Evolution of the Earth's Lithosphere

EART30332 Evolution of the Earth's Lithosphere 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 6 Brian O'Driscoll Unit coordinator Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 <div> Earth’s lithosphere is the rigid outer shell of the planet including the crust and the upper part of the mantle. This unit considers fundamental processes that have driven lithospheric evolution through geological time, with a particular emphasis on igneous and metamorphic petrology and the applications of geochemistry to solving problems in this area of study.This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.  Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.</div>   <div> Earth’s lithosphere is the rigid outer shell of the planet including the crust and the upper part of the mantle. This unit considers fundamental processes that have driven lithospheric evolution through geological time, with a particular emphasis on igneous and metamorphic petrology and the applications of geochemistry to solving problems in this area of study.This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.  Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.</div>   <div> The principal aim of the module is to impart an advanced understanding of some important mechanisms involved in the formation and evolution of the Earth’s lithosphere, within the framework of plate tectonics.</div>  On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: <ol> <li> Describe the igneous and metamorphic petrological characteristics of the oceanic and continental lithosphere</li> <li> Explain the micro-to-regional scale processes involved in formation of the Earth’s lithosphere</li> <li> Integrate a wide variety of literature data to examine the controversial concept of mantle plumes</li> <li> Analyse and interpret isotopic and other geochemical data from natural examples with respect to the evolution of the continental and oceanic lithosphere through geological time</li> <li> Synthesise petrological, geochemical and structural data to address the tectonothermal evolution of a small, but highly complex, part of the Earth’s crust</li></ol> The course shall be delivered in a series of 14 one hour lectures and 4 two hour practical classes. In addition, two 2 hour help sessions will assist the students preparing one of the assessment (integrated project) components. The broad topics to be covered are as follows: <div> 1. The oceanic lithosphere (greenstone belts, mid-ocean ridges and ophiolites) 2. The continental lithosphere (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite [TTG] terranes, sub-continental lithospheric mantle, geochemical/isotopic constraints on continental crust formation through geological time) 3. Large igneous provinces (including layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions) 4. Continental collision (Accretionary and collisional tectonics, the petrology of subduction zones, Barrovian zone metamorphism, chemical cycling in subduction zones)</div>   <div> The learning in this unit is built to some extent on the 2nd Year pre-requisites. The key concepts from these are covered again, but it is assumed that this does not need to be in depth. A series of 14 process-focused lectures cover various aspects of lithospheric evolution through the lens of geochemistry and petrology. The emphasis is on conceptualising the mechanisms that have driven lithosphere formation/evolution, not on the techniques used, though these have to be understood too. There are strong links going BOTH backwards and forwards between lectures, so it is vital that students attend all lectures. Revising lecture materials between classes is essential, as is referring to the reading material. A reading list is provided, mainly containing academic journal literature, and essential and supplementary reading are distinguished therein. <div> A series of four 2 hour practical classes, designed to be delivered online if necessary, will supplement topics from several of the key lectures and allow students to gain some hands-on experience interpreting petrographic information and manipulating important equations. The unit will be assessed by two pieces of in-course work. The first is the preparation of a mini (A3-sized) research fact-sheet (worth 30%) over 5-6 weeks in the first half of semester. The second assessment will be an integrated project (worth 70%) drawing on multiple skills such as geological map interpretation, thin section petrography, data interpretation, numeracy and scientific writing (skills which will have been practiced in the four 2 hour practicals). For the integrated project, there will be two dedicated help sessions (~2 hours each) to support students with aspects of the petrography and data interpretation. For both assignments, students will receive individual and/or group feedback, on Blackboard and/or individually by email. There will also be lots of opportunities for informal feedback during the in-course practical classes, and during the help sessions that will be held to support the project exercise.In this unit, feed forward will be provided in several ways. For the continuous assessment components, students will receive detailed advice on hand-outs that will be posted on Blackboard. There will also be two dedicated help-sessions for the Blackboard project exercise where there will be lots of opportunities to ask questions about how to be as successful as possible in this component of assessment.</div> </div>   0 Other 30% 3 Report 70% Feedback and feed forward methodsDuring this course there will be four two hour practical sessions where there will be ample time for informal feedback on your work from the lecturers and the demonstrator. Ensure you take advantage of this time to ask questions and obtain feedback on your work. While only some of the practical work will be directly assessed (i.e., the interactive project), it is all part of the teaching and learning on the course and it is important for you to ask questions to obtain feedback on all of your work. For the interactive Blackboard project, 2-3 additional help sessions will be organised.For the continuous assessment exercises, which form 50% of the course mark, marked work will be returned (usually within 2 weeks) and feedback provided on Blackboard or by email from the relevant tutor. Feedback on the theory examination can be obtained if required by arrangement with the course co-ordinator.    EART20101 Global Tectonics Pre-Requisite Compulsory EART20131 Igneous Petrology Pre-Requisite Compulsory BSc (H) Geol with Plan Sci BSc (H) Geol with Plan Sci Third Year Optional BSc(Hons) Env & Resource Geol BSc(Hons) Env & Resource Geol Third Year Optional BSc(Hons) Geochemistry BSc(Hons) Geochemistry Third Year Optional BSc(Hons) Geology BSc(Hons) Geology Third Year Optional MEarthSc(Hons) MEarthSc(Hons) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (H) Geo w Plan Sc MEarthSci (H) Geo w Plan Sc Third Year Optional Y Recommended journal article references will be provided on Blackboard throughout the course. In addition, two useful textbooks are: 1.     Condie, K.C. (Ed) 1994. Developments in Precambrian Geology 11: Archean Crustal Evolution. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 528 pp.2.     Condie, K.C. 2011. Earth as an evolving planetary system. 2 Ed. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 574 pp. Lectures 14 Practical classes & workshops 8 0 78