Overview
Discover how magmatism has shaped Earth, how magma forms and evolves physically and chemically to make igneous rocks, and what controls its subterranean emplacement or volcanic eruption.
Magmas and Volcanoes' covers the systematic description and quantitative interpretation of volcanic and plutonic rocks within a plate tectonic framework
About this paper
| Paper title | Magmas and Volcanoes of Zealandia |
|---|---|
| Subject | Geology |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2025 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,243.65 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- EAOS 111 and/or GEOL 112, and 72 200 level points from Science Schedule C
- Restriction
- GEOL 264
- Schedule C
- Science
- Eligibility
Background requirements: Knowledge of mineralogy, petrology (including use of the petrographic microscope), basic thermal and sedimentation processes, equivalent to high-school physics, basic understanding of chemistry, thermal and fluid dynamics, and computer spreadsheets (e.g. Microsoft Excel).
GEOL264 is for students in their second year of a geology or equivalent degree. GEOL364 is for students in their third year of a geology or equivalent degree.
- Contact
- geology@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
Coordinator: Professor James White
Dr Marco Brenna
- Paper Structure
Topics covered:
- Upper mantle structure, composition and partial melting; origin and differentiation of magmas at oceanic spreading ridge, rift and intraplate settings; trace element and isotope constraints on magma sources
- Magma's physical characteristics, crustal magma transport, lava emplacement, effusive and explosive eruptions
- One-day field trip to examine volcanic rocks of East Otago
- Origin and differentiation of magmas in subduction zone settings; crustal partial melting; magma-related hydrothermal systems
- Two-day field excursion to examine igneous rocks of the South Coast
- Teaching Arrangements
Two lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week.
Fieldwork: One-day field trip to examine volcanic rocks of East Otago. Two-day field excursion to examine igneous rocks of the South Coast.
- Textbooks
Highly recommended:
Robin Gill - Igneous Rocks and Processes, Wiley-Blackwell (2010).For an advanced treatment see:
Philpotts and Ague (2009) Principles Of Igneous And Metamorphic Petrology 2nd Edition: ISBN-13: 9780521880060- Course outline
View latest syllabus (indicative of content next time the paper is taught)
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- Familiarity with advanced igneous petrographic mineral and texture identification
- Understanding of how rocks melt to form magma
- Understanding of magma characteristics and their chemical and physical controls
- Ability to determine the chemical evolution of a magma
- Understanding of how magma leaves its sources, and controls on whether it reaches the surface or is emplaced at depth
- Understanding of how magma is effused or explosively erupted, and insight into the processes of lava flows and explosive fragmentation
- Ability to interpret the deposits and/or observations of a volcanic eruption
- Assessment details
Assessment is approximately an even split between internal (ongoing during the semester) and external (final exam).
Assessments for GEOL364 are set and graded differently to GEOL264 to reflect greater background knowledge and higher expectations of students taking the paper at 300-level.