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:
- Understand mantle structure, mineralogy, geochemistry, and heterogeneity
- Describe how the mantle melts and melts migrate, aggregate and mix
- Understand mantle melting in different tectonic settings and under different melting conditions
- Understand external inputs to the mantle: recycling, the deep volatile cycle, and core-mantle interaction
- Describe mantle samples, from the deep mantle to mantle lithosphere
Skills
- Identify common minerals and describe petrography of mantle samples and mantle-derived melts
- Numerically model of trace element behaviour during mantle melting
- Calculate the isotopic evolution of mantle reservoirs
- Interpret the behaviour of highly siderophile elements
- Apply short-lived isotope systems to geological problems
Competencies
- Search for and assimilate new knowledge from the scientific literature
- Present scientific arguments through written reports and oral presentations
- Relate various melting conditions, processes and tectonic settings to the composition of mantle-derived magmas
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, 30 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 final
oral exam.
The oral examination constitutes a 10 min individual presentation based on a topic from the course, followed by up to 20 minutes of exam questions based both on the written assignment and the syllabus. Students can prepare slides and practice the presentation in advance, but no preparation time is given for the exam questions.
The final assessment is based on a weighting of 30% for the written exam and 70% for the oral 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 a prepared presentation and the written assignment to the exam. No other aids are allowed.
- 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 outcomes
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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