Course coordinator
Associate Professor Teresa Ubide Garralda
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
Origin & properties of magmas; magmatic differentiation, igneous structures & modes of emplacement; geochemistry of igneous rocks; magmatism at different tectonic environments; agents & types metamorphism; metamorphic textures & their origins; metamorphic facies; metamorphic reaction equilibria & pressure-temperature-time paths.
ERTH2006 is core for Earth ScienceﾠMajors and strongly recommended for those who intend to specialise in Environmental Science, Geographical Sciences or Environmental Management. This course will introduce students to the classification of igneous and metamorphic rocks and their origin and distribution in space and time. The course utilises petrographic techniques, thermodynamics, phase diagrams, and basic geochemical data in the petrological study of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The course also includes a one-day fieldtrip to gain exposure to some of the studied rocks in the field and practice fieldwork skills. Additional fee of approximately $20 will be payable, with details to be confirmed during the semester.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course assumes an introductory level of understanding of earth processes and materials gained through completion of ERTH1000 orﾠERTH1501 (or similar) and an intermediate level of knowledge of mineralogy gained through completion of ERTH1005 (or similar).ﾠStudents are expected to (i)ﾠhave a general understanding of the principles of crystal chemistry and the analytical methods employed in mineralogy, (ii)ﾠbe able to describe and identify common minerals and rocks in hand specimens and using the petrographic microscope, and (iii)ﾠhave a general understanding of the rock cycle and the distribution and origin of igneous and metamorphic rocks in the context of plate tectonics.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ERTH1005, ERTH1000 or ERTH1501
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Associate Professor Teresa Ubide Garralda
Associate Professor Mark Kendrick
Guest lecturer
Associate Professor Carlos Spier
Tutor
Ms Daniela Andrea Parra Encalada
Mr Julius Pasco
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Lecturesﾠand Practicalsﾠ
Two contact session per week in Steele building (3-229).ﾠ Up to date information is available from theﾠUQ Public Timetable and Blackboard.
Session 1: A 1 hour lecture followed by a 3 hour practical.
Session 2: A 1 hour lecture
Field trip
Saturday 5 October 2024ﾠ- all day (departing UQ at 8:00am and returning by 6:00pm). Additional fee payable.
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Aims and outcomes
This course will introduce students to the classification of igneous and metamorphic rocks and their origin and distribution in space and time.ﾠThe course serves as an introduction to the use of petrographic techniques, thermodynamics, phase diagrams, and basic geochemical data in the petrological study of igneous and metamorphic rocks and their geodynamic context.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand the origin and nature of magmas and igneous rocks.
LO2.
Understand the origin and nature of metamorphic rocks.
LO3.
Utilize thermodynamics, phase diagrams, and basic geochemical data in the petrological study of igneous and metamorphic rocks and processes.
LO4.
Recognize petrographic characteristics (including textures) of igneous and metamorphic rocks and to utilize these observations to classify and to evaluate the processes by which the rocks were formed.
LO5.
Have an introductory level understanding of magmatism and metamorphism in a plate tectonic context.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/ Demonstration | Practical component through the semester | 60% |
22/07/2024 - 21/10/2024 |
| Examination |
Theory exam
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Practical component through the semester
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
22/07/2024 - 21/10/2024
Task description
Weekly petrological exercises and practical exam (40%), in class quizzes and team paper discussions (10%), and field trip (10%).
Weekly petrological exercises and practical exam (40%): The weekly petrological exercises and homework will utilise hand samples, thin sections, phase diagrams and geochemical data to better understand igneous and metamorphic processes and products. A selection of practical and homework exercises must be submitted by their due dates, as specified in task description and on Blackboard. All required practical/homework assignments (a total of 6) carry equal weight (5% each). In addition, the final practical session on week 13 will be a practical exam (10% of course weight), submitted in class at the end of the session. The practical exam covers all aspects studied in all the practicals.
In class quizzes and team paper discussions (10%): The microscopy Quiz will take place at the conclusion of the practical session in Week 2 (29/07/2024). This quiz will contribute towards 2% of the overall course grade. The igneous and Metamorphic Petrology Quiz is scheduled for Week 9 (18/09/2024). This quiz will contribute towards 3% of the overall course grade. The team paper discussions will take place at the end of three of the lecture/practical sessions across the semester, in weeks 4, 6 and 12. The paper discussions will contribute towards 5% of the overall course grade.
Field trip (10%): Short essay due two days before the fieldtrip (5%). Field exercises due at the conclusion of the trip before departing the field site (5%).
If you miss one of the required exercises for any of the reasons listed in the Additional Assessment Information section, a written request should be submitted to the School of the Environment admin office, seeking an extension. If approved, submission is still required, and no late penalties will be applied. Non-submission will result in zero marks being awarded. Late submission without approved extensions will be penalised accordingly. There will be no practical exercises in week 11 due to the public holiday.
To pass the course, students must obtain a grade of 4 (49.5%) or greater in the final theory exam.
Submission guidelines
A selection of practicals across weeks 1-13 are to be submitted to the course lecturer or demonstrator by due date specified in task description (at the conclusion of the practical or a few days afterwards).
Quizzes assessed based on the number of correct answers relative to the total number of questions.
Paper discussions assessed based on individual understanding of content and search for background material, communication, team work and peer discussion (including questions to other teams).
Pre-field work essay: submit through Turnitin on the course Blackboard site by 03 October at 2pm. Field exercises to be submitted to course staff before leaving the field site on the day of the field trip (05 October 8am-6pm).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension or deferrable availability notes relating to this assessment item.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Theory exam
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
Task description
The final exam will incorporate aspects of the subject covered in lecture, practical classes and the field trip. The exam will test your knowledge on the formation, classification, and interpretation of igneous and metamorphic rocks. It will be a mixture of short answer and short essay questions. Although there will be no actual hand samples or thin sections, drawing or pictures of rocks as seen in outcrop, hand samples or thin section may be included. The exam will take place in person at St Lucia Campus.
To pass the course, students must obtain a grade of 4 (49.5%) or greater in the final theory exam.
Hurdle requirements
To pass the course, students must obtain a grade of 4 (49.5%) or greater in the final theory exam.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series or UQ approved , labelled calculator only |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% ASSESSMENT HURDLE: see 'Other Requirements & Comments' below. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% ASSESSMENT HURDLE: see 'Other Requirements & Comments' below. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% ASSESSMENT HURDLE: see 'Other Requirements & Comments' below. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% ASSESSMENT HURDLE: see 'Other Requirements & Comments' below. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% ASSESSMENT HURDLE: see 'Other Requirements & Comments' below. |
Additional course grading information
To pass the course, students must obtain a grade of 4 (50%) or greater in the final theory exam, and a grade of 4 (50%) or greater for the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Supplementary assessment is available
Courses graded 1-7
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing and submitting your assessment as soon as possible.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Turnitin
By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment.”
All students must ensure they receive their Turnitin receipt on submission of any assessments. A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after five days, will receive zero.
In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Own copy required
You'll need to have your own copy of the following reading resources. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Document |
Guide to thin section microscopy
by Raith; Michael M.; Raase; Peter; Reinhardt; Jurgen - 2012 Edition: 2 Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America - Open Access Publications ISBN: 9783000376719 |
Additional learning resources information
MINERALOGICAL DATABASES:
WebMineral - http://webmineral.com
MinDat -ﾠhttp://www.mindat.org
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Practical |
Practical Series (Weeks 1-13) The practicals will follow on the lecture material. The students will learn to describe and classify igneous and metamorphic rocks and interpret their petrogenesis. |
Lecture |
Lecture Series (Weeks 1-13) The course starts out with a thorough revision of the optical properties of the main rock-forming minerals and an introduction to petrography of crystalline rocks. The course then focuses on igneous and metamorphic rocks from a variety of scales, from their tectonic environment to their local occurrence, in the hand specimen as well as under the microscope. The study of rocks is covered from the point of view of petrography, classification, chemistry and petrogenetic environment. |
|
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Practical |
Microscopy Quiz (Week 2) |
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Practical |
Igneous and Metamorphic petrology Quiz (Week 9) |
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Fieldwork |
Springbrook fieldtrip (Week 10) |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.