The Magma Factory: Melting Dynamics in Earth’s Heat Engine
Course content
This course revolves around the geochemistry and geodynamics of Earth’s mantle, with a particular focus on how and why the mantle melts, and how we can use the geochemistry and petrology of mantle melts and samples to understand mantle processes. After a brief refresher of mantle mineralogy and structure, you will learn about mantle melting processes in a variety of tectonic settings, covering a spectrum of melting from the hottest, high degree melts, to relatively cool low fraction melts. You will study the mantle’s chemical and thermal heterogeneity, the isotopic evolution and signatures of different mantle reservoirs, and how these can be sampled by mantle melts. Finally, you will learn about direct mantle samples, from the lower mantle to mantle lithosphere, and understand the mantle lithosphere’s role in stabilising the continents.
Knowledge:
- Mantle structure, mineralogy and geochemistry
- Mantle melting and melt migration
- Mantle plumes and large igneous provinces
- Mantle heterogeneity
- External inputs: recycling, the deep volatile cycle, and core-mantle interaction
- Picrites, komatiites and magma thermobarometry
- Low degree mantle melts
- Direct mantle samples, from the deep mantle to mantle lithosphere
Skills
- Identify common minerals and describe petrography of mantle samples and a variety of mantle-derived melts
- Numerical modelling of trace element behaviour during mantle melting
- Calculate the isotopic evolution of mantle reservoirs
- Understand behaviour of highly siderophile elements
- Understand short lived isotope systems
- Understand physical processes of mantle melting, melt segregation, aggregation and mixing
Competencies
- Integrate petrography of mantle samples into understanding melting, depletion and re-enrichment processes
- Relate trace element, highly siderophile element, and isotopic compositions of magmas to variations in melting of heterogeneous mantle
- Relate melting processes in various tectonic environments to formation of lithospheric mantle
- Understand mantle heterogeneity through the lens of convection, melting, recycling and external inputs
- Relate volatile element cycling to metasomatism, low degree melts, and past climate change events
A full teaching plan is provided on the Absalon course page. The course teaching takes place through lectures and practical exercises, supplemented by background reading and a literature review. Meetings will be available for answering questions.
See Absalon course page
BSc in Geology-Geoscience or equivalent is highly recommended. Bachelor course “High temperature isotope geochemistry and geochronology” is recommended.
- Oral
- Continuous feedback during the course, provided in practical exercises, lectures and meetings
- Feedback following final exam, provided in addition to the grade
- Written
- Feedback on literature review
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written assignment, Ongoing under invigilationOral examination, 20 minutes under invigilation
- Type of assessment details
- The written assignment is an independent literature review prepared during the course and handed in 1 week before the oral exam. The oral exam is based both on the written assignment and the syllabus. The final assessment is based on a weighting of 30% for the written exam and 70% for the oral exam. The oral test must be passed in order to pass the exam.
- Aid
- Only certain aids allowed (see description below)
Written assignment: All aids allowed
Oral exam: Only certain aids allowed. The student is allowed to bring the written assignment to the exam.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
-
Identical to ordinary examination.
Students who have not submitted the written assignment must submit it no later than 1 week before the re-examination. Students who have submitted a written assignment, but failed to pass the exam must submit a revised assignment no later than 1 week before the re-examination.
Criteria for exam assessment
See learning outcome
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 21
- Preparation
- 164
- Theory exercises
- 21
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NIGK25002U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 4
- Schedulegroup
-
B
- Capacity
- 25
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student. - Studyboard
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Pedro Waterton (2-7e854e77757c3c79833c7279)
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