Corsi di studi in Scienze Geologiche (L-34 e LM-74)

The course aims to acquire the necessary tools to describe and interpret the metamorphic rocks of the crystalline basements of the Western Alps and other collisional orogens.

The contents proposed within the course contribute to the achievement of the qualifying educational objectives of the master's degree course with regard to the following aspects: : i) analyze and interpret complex geological systems through soil and laboratory analysis; ii) characterise and/or certify, from a geochemical, mineral-petrographic and mechanical point of view, geological materials; iii) model the processes of formation of mineral georesources for their research and exploitation in crystalline basements. THE COURSE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO ALL THOSE WHO INTEND, IN THE MASTER'S DEGREE THESIS OR IN THE DOCTORATE, TO STUDY AND / OR DETECT BASEMENT AREAS WITH METAMORPHIC ROCKS.

Knowledge and understanding.

At the end of this course the student will know:
- how to classify metamorphic rocks;
- the main genetic processes of metamorphic systems;
- which are the main factors and  mechanisms which induce the solid state transformation of different protoliths;
- how to describe and interpret crystalline basements in any geodynamic context.

Applying knowledge and understanding

At the end of this teaching the student will know:
- to use an appropriate terminology for describing metamorphic processes;
- to link the main metamorphic rocks to the correspondent geodynamic context;
- to recognize the most common metamorphic minerals;
- to describe any metamorphic lithology from a mineralogical and structural point of view, and to interpret its genetic process.    

Making  judgment

At the end of this course the student will be able to make a judgment about:
- the main mineralogical, petrographic, geochemical and structural techniques useful for the investigation of crystalline basements;
- the quality of the data acquired in the study of crystalline basements, and the reliability of their elaboration.

Communication skills

At the end of the course the student is expected to:
- use the appropriate scientific language for metamorphic petrology applied to the study of crystalline basements;
- coordinate with various professional figures working on crystalline basements.

 Learning skills

At the end of the course the student will have the ability to study autonomously and to critical evaluate the methods more suitable for the production of geological maps in crystalline basement areas, and the types of metamorphic geomaterials available in different geologic settings.

Metamorphic rocks (MR) classification and glossary of terms. Types, grade and facies of metamorphism. Isochemical and allochemical metamorphism. Facies series. Physical and chemical constraints. Metamorphic reactions.
Nucleation and growth of metamorphic mineral. 
Interpretation of microstructures in MR.
Blastesis vs deformation. Chemographs. Partial melting and migmatites. High temperature metamorphism. High pressure metamorphism.
Serpentinization. Rodingites. Chemical composition classes of MR: ultramafic, mafic,
pelitic, carbonate, quartzo-feldspatic rocks. Gechronology of MR.
Microscopic description and interpretation of selected MR from the Western Alps and other collisional orogens.
Conventional geothermobarometry of MR.
Thermodynamic modelling and phase diagrams. P-T-t paths and their geodynamic significance.
Field study of metamorphic units along selected cross sections in the Western Alps.

The Course consists of:

- lectures (38 h),

- practicals (10 h)

- field excursions (16 h).

Oral talk with Power Point presentation on a subject chosen by the student among the topics addressed in the course. The talk has to be 20 minutes long and is followed by a short discussion on the talk itself and on other topics of the course. The actual length of the talk within the foreseen time frame will be taken into account in the final judgment.

PDF files with slides used during both lectures and practicals are available at the Course website.

Suggested textbooks include:

1) BUCHER K., GRAPES R. - Petrogenesis of metamorphic rocks. 8th Edition, 428 p., 2011. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

2) YARDLEY B., WARREN C. - An introduction to metamorphic petrology. 2nd Edition, 333 p., 2021. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.