-ocean ridges and supra-subduction basins;
  • The morphological characteristics of the ocean floor in various geodynamic environments of seafloor spreading;
  • Magmatic accretion and cooling of the oceanic crust along slow- and fast-spreading ridges;
  • Formation of the sedimentary cover at spreading centers and the characteristic lithologies;
  • 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;
  • Migration of melts and fluids in porous and fractured media within oceanic environments (crust and mantle);
  • Metamorphism and the hydration of the oceanic lithosphere as the tracer of lithosphere’s dynamics, of fluid and elements transport and release in crustal and mantle environments;
  • Role of fluids in cooling of the oceanic crust.

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.

Anthony R. Philpotts, Jay J. Ague - Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology - Cambridge University Press (2022)

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Please consult the following link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists in the discussion of the program, and in the oral presentation, preferably in English, of a summary report, in PowerPoint format, on a topic selected by the student, in the context of the different topics addressed during the theoretical lessons.

To prepare the report, the student has the teaching material provided during the lessons, possibly supplemented by specific scientific publications on the subject.

There are 2 exam sessions available in the winter session (January-February) and 3 exam sessions in the summer session (June, July, September).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on how to prepare the exam will be provided during the lessons.

The oral exam will mainly focus on the topics covered during the lectures and will aim to assess whether the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge, and whether he has acquired the ability to recall the theoretical notions applying them to concrete contexts.

The oral report on a selected topic is aimed at evaluating the student's ability to report in a synthetic and exhaustive way on the main issues addressed and discussed during the lectures.

The ability to present the topics clearly and with correct terminology will also be evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular attendance at lectures and related field excursions are strongly recommended.

Students with a certification of physical or learning disability filed with the University can find information on support services at the web page https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/studenti-disturbi-specifici-apprendimento-dsa, provided by the "Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with Learning Disorders." They can also contact Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the DISTAV contact for disabilities.

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