Meteorites and Planetary Materials

EART25202 Meteorites and Planetary Materials 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 5 Rhian Jones Unit coordinator Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 The unit combines lectures and practical sessions. Lectures emphasise the importance of extraterrestrial materials for understanding the formation of the Solar System and the geological evolution of bodies within it. Lectures provide context and explanations of the wide range of processes that led to formation of meteorites and lunar samples. Students also develop their understanding of the processes that formed the samples through independent reading. In practical sessions, students use optical and reflected light microscopy to examine thin sections of meteorites and lunar samples. Assessment is via coursework. One assessment consists of submission of a compilation of sample observations, along with interpretations of the processes leading to formation of those samples. A second assessed component consists of preparing and presenting a poster on a group of meteorites selected by each student. The unit builds on petrology skills that students have acquired in prior classes (e.g. EART 22201 Igneous Minerals and Processes) and their understanding of the formation of the Solar System from prior classes in Planetary Science. Since the unit demonstrates the breadth of sample studies, it assists with identifying student choices of third and fourth year research projects. The unit combines lectures and practical sessions. Lectures emphasise the importance of extraterrestrial materials for understanding the formation of the Solar System and the geological evolution of bodies within it. Lectures provide context and explanations of the wide range of processes that led to formation of meteorites and lunar samples. Students also develop their understanding of the processes that formed the samples through independent reading. In practical sessions, students use optical and reflected light microscopy to examine thin sections of meteorites and lunar samples. Assessment is via coursework. One assessment consists of submission of a compilation of sample observations, along with interpretations of the processes leading to formation of those samples. A second assessed component consists of preparing and presenting a poster on a group of meteorites selected by each student. The unit builds on petrology skills that students have acquired in prior classes (e.g. EART 22201 Igneous Minerals and Processes) and their understanding of the formation of the Solar System from prior classes in Planetary Science. Since the unit demonstrates the breadth of sample studies, it assists with identifying student choices of third and fourth year research projects. The unit aims to introduce students to the wide range of extraterrestrial materials available for study on Earth. This includes laboratory studies of many different types of meteorites, as well as Apollo samples returned from the Moon. Students investigate the formation conditions and origins of different materials, and the role played by sample studies in interpreting the formation and geological evolution of the Solar System. Students are introduced to peer-reviewed literature on sample studies.    <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="width: 496px"> On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: </td> <td style="width: 72px"> Developed</td> <td style="width: 66px"> Assessed</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 59px; width: 64px"> ILO 1</td> <td style="height: 59px; width: 432px"> Recognize the properties of different types of meteorites and lunar samples in hand sample and in the optical microscope, using transmitted and reflected light. </td> <td style="height: 59px; width: 72px"> X</td> <td style="height: 59px; width: 66px"> X</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 67px; width: 64px"> ILO 2</td> <td style="height: 67px; width: 432px"> Interpret observations of the properties of meteorites and lunar samples in terms of the processes by which they formed.</td> <td style="height: 67px; width: 72px"> X</td> <td style="height: 67px; width: 66px"> X</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 76px; width: 64px"> ILO 3</td> <td style="height: 76px; width: 432px"> Explain the formation conditions and origins of different types of meteorites and lunar samples. </td> <td style="height: 76px; width: 72px"> X</td> <td style="height: 76px; width: 66px"> X</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="height: 66px; width: 64px"> ILO 4</td> <td style="height: 66px; width: 432px"> Describe how interpretations of formation conditions of meteorites and lunar samples inform models for the origin and geologic evolution of the Solar System. </td> <td style="height: 66px; width: 72px"> X</td> <td style="height: 66px; width: 66px"> X</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   The order of sessions listed here is indicative, and dependent on availability of Apollo samples (loaned from STFC) and the timing of the Easter break.Week 1:L - Meteorites - introductionP – Hand samples of meteorites Week 2:L – Chondrites and the Protoplanetary DiskP – Chondrite components Week 3:L – Chondrites and asteroidsP – Chondrite samples Week 4:L – AchondritesP – Achondrite samples Week 5:L – Martian meteoritesP – Martian meteorite samples Week 6:L – Iron meteoritesP – Observations of all samples (chondrites, achondrites, martian meteorites) Week 7:L – The MoonP – Apollo sample observations Week 8:L – The MoonP – Apollo sample observations Week 9:No class – field trip week Week 10:P – Observations of all samples (chondrites, achondrites, martian meteorites) Week 11:Student presentations of posters on different meteorite groups Week 12:Student presentations of posters on different meteorite groups  The class is run in a blended learning format. Lectures are presented as asynchronous material in the form of videos which total about 1 hour of content each week. Each week there is a 2-hour, synchronous, practical session which focuses on sample observations. Powerpoint slides of presentations are made available to students on Blackboard. The main focus of the class is on studying thin sections of meteorites and lunar samples using optical microscopy. Students use their optical microscopy skills developed in other courses, and are also introduced to reflected light microscopy for the first time. Through the weekly sessions, students build their knowledge of different meteorite groups. They also examine Apollo samples in a two-week period when the samples are available on loan. Assessed work includes a compilation of sketches of selected samples, with each sketch accompanied by a written narrative interpreting how, where and when each sample formed. Samples described include a mixture of microscope observations made in class sessions, and observations using an online virtual microscope. Feedback on the sketches is provided during class sessions, as answers to questions and discussions that arise from student observations. Detailed formative feedback on one sketch / interpretation is provided, so that students are aware of what is required for the assessed work. The other component of assessed work is that each student presents an electronic poster on a meteorite group of their choice. This requires that they read a little more in-depth, including primary peer-reviewed literature. Presentation of the posters to the entire group also serves as a review of different meteorite classes towards the end of the semester. Feedback on a draft of the posters is provided ahead of the final presentation / submission, in order to provide students with pointers about points they should or could include and to ensure that they are referencing appropriate sources.  7 Oral assessment/presentation 50% 9 Set exercise 50%  <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="height:68px;width:102px;">Assessment type</td><td style="height:68px;width:85px;">% Weighting within unit</td><td style="height:68px;width:66px;">Hand out and hand in dates</td><td style="height:68px;width:94px;">Length </td><td style="height:68px;width:170px;">How, when and what feedback is provided</td><td style="height:68px;width:123px;">ILO tested</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:102px;">Invigilated in-course online test</td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">50%</td><td style="height:101px;width:66px;">Hand out Week 2. Test during Week 12.</td><td style="height:101px;width:94px;">1.5 hours</td><td style="height:101px;width:170px;">Formative online test available in Week 10. Feedback available on Canvas when test is submitted.</td><td style="height:101px;width:123px;">1,2,3</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:102px;">Presentation (individual Poster)</td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">50%</td><td style="height:101px;width:66px;">Hand out Week1, Hand in Week 10</td><td style="height:101px;width:94px;">1 page</td><td style="height:101px;width:170px;">Drafts for formative feedback submitted Week 7 and returned Week 9. Feedback on final document provided on Canvas after marking is completed.</td><td style="height:101px;width:123px;">1,3,4</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>  EART23101 Exploring the Solar System Pre-Requisite Compulsory BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geochemistr) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geoch) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS w IE (GeoChem) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS w YA (Geochem) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS w R (GeoChem) Second Year Optional N Planetary Geoscience (2019) H. Y. McSween Jr. et al. Cambridge University PressEncyclopedia of the Solar System (2014)T. Spohn et al. ElsevierMeteorites and their Parent Planets (Second Edition) (1999) H.Y. McSween Jr. Cambridge University Press.Meteorites and Cosmochemical Processes, Volume 1 of Treatise on Geochemistry (Second Edition). Elsevier, 2014. Edited by Andrew M. Davis.Meteorites and the Early Solar System II (2006) Eds. D. Lauretta and H. Y. McSween Jr.Cosmochemistry (2010) H. Y. McSween Jr. and G. R. Huss.Meteorites: A Petrologic, Chemical and Isotopic Synthesis (2004) R. Hutchison. Cambridge University Press. Lectures 11 Practical classes & workshops 22 0 67