Unit information: Advanced Geology Fieldwork in 2012/13

Unit name	Advanced Geology Fieldwork
Unit code	EASCM1018
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Rust
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

In 2011/12 The students will examine the geological evolution of two geologically contrasting Greek islands: Naxos (metamorphic) and Santorini (volcanic). The unit builds on previous field classes and will provide specific experience in describing and interpreting rock and deposit types they have not seen before. They will have 5 days of fieldwork on each island. On return to Bristol the students will spend one day learning about geological collections and archiving through lecture and practical application of the lecture.

The island of Naxos consists of a medium-high grade, Barrovian-type metamorphic complex. The part of the unit will provide specific experience and develop skills in recognising and recording metamorphic assemblages and evidence of complex deformation associated with the process of continental thickening giving rise to this Barrovian metamorphic complex. The Naxos component of the unit is based around two projects in which field data are collected and then analysed to address specific questions about the metamorphic evolution of the island. The Santorini component of the unit emphasises field and physical volcanology. It introduces, in a unique field setting of a flooded caldera with up to 300m cliffs, all the main volcanic rock types and facies, and several types of volcanoes. It also shows how to deduce the means and processes of eruptions from analysis of the ejected volcanic debris. The main aims are to: 1) introduce the field sedimentology, petrology/geochemistry and stratigraphy of typical volcanic rocks, and 2) analyse eruption dynamics, long-term volcano evolution, volcano monitoring and hazard assessment.

In 2012/13 and beyond the location of the trip may change, but the aims and learning outcomes will remain the same.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the Naxos part of the unit the student will be able to:

• recognise and utilise various metamorphic minerals and fabrics as a means of estimating metamorphic grade, facies and protolith types.
• develop and gain skills in detailed field petrography, so as to recognise inter-relationships between metamorphic mineral growth, fabric formation and deformation.
• develop skills in recording field data in notebooks with relevance to a defined question to be addressed.
• analyse field petrographic data so as to interpret a sequential development of mineral growth and deformation and to generate a metamorphic P-T path.
• plan and execute defined field projects within a timescale and produce a report on the outcomes of the work
• integrate your field data from different localities in order to interpret the main features of the geological evolution of the island during the Mesozoic and Tertiary eras.

On successful completion of the Santorini part of the unit the student will be able to:

• describe the diagnostic sedimentological/petrological features of each main volcanic rock type
• provide both summary and detailed logs for any part of a volcano's stratigraphy, including accurately documenting both the qualitative and quantitative features of volcanic lithologies (as well as any relevant structures)
• interpret volcanic lithologies, textures and structures in terms of eruption dynamics
• provide an overview of the various types of eruptions/eruption styles
• discuss basic physical/chemical controls on volcanic activity
• critically assess volcanic hazards from field data and theoretical understanding
• critically assess future potential hazards at Santorini
• describe, catalogue and archive a collection of volcanic samples

Teaching Information

Fieldwork 45 minute lecture on geological collections and archiving

Assessment Information

Particular credit will be given to documentation of the use of the student’s own field data and critical analysis of these data in development of overall interpretations.

• Notebook on Naxos fieldwork (20%)
• Two-day metamorphic - structural E -W traverse to document and interpret the character of the metamorphic complex (20%)
• Half - day project on the recognition of the metamorphic evolution and structural fabrics indicative of grade, uplift process and timing to derive form of P-T path (10%).
• 2-hour open-notebook test on the last evening on Santorini. Students must use their own field observations to answer questions related to the learning outcomes listed above (35%)
• Description and archiving of a collection of volcanic samples (15%)

Reading and References

Before the unit students should look at rock collections in room G32 to review hand specimen identification of volcanic and metamorphic rocks, minerals and fabrics Druitt et al (1999) Santorini Volcano, Geological Society Memoire No. 19 Cas and Wright (2010) Volcanic Successions: Ancient and Modern, Blackwell Science Ltd