GM410

IGNEOUS & METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO IGNEOUS PETROLOGY

Objectives
• To equip the student with knowledge on the origins of igneous rocks
and their distribution in various tectonic settings
• To equip students with advanced skills in macroscopic identification
and description of igneous and metamorphic rocks
• To equip students with advanced petrographic techniques of mineral,
rock identification and description
Learning outcomes
• The student should be able to completely identify and describe
igneous and metamorphic rocks megascopically and microscopically
• The student should be able to confidently describe the conditions and
origins of the different igneous and metamorphic rocks
• The student should be able to confidently use a petrographic
microscope for rock and mineral analysis
• Given a geological problem, the student must be able to describe
possible combination of igneous rock types in a given tectonic setting
and resolve the specific mode of formation of the igneous rocks in
that tectonic setting
Practicals
• Petrographic description in hand specimen
• Petrographic description in thin section
• Classifications
CA?
• Tests, assignments and practical work = 40%
• Examination = 60%
WHAT MUST I DO TO PASS?
• Complete all assessments assigned to you. No late submission will be
entertained unless sufficient proof is made available (only medical
certificates)
• NO PLAGIARISM
• You must attend ALL lectures unless sufficient proof (medical
certificate from authorised medical centre or otherwise) is availed.
• Engage and participate in lectures
• You must obtain > 50% CA to complete this course (achieve 20% CA)
• Finally, ALL CELL PHONES OFF!
WHAT IS IGNEOUS PETROLOGY?

• Petrology = petra (rocks) and logos (explanation)

• Therefore, petrology is the branch of geology that deals with the study of
rocks
• Earth is primarily made up of 3 rock types:
• Igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary
• Therefore, Igneous petrology is the study of igneous rocks:
• Origins
• Characteristics
• Distribution
How are igneous rocks studied?
• 2 METHODS OF INVESTIGATIONS:
a) Direct
b) Indirect
a) Direct observations
• Field relations
• Textures/fabrics in rocks (petrographic microscope/hand specimen)
• Compositions (chemistry, mineralogical lab work)
b) Indirect observations
• Seismic data (INTERNAL STRUCTURE)
• Meteorites (MANTLE & CORE)
• Xenoliths & Xenocrysts (NATURAL SAMPLES FROM UNKNOWN PLACES)
• Lab samples (HIGH PRESSURE EXPERIMENTATION)
• Theory/modelling (HYPOTHETICAL)
 INDIRECT OBSERVATIONS
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE
EARTH
How do we know the internal structure of the
earth?
• Seismic wave behaviour
• Key factor:
• If the earth were homogeneous, seismic waves would travel in straight line
paths
• Velocity transitions; a response to material property
• Density
• Characteristics of seismic waves
• Generated by earth movements
• P & S waves = body waves
• P- waves; pass through liquid + solid
• S-waves pass through solid only
• Liquids are not rigid objects
• Therefore, we can distinguish between solid-liquid boundaries
Base of the crust Low velocity
(Mohorovicic) zone

Compositional Rheological
subdivisions subdivisions

(Winter, 2010)
(Cavosie, 2015)
• Melt sources?
• Upper mantle and lower crust

(Cavosie 2015)
HE EARTHS CRUST: 2 TYPES

1. OCEANIC CRUST
• Relatively thin (5 – 10 km)
• Forms at MOR
• Selected island arcs
• GENERAL STRATIGRAPHY
• Marine Sediments Socratic.org

• Pillow basalt lava

• Sheeted dyke complexes
• Massive gabbro
• Layered gabbro
• Ultramafic rocks (peridotite)
2. CONTINENTAL CRUST

• Thicker (20 – 75 km, average 35 km)

• Less denser, therefore buoyant
• Average composition:
• Granodiorite
• Andesite
 Ferro-magnesian K-feldspar
minerals

• More plagioclase
feldspar
• > quartz
Less plagioclase
Granodiorite feldspar Granite
 Example: Magma type vs
temp..
Magma Type Rock type Temp (Celsius scale)
Basaltic Basalt 1000 - 1200
Andesitic Andesite 800 - 1000
Rhyolitic Rhyolite 650 - 800
SOURCES OF HEAT IN THE EARTH
• Igneous:
• Latin: Ignis meaning ‘of fire’
• Therefore, for igneous rocks to form, they require heat sources
• Sources of heat:
1. From early accretion and differentiation of the earth
• Basically from the core
2. Radioactive decay of radionuclides
• U, K, Th, Sm.
3. Others
• Meteorite impacts
• Frictional?
• Note: sources of heat not homogeneous
HOW IS THIS HEAT TRANSFERRED?

1. Radiation
2. Conduction
• Transfer of Kinetic energy from core (Metal)
• Silicates are poor conductors
3. Convection
• Ductile transfer of heat driven by buoyancy contrasts during plate tectonics
Example: convection
HOW ARE MAGMAS (MELTS)
PRODUCED

• Release of lithostatic pressure

• Migration of rocks to areas of lower lithostatic pressure
• Transport of rocks into hotter zones
• Addition of fluids
PLATE TECTONICS & IGNEOUS
GENESIS
5. Back-arc Basins
7. Intra-continental magmatism
3. Island Arcs • Kimberlites, Carbonatites,
1. Mid-Oceanic Ridges (MOR) • Anorthosites
6. Ocean Island Basalts 2. Intracontinental rifts
4. Active continental margins
Classification and nomenclature of igneous
rocks