3 hours. 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week.
Internal Earth Processes
Course Description
Internal processes which are responsible for the formation and
physico-chemical evolution of the earth. Study of the basic tools
of igneous and metamorphic petrology, geochemistry,
thermodynamics and heat-transfer mechanisms and their application
in field and laboratory investigations.
Athena Title
Internal Earth Processes
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in GEOL 4020W
Pre or Corequisite
GEOL 3010-3010L
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Student will be familiar with the basic tools of igneous and metamorphic petrology, geophysics, and structural geology.
Student will be able to make physical observations and measurements in rocks and quantitatively evaluate these data to draw conclusions on the processes which formed these features.
Student will be able to use field and laboratory measurements to interpret the geologic and structural history of earth materials.
Student will understand the basic internal processes which are responsible for the formation of the continents and ocean basins.
Topical Outline
Topics are by week:
1. Geochemistry of the earth; geochemcial evolution of the earth,
radiogenic isotopes and ages of the earth, moon, and meterorites. Lab: Mineralogy
of igneous rocks.
2. Geochemistry of the core and mantle; untramafic xenoliths. Geochemistry
of the crust; surface exposures of deep crust. Lab: Mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks.
3. Thermodynamic equilibria and the phase rule. Melting in simple silicate
systems. Melting in complex silicate systems. Lab: Trace element modeling.
4. Origin of basaltic magmas. Differentiation of basaltic magmas.
Assimilation and the origin of andesites. Lab: Mineralogy of metamorphic rocks.
5. Physical properties of magma and magma transport. Introduction to
metamorphism. Metamorphic P-T paths. Lab: Metamorphic fabrics.
6. Metamorphism of pelitic rocks and wackes. Metamorphism of basalts,
granultes, migmatites, anatexis. Lab: Metapelitic rocks.
7. Origin of granitic magmas. Crystallization of granitic magmas and
hydrothermal processes. Hydrothermal solutions and ore deposits. Lab: Granitic rocks.
8. Stress and strain, Hookes law. Elementary rock mechanics. State of
stress in the lithosphere. Lab: Stereonets and structural measurements.
9. The earth's gravitational field. Analysis of gravity and geoid
anomalies. Gravity and gross earth structure. Lab: Gravity modelling.
10. Seismic wave propagation. body and surface waves; free oscillations,
global tomography; implications for global processes. Lab: Seismicity and
structure/tectonics -- East Tennessee Seismic Zone.
11. Earthquakes and first motion studies. Faulting and stress at plate
boundaries. Intraplate seismicity. Lab: Seismic waves and deep structure -- the
Moho under the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
12. Interpretation of structural features. Lab: Structural geology, some
classic examples.
13. Interpretation of structural features. Lab: Structural geology, some
classic examples.
14. Plate tectonics. Plate motion on a sphere, relative vs. absolute plate
motions, convergent plate boundaries-seismic, gravity, and geoid signatures. Fate of
the subducted slab. Lab: Term project.
15. Plate tectonics. Divergent plate boundaries-seismic, gravity and geoid
signature. Seismic imaging of magma chambers. Transform plate boundaries. Lab:
Term projects.
