Microstructures and Deformation Mechanisms
Instructor: Scott Paterson
Office SCI 307; phone = 06103; email = paterson@usc.edu.
Office Hours: TBA and anytime my door is open.
Course Description: Microstructures provide important clues about deformation mechanisms, metamorphic reactions, and the environmental conditions during rock deformation. They also provide information about such topics as kinematics, timing relationships, and processes during flow. In this course we will read about and examine metamorphic microstructures and evaluate what information they provide about the above topics. The course will involve two 90 minute lecture/discussion per week, 3 hrs lab per week, one class presentation and one class project.
Basis for Grading:
Class Participation: 20%
Lab Exercises (10): 40%
Project: 20%
Final: 20%
Class Presentation by students: microstructures and deformation mechanisms of one mineral.
1. Pick one mineral: Quartz, Kspar, Plagioclase, Biotite, Hornblende, Pyroxenes, Olivine, etc.
2. Complete Library search and prepare short reading list (e.g., 3-4 papers)
3. 20 minute presentation (in lecture)
a) Review mineral structure and slip systems
b) Summarize intracrystalline deformation mechanisms (P-T map)
c) Find at least one example so that we can look at microstructures
Class Project:
1. Class Project on rocks from the Cascades core, Washington:
a. Many possible projects to choose from. Will give examples in class.
2. Must complete quantitative microstructural + isotopic analyses from ~5 samples
3. 10 pg. report - due December 13