Volcanoes & Mineral Resources

Catalog description

Most of Earth's crust is associated with volcanic and hydrothermal processes; we will study why and where rocks melt, how magma rises to the surface, what controls the violence and geohazards of volcanic eruptions, resultant mass extinctions, and why so many economically valuable mineral resources form around volcanoes. We will answer these questions by studying petrology, petrography and phase diagrams. No prerequisite required. Includes a weekly 2-hour lab, GEOL-360L, that must be taken concurrently, and a weekend field trip.