Course

Introduction to Petrology

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Course code
EAES 2410
Credits
4.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
Winter

Overview

Course description
This course investigates the origin/formation, occurrence, and classification of igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic and economically important rocks. This course also serves as an introduction to the petrographic microscope and the use of the microscope to identify minerals and rocks. A field trip is required. This field trip may take place outside of scheduled class hours.
Course content

1. Petrographic microscope

  • The functioning of the petrographic microscope
  • Physical properties of light
  • Optical properties of minerals

2. Igneous rocks

  • Mineral composition, textures and primary structures of igneous rocks
  • Identification, classification, origin and occurrence/formation of igneous rocks
  • Origin and classification of igneous bodies and landforms

3. Sedimentary Rocks

  • Mineral composition, textures and primary structures of clastic sedimentary rocks
  • Identification, classification, origin and occurrence/formation of clastic sedimentary rocks

4. Metamorphic rocks

  • Mineral composition and textures of metamorphic rocks
  • Identification, classification, origin and occurrence/formation of metamorphic rocks
  • Metamorphic protoliths, grade, facies and metamorphic reactions 

5. Laboratory skills

  • Macroscopic identification of minerals, rocks and textures in hand sample
  • Use of the petrographic microscope
  • Optical properties of minerals in thin section
  • Microscopic identification of minerals and rocks in thin section
  • Textures and relationships between minerals in thin section 
  • Alteration mineral assemblages in thin section

6. Field skills 

  • Identification of minerals and rocks in the field (in outcrop)
  • Rock textures, structures and relationships between rock types in the field (in outcrop)
Learning activities

The primary mode of instruction will involve lectures, in-class activities and laboratory work. A field trip will integrate with the lecture and laboratory content.

Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Lecture assignments/homework: 0-10%

Lecture quizzes: 0-10%

Term project: 0-10%

Lab assignments: 9-20%

Lab exam(s): 20-30%

Term test(s): 15-25% 

Final exam: 25-30%

Total: 100%

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

  • employ a petrographic microscope to recognize the optical properties of common minerals and determine the composition of rocks in thin section;
  • identify, classify and interpret the occurrence/formation of a variety of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks;
  • use rock composition, textures and structures to infer petrogenesis;
  • relate and distinguish between rocks in outcrop (in the field), in hand sample and thin section based on their composition, texture and structures. 
Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:

Perkins, D. (Current Edition). Petrology: An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks and Processes. Open Textbook.

Nesse, W.D. & G.B. Baird. (Current Edition). Introduction to Mineralogy. Oxford University Press.

Requisites

Prerequisites

EAES 2400

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for EAES 2410
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX SOSC 2XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU GEOL 2XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SCEL 2XX (4)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR GEOL 2XX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG GEOG 2XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU EASC 205 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU GEOL 2XXX (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW SCIE 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO EESC_O 201 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV EOSC_V 221 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC GEOG 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV GEOG 2XX (4)
University of Victoria (UVIC) DOUG EAES 2400 (4) & DOUG EAES 2410 (4) = UVIC EOS 205 (1.5) & UVIC EOS 2XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC EVSC 2XXX (3)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) No credit
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU GEOL 2nd (3)

Course Offerings

There are no course offerings this semester.