Advanced Igneous Petrology covers the history of and recent developments in the study of igneous rocks. Students review the chemistry and structure of igneous rock-forming minerals and proceed to study how these minerals occur and interact in igneous rocks. The course focuses on igneous processes and how we have learned about them through studying a number of significant sites worldwide.

This is a laboratory course supplemented by lectures that focus on selected analytical facilities that are commonly used to determine the mineralogy, elemental abundance and isotopic ratios of Sr and Pb in rocks, soils, sediments and water.

This 11-slide PowerPoint presentation presents a short succession of schematic diagrams illustrating the structural evolution of anorthosites. The slides discuss the relative abundance of rare earth elements, describe six types of anorthosite occurrence, and contain pictures showing anorthositic texture. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology03/index.html

This site provides an illustrated lecture from a geochemistry course offered by Dr. Scott Wood at the University of Idaho. Topics include a review of the structure and formation of the Earth's crust, atmosphere, and hydrological cycle, and the composition of the atmosphere. Additional topics covered are the concept of residence time, geological and biological sources of components in the atmosphere, acid-base theory, Henry's law and the solubility of gases in water, primary and secondary air pollution, acid rain and how to carry out calculations of the pH of solutions containing acids, among others. The lecture presentation may be downloaded as a PDF document or a PowerPoint presentation. Reading and homework assignments, with answers, are also provided.

This NASA site explains the three major types of atmospheric aerosols - volcanic emissions, desert dust, and anthropogenic aerosols - and how they affect global climate. The site discusses the generation and atmospheric distribution of these aerosols, as well as the chemical and physical processes by which they create global cooling.

This site features links to broadcast quality audio files and transcripts from an interview with Dr. Carol Stoker about the Mars Analog Research and Technology Experiment (MARTE) which is to take place near the Rio Tinto in Spain. Interview topics include the MARTE expedition, the definition of an extremophile, the significance of the color and pH of Rio Tinto, equipment for the MARTE experiment, the possibility of a Mars drilling mission, and the resemblance of Rio Tinto geochemistry to that of Mars.

This PowerPoint presentation is part of the Whitman College petrology course. The presentation covers isobaric ternary T-X diagrams (An-Di-Fo), liquidus, intensive variables, cotectic, peritectic, and cooling paths. Solid solution and 4 component diagrams are described as well as the effect of water on melting temperatures. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology03/index.html

This site provides visual resources that illustrate the process of chemical weathering. Animations demonstrate how temperature and precipitation affect the evolution of parent material from highly resistant primary minerals to both secondary minerals and minerals in solution, as well as showing rates of weathering of various common minerals. A collection of photographs gives examples of chemical weathering in both natural outcrops and constructed features such as tombstones and carvings. These resources can be integrated into lectures, labs or other activities.

This PowerPoint presentation is part of the Whitman College petrology course. The presentation covers classification of phaneritic igneous rocks, gabbroic rocks, ultramafic rocks, pyroclastic rocks and volcanic rocks using triangular diagrams, and classification of igneous rocks based on total alkalis vs. silica. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology03/index.html

This 24-slide PowerPoint presentation describes the classification of metamorphic rocks using texture and composition. Foliation, lineation, cleavage, schistosity, gneissose structure, hornfels, and granofels are discussed. Specific metamorphic rock types and modifying terms (porphyroblastic, spotted, augen, para-, ortho-) are defined and photographs of some are provided. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology03/index.html

This set of lecture notes about contact metamorphism contains information on contact aureoles, isograds, thermal conductivity, and latent heat of crystallization. Albite-epidote hornfels, hornblende hornfels, pyroxene hornfels, and sanidinite facies are presented. Skarns are also discussed. A number of ternary diagrams and illustrations are included. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology03/index.html

This 32 slide PowerPoint presentation presents a list of alkaline rocks followed by an in depth look at continental alkaline magmatism of the East African Rift system. A chemical, geographic, and structural look at carbonatites follows. The presentation progresses through discussions of lamproites, lamprophyres, and kimberlites. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology03/index.html

This 27-slide PowerPoint presentation contains a number of schematic diagrams showing continental arc settings. Chemical comparisons of various continental arc magmas are discussed using isotopic variation and the occurrence of rare earth elements. The presentation also covers isotopes, rare earth element characteristics, and the geographic occurrence of plutonic arcs. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology03/index.html

This PowerPoint presentation is part of the Whitman College petrology course. This 17-slide presentation addresses the major flood basalts. The Columbia River flood basalts are discussed in detail. Other flood basalts that are covered include the Keeweenawan, Deccan, Parana and Karroo. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology03/index.html

This EET Chapter will introduce you to visualization capabilities available through NASA's Earth Observatory. You'll build several animations of satellite data that illustrate carbon pathways through the Earth system. For instance, you'll build animations of fire images that indicate carbon is being released into the atmosphere. You'll also make animations of plant productivity images that indicate carbon is being removed from the atmosphere and locked into the biosphere. After you've built animations, you'll access another visualization tool to compare sets of other carbon-related data images by controlling their transparency.

The geologic record demonstrates that our environment has changed over a variety of time scales from seconds to billions of years. Subject explores the many ways in which geologic processes control and modify the Earth's environment. Topics include: chemical and physical interactions between the solid Earth, its oceans and atmosphere; the effect of catastrophic events such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes on the environment; geologic hazards; and our role in modifying the environment through earth resource development. This subject serves as an introduction to subject 12.120, which addresses field applications of these principles in the American Southwest. (Please note: 12.120 is not offered every year.)

This NASA website provides a summary of a study led by NASA's David McKay that may provide evidence for past life on Mars. McKay and his team found carbonate globule features on the ALH84001 meteorite that appear to be nanofossils. In addition, secondary mineral phases and hydrocarbons provide further evidence for past life. The website features color photographs as well as links to related web pages.

This site is a lecture by Dr. Stephen Nelson from Tulane University that explores the 32 possible combinations of symmetry operations that define the external symmetry of crystals. The lecture defines the six crystal systems (triclinic, monoclinic, orthorhombic, tetragonal, hexagonal, and isometric) and explains the derivation of the Hermann-Mauguin symbols (also called the international symbols) used to describe the crystal classes from the symmetry content. Tables and illustrations accompany the text.

The GLOBE Cave Protocol Field Guide utilizes existing GLOBE protocols to explore an extreme environment. Caves provide an opportunity to utilize GLOBE protocols to investigate underground environments and compare them to surface environments. Outside the cave, students record elevation, MUC, latitude and longitude, air temperature, relative humidity and air pressure. Inside the cave, students record air temperature, relative humidity and air pressure as well as observe and describe cave features in each room. Students also note evidence of biological activity and human impact. If water is present inside the cave, students record water temperature and pH. Follow up questions are included in the Field Guide.