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Dr. Gorring  

MSU  
 
 
 
 
 
 

The syllabus for Dr. Gorring's  Petrology class (GEOS444) is given below.  You can jump to specific sections  of the syllabus by clicking on the highlighted categories below.    Instructor    Course Content & Notes   Expectations & Requirements   Grading   Course Objectives:   Understanding processes that produce chemical/mineralogic diversity of igneous and metamorphic rocks.  Develop skills for ID, description, classification, and interpretation of igneous and metamorphic rocks.  Introduction to field relations of igneos and metamorphic rocks.  Improving communication skills through technical writing.

Lecture: W 5:00-7:30pm;  Lab 8:00-9:40pm    265 Mallory Hall 

Office: 263 Mallory Hall 

Office Hours: T 10:00-11:00am; T 3:00-4:00pm; W 2:00-3:00pm or by appointment 
 
Phone: 973-655-5409 
 
email: gorringm@mail.montclair.edu 

Required Textbook: 
Raymond, L.A., 1995, Petrology: The study of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks,Wm. C. Brown. 
Other Textbook on Reserve in Sprague Library:  Blatt, H. and R.J. Tracy, 1996, Petrology: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic, 2nd ed., Prentice Hall.  (strongly recommended that you read the assigned chapters in this book!)  

Other Texts on Reserve in Sprague: 
Best, M.G., 1982, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Freeman 
Wilson, M., 1989, Igneous Petrogenesis, Unwin Hyman 
 

The Course Web Page can be found by starting at the MSU Earth & Environmental StudiesHome page: http://www.csam.montclair.edu/earth/eesweb -- look under 
Current Courses, then click on the GEOS444 Petrology link. 
The exact address is: http://www.csam.montclair.edu/earth/eesweb/gorring/geos444.html 

Course Content 
 
The lecture notes are linked in the syllabus below.  Double click on them to view the notes. 
 

 Week                          Topic                                              Reading 

1	1/20	Structure, Texture, and Mineralogy of Igneous Rocks	Ray- ch. 1, 2, p. 36-38
2	1/27	Chemistry and Classification of Igneous Rock	Ray- ch. 3, 4
3	2/3	Magma Crystallization and Phase Diagrams	Ray- ch. 5; B&T- ch. 4
4	2/10	Phase Relations of Melting/Fractional Crystallization  (Fieldtrip: Sat. 2/13, Palisades Sill)	B&T- ch. 5, 6
5	2/17	Mantle Petrology; Basalt  Petrogenesis	Ray- ch. 6, 7;  B&T- ch. 7
6	2/24	Basalt Petrogenesis
7	3/3	Voclcanic Arc Magmatism	Ray- ch. 9
8	3/10	Spring Break
9	3/17	Granite Petrology; (Fieldtrip: Sat. 3/20, NJ/Hudson Highlands)	Ray- ch. 11, 12
10	3/24	Igneous EXAM; Metamorphism and Metamorphic Facies	Ray- ch. 23, 24  B&T- ch. 18
11	3/31	P-T-t Evolution, Metamorphic Phase Equilibria	Ray- ch. 25  B&T- ch. 19, 20
12	4/6	Phase Equilibria and Metamorphic Reactions	B&T- ch. 21
13	4/13	Metamorphism of Clastic Sedimentary Rocks  (Fieldtrip: Sat. 4/17, Dutchess Co., NY)	Ray- ch. 27  B&T- ch. 23
14	4/20	Metamorphism of Calcareous Rocks	B&T- ch. 24
15	4/27	Metamorphism of Mafic and Ultramafic Rocks	B&T- ch. 22

 
Metamorphic EXAM:  Wed. May 12; 5:00-7:00pm; ML-265 
Final Draft of Paper Due 
 
Back to the Top 

Expectations and Requirements 

READINGS: Required readings are listed with the schedule. The sections should be read before the lecture for which they are listed.  I will be placing other Petrology texts on reserve in Sprague Library.  The Blatt and Tracy book we will be using extensively so get used to going to the library and reading there. 

IN CLASS: Your active participation (both as an individual and in small groups) is essential to your success in the class, so ask lots of questions and participate fully in group activities. 

THE INTERNET:   Please come see me early if you have a problem with access or are unfamiliar with the internet. The internet is a vast resource at your fingertips.  USE IT! 

EXAMS:   Two one-hour exams and a two-hour final exam are scheduled. Exam format will be short answer. Make-up exams will be given only in exceptional circumstances. 

CLASS PROJECT/PAPER:  You will choose a rock suite from several available in the lab and write a technical research style paper on the petrology of that particular suite. You will have to rely on primarily research journal articles for your information.  To do this use GeoRef upstairs in 358N or go to the library.  Once you have a list of articles go to the microfiche dept in the library and make paper copies.  You will receive constructive criticism of your paper by submitting a first draft to me before Spring Break (3/3). Final draft will be due on May 12.  You are also required to cut one thin-section and give a full petrographic description that will form an appendix to your paper.   I will give you guidelines and you are to follow the Journal of Petrology format. 

FIELD TRIP(s):  There will be three formal field trips to local areas for purposes of investigating field relations and principles discussed in class and to see some of the classic geologic localities that we have in the area.  This will include trips to the Palisades sill, the Precambrian rocks of  the Hudson/NJ Highlands, and a classic sequence of metamorphic rocks in Dutchess Co., NY.  We will rent vans for transport.  You are required to go on any 2 of these trips.  You will also be handing in field notebook at the end of the trip.  We will be analyzing samples collected on these trips in class and those particpiating in a field trip will be assigned a sample and required to write a 1-2 page report on how that particular sample fits into the overall petrology of the trip.  If there is interest I could offer a Fri-Sun informal trip to the Adirondacks, but we would have to go the last weekend in April or soon after the semester is over. 

 

Two, 1-hour exams (non-cumulative): 20% each. 

Homework/Laboratory Assignments: 40% 

Field Trips:  10% 

Paper Project  10%,