Earth materials

The aim of this course is to introduce the concepts and tools needed to observe and describe minerals and magmatic and metamorphic rocks, and to understand their genesis. The course begins with an introduction to the concepts of mineralogy (crystallography, crystallochemistry) and the tools needed to identify the constituent minerals of magmatic and metamorphic rocks. You will then study the structure and nature of the mantle, as well as the processes involved from magma formation to the eruption of magmatic rocks: partial melting processes, crystallization, crustal assimilation, magmatic mixing. You'll learn to distinguish the different magmatic series by their chemical composition and physical properties. The link between eruptive processes, volcanic hazards and risks will also be discussed. The third part introduces the main variables (pressure, temperature, time) and the different geodynamic contexts of metamorphism. We'll look at the different metamorphic facies, structures and textures of metamorphic rocks, and you'll learn to recognize mineral reactions and interpret them in terms of metamorphic evolution.

The coupled study of magmatic and metamorphic rocks will provide the basis for understanding issues related to the geodynamics of the inner Earth, geochemical cycles, mineral resources...

- Use tools to describe minerals and magmatic and metamorphic rocks (chemistry, mineralogy, texture, etc.).

- Identify minerals and magmatic and metamorphic rocks through macroscopic and microscopic observation.

- Relate a magmatic or metamorphic rock to its formation process and interpret the associated geodynamic context.

- Know how to work independently, describe, write and synthesize.