Course Syllabus GEOL 333
PETROLOGY OF IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS
Course Description: Study of the properties and genesis of two major rock groups. Megascopic
and microscopic techniques in rock classification. Environments of formation. Case studies from
the Maryland Piedmont. Field trips required. Six contact hours (three lecture hours and three
laboratory hours), four credits. Prerequisite: GEOL 331.
Schedule of lecture and laboratory topics: subject to change with notice:
WEEK MONDAY: Laboratory Topic
WEDNESDAY: Lecture/Lab Topic
Types of Intrusions; Composition,
Introduction to Course; Igneous
1/30-2/1
Textures & Structures of Igneous
Rocks in Hand Sample
Rocks; Classification
Volcanism; Formation of Magma;
2/6-8
Igneous Textures in Thin Section
Crystallization of Magma
Igneous Rocks of the Oceanic
2/13-15 Felsic Extrusive Rocks
Lithosphere
Intermediate and Mafic Extrusive Igneous Rocks of Convergent
2/20-22
Rocks
Margins; Layered Mafic Intrusions
2/27-29 Felsic Intrusive Rocks
Mafic Intrusive Rocks
3/5-7
Work on Igneous Case Study
Ellicott City Field Trip
3/12-14 Work on Igneous Case Study
Igneous Case Study due
3/19-21 SPRING BREAK
Metamorphic Isograds, Facies, P-T
3/26-28 Quartz Microstructures
Evolution; Metamorphic Textures and
Classification
Metamorphic Assemblages,
4/2-4
Metamorphic Index Minerals
Reactions, and Equilibrium
Metamorphism of Mafic &
4/9-11
Foliated Metamorphic Rocks
Ultramafic Rocks
Metamorphism of Aluminous Clastic
4/16-18 Non-foliated Metamorphic Rocks
Rocks
4/23-26 Determining P-T-t Histories
Maryland Piedmont: Lang articles
4/30-5/2 Work on Piedmont Project
Hunt Valley Field Trip
5/7-9
Work on Piedmont Project
Work on Piedmont Project
5/14
Present Piedmont Project
Piedmont Project due Friday, May 18th, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
TEXT
1–3
4–6
8
9,10
17,18
19-20
21
22
Textbook & Resources:
Petrology: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic (3rd edition) by Harvey Blatt, Robert J.
Tracy, and Brent E. Owens. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 2006.
The Blackboard site for this course provides essential resources for this course. Check your
Towson e-mail account daily for possible course-related announcements.
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Course Objectives: Upon successfully completing the course, students should be able to explain
and apply knowledge and skills central to the domain of professional geologists, including:
 formation and modification of magma
 differentiation, fractional crystallization, partial melting
 primary textures of igneous rocks
 determination of crystallization history of an igneous rocks
 intrusive and extrusive magmatic features
 eruptive styles of volcanoes as function of lava composition & viscosity
 interpretation of binary and ternary phase diagrams
 fabrics and compositions of metamorphic rocks
 quartz optical microstructures
 formation and kinematic interpretation of mylonites
 connections between crystalline rocks and plate tectonic margins
 crystalline rocks of the Maryland Piedmont geology
 analysis of metamorphic rocks to determine their petrologic histories
 writing and presenting an accurate report on a crystalline rock
COURSE INFORMATION AND POLICIES
Grading:
The Grade Center in Blackboard will maintain a running weighted
average of your scores. Course grades will be assigned according to
breakdown shown at right:
Please note: A student must receive a course grade of at least a
middle C (73.0%) to fulfill this requirement of the Geology major.
Your course grade will be based on the following distribution
(approximate):
Assignment or Assessment:
Laboratory Assignments
Homeworks, etc.:
Igneous Case Study
Piedmont Project
TOTAL
Cumulative %
94-10
90-93.9
87-89.9
84.0-86.9
80.0-83.9
77.0-79.9
73.0-76.9
70.0-73.0
60.0-69.9
Below 60
Letter
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D+
D
F
% of total grade
30
20
25
25
100
Lectures: Students are expected to attend every class and be prepared to discuss the assigned
reading. Students in this class are expected to behave in a professional manner befitting their
attendance at university in preparation to become working geoscientists, including the following:
 be present and attentive for the entire class period;
 demonstrate preparation for that day’s class by bringing lecture PDF’s, if available,
answering questions, and asking substantive questions;
 turn in completed assignments on time;
 participate in class discussions and activities; and
 respectfully listen to the instructor and to other students.
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Persistent distracting and disrespectful behavior (texting, tardiness, talking, chewing gum,
sleeping, etc.) will deduct points from your course grade and/or lead to dismissal from class.
Labs: Laboratory activities in this course synthesize lecture and lab skills and will include
identification of rocks in hand samples and in thin section. Labs will usually be begun on Monday
and turned in the next Monday. Lab work in the course may require work outside of class. When
the classroom is free, you may use this room to work quietly on assignments, but distracting
activities (loud talking, computer games/videos, etc.) are not to be conducted in the room. Late
work is not accepted without documentation of a student’s serious personal or medical
emergency. Although students are encouraged to exchange ideas, your lab work is expected to be
your own. Collusion on lab work will result in zero credit to all involved parties.
Homeworks, etc.:
The purpose of these assignments is to encourage students to keep up with the lecture material.
These will be assigned throughout the semester and may be handed in either in class or on-line
through Blackboard; specific requirements will be described later in the course.
Field Trips: Field trips will be conducted during class period (weather permitting) and will
require you to either travel in your own vehicle or car-pool with another student; if you have
serious concerns about this requirement, contact the instructor as soon as possible. Field trips will
involve detailed observations of rocks and other field skills; no pets, pals, smoking, etc., are
allowed on the trips. All students must sign the Field Trip liability waiver required by the
University. Field trip cancellation due to inclement weather will be announced via e-mail to your
Towson account as early as possible; unless otherwise noted in the cancellation announcement,
we will meet in the classroom.
o Field Trip 1 (3/7): Ellicott City Granodiorite and Baltimore Mafic Complex: magmatic
contacts, xenoliths, flow foliation, layered intrusion
o Field Trip 2 (5/2): Setters Schist and Cockeysville Marble, Hunt Valley: amphibolite facies
metamorphism, index minerals
Igneous Case Study and Piedmont Project: In lieu of traditional exams, students will undertake
two projects requiring mastery of both lecture and laboratory concepts, each involving
observation, description, interpretation, application, and synthesis. The first project will be on an
igneous rock (hand sample + thin section), with a write-up illustrated with labeled
photomicrographs summarizing your results. The second project will be on a metamorphic rock
(hand sample + thin section) from the Maryland Piedmont and will involve either writing a paper
and then giving a professional-quality PowerPoint presentation or designing an interactive web
page that presents your observations and interpretations. More details will be provided later.
Students with Special Accommodations:
This course is in compliance with Towson University policies on students with special
accommodations. Most course materials are provided on-line via Blackboard. Students requesting
note-takers and other accommodations must notify the instructor as early as possible in the
semester with the proper paperwork; the availability of a note-taker is dependent upon another
student in the class volunteering to take notes.
Withdrawal Deadline: The deadline to withdraw from this course with a “W” is April 30th. You
may not repeat this course more than once without permission of the Academic Standards
Committee.
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