Academic Year/course:
2023/24
26413 - Sedimentary Petrology
Syllabus Information
Academic year:
2023/24
Subject:
26413 - Sedimentary Petrology
Faculty / School:
100 - Facultad de Ciencias
Degree:
296 - Degree in Geology
588 - Degree in Geology
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
2
Semester:
Second semester
Subject type:
Compulsory
Module:
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1. General information
The objectives of the subject are:
1. To know the main compositional and textural characters of the different groups of sedimentary rocks.
2. To learn to identify them and relate them to the genetic processes responsible for their formation.
3. To understand the conditioning factors of the evolution of sedimentary rocks through geologic times and their interrelationships with global tectonics, climate and biosphere.
4. To provide the necessary fundamentals to apply them to other disciplines that, from academic or applied perspectives, deal with sedimentary materials.
2. Learning results
Upon completion of the subject, the student will be able to:
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Know and understand the basic concepts of exogenous petrology in terms of characterization of the textural properties and compositions of the different lithological groups to identify and relate them to the genetic processes responsible for their formation.
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Identify, describe and classify the different types of mesoscale sedimentary rocks (in hand sample), determining their main characters.
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Identify, describe and classify the different types of sedimentary rocks at microscale (thin slices) recognizing the compositional, textural and diagenetic characters indicative of their origin and evolution, through the use of transmitted light microscopy
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Identify, describe and classify the different types of sedimentary rocks and the diagenetic processes visible at the macro scale (in outcrop) using the methodology learned for field work.
3. Syllabus
Theory:
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The exogenous petrological cycle. Classification of sedimentary rocks.
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Diagenesis. Basic concepts.
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Detrital rocks. Texture and composition. Classification. Diagenesis.
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Carbonate rocks. Mineralogy, texture and composition. Classification. Diagenesis.
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Evaporitic rocks. Types. Storage rooms. Diagenesis
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Siliceous rocks. Types. Diagenesis.
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Ferruginous rocks. Types. Mineralogy, texture, diagenesis.
Laboratory practice and microscopy:
Laboratory and microscopy practices will be alternated/simultaneous covering the following aspects:
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Basic mineralogy of sedimentary rocks.
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Detrital rocks. Clasts, matrix and cement. Diagenesis. Percentage determination and classification.
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Carbonate rocks. Allochemicals and orthochemicals. Porosity. Diagenesis. Classification.
Field practices:
Two field trips that will cover the widest possible variety of sedimentary rocks.
4. Academic activities
1. Theory: master classes (20 hours). Development of basic concepts and methodologies in Exogenous Petrology. Study of the compositional and textural characters of sedimentary rocks and their diagenetic processes.
2. Laboratory practice and microscopy (30 hours). Identification, determination and treatment of compositional, textural and diagenetic characters of sedimentary rocks. Classification.
3. Field practices (10 hours). Determination of compositional and textural characters of sedimentary rocks and identification of diagenetic processes in hand sample and at outcrop scale.
5. Assessment system
Continuous Assessment
Activity 1 (master classes). Exercises with multiple-choice and/or developmental questions on each topic or group of topics (42.5% of the grade for the subject).
Activity 2 (laboratory practices and microscopy). Petrographic description of a series of thin films of detritic and carbonate rocks (mainly) provided by the teachers, filling in a series of individualized cards of the same (42.5% of the grade of the subject).
Activity 3 (field practices). Reports (or questionnaires) of the field trips (15% of the grade of the subject).
Final grade of the subject: weighted average of the grades of each activity, as long as the grade of each activity is equal to or higher than 5.
Overall assessment
For those students who have not passed the subject through continuous evaluation, a global test consisting of two exams will be held: 1) Theory, with two parts: the development of two short topics; and a test of 60 questions; 2) Practical, with two parts: resolution of exercises on the collection of rocks with which we have worked in the laboratory and microscopy practices; and a series of questions related to the field trips carried out.