Peter Ulmer: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020

Name Prof. em. Dr. Peter Ulmer
FieldPetrologie - Mineralogie
Address
Inst. für Geochemie und Petrologie
ETH Zürich, NW E 77
Clausiusstrasse 25
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 39 55
Fax+41 44 632 16 36
E-mailpeter.ulmer@eaps.ethz.ch
URLhttps://erdw.ethz.ch/en/people/profile.peter-ulmer.html
DepartmentEarth and Planetary Sciences
RelationshipRetired Adjunct Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
651-3402-00LMagmatism and Metamorphose I Restricted registration - show details 4 credits2V + 1UM. W. Schmidt, P. Ulmer
AbstractThis course treats the generation and evolution of igneous rocks as well as the metamorphism of igneous and sedimentary rocks as products of geodynamic processes operating within the Earth´s interior.
Learning objectiveThis course combines petrography, geochemistry, experimental and theoretical petrology to assess fundamental igneous and metamorphic processes controlling the generation and evolution of igneous and metamorphic rocks in time and space. Principle targets are (1) the generation of magmas in the Earth mantle and crust, differentiation and emplacement of magmas at depth and on the surface and (2) metamorphism of igneous and sedimentary rock series and their relationships in the framework of global tectonics. The material is mostly presented in qualitative way. A quantification of igneous and metamorphic processes based on modal mineralogy, geochemistry, phase petrology and thermodynamic principles is assessed and further promoted in the accompanying homework and exercises.

Basic knowledge of rock-forming minerals and the classification of igneous and metamorphic rocks are required and will be further trained during the exercises.
ContentIntroduction – Historic evolution – magmatism-metamorphism-tectonics
Earth mantle – composition, metamorphism, deep mantle mineralogy
Partial melting of the Earth´s mantle
Binary and ternary subsolidus and liquidus phase diagrams
Tholeiitic magmatism – MORB and large igneous provinces (LIP)
Subduction zones – Magmatism at convergent plate margins, H2O-cycle
Geochemistry in igneous petrology
Igneous differentiation processes at convergent plate margins
Metamorphism of pelitic rocks (metapelites) and crustal melting
Material cycles at convergent plate margins
Lecture notesLecture notes and homework are provided and additional material is made available on Moodle.
LiteratureAs supplementary material we recommend the book by J.D. Winter. «Principles of Igneous and metamorphic petrology», Prentice Hall, 2001.
Prerequisites / Notice8 homework assignments (of totally 12) must be acceptably solved, the delivery of 10 acceptably solved homework assignments is acknowledged with an increase of the final grade by 0.25.

The end-of-term examination will take place in the two weeks scheduled in January.
651-4047-00LMicroscopy of Magmatic Rocks Restricted registration - show details 2 credits2GP. Ulmer
AbstractThis course provides basic knowledge in microscopy of igneous rocks. Apart from the identification of common igneous minerals in thin sections, mineral assemblages, textures and structures will be investigated and the results of microscopy will be combined with igneous phase equilibria to understand generation, differentiation and emplacement of igneous rocks.
Learning objectiveThe principal goal of this course is to acquire expertise in :
(1) optical determination of minerals in igneous rocks using the polarizing microscope
(2) Identification of igneous rocks basing on modal mineralogy, structure and texture;
(3) Interpretation of textures and structures and associated igneous processes;
(4) Application of phase diagrams to natural rocks.
ContentThis practical course bases on the course 'Microscopy of metamorphic rocks' (A. Galli), that is taught immediately before this course, where basic knowledge in optical mineralogy and the use of the polarizing microscope is acquired.
In this course, the most important (common) igneous minerals and rocks are studied in thin sections under the polarizing microscope. Mineral assemblages, structures, textures and crystallization sequences are determined and utilized to understand the generation, differentiation and emplacement of igneous rocks. In addition, we will apply igneous phase equilibria that have been introduced in other lectures (such as magmatism and metamorphism I&II at ETH or an equivalent igneous petrology course) to natural rock samples in order to constrain qualitatively parental magma compositions and crystallization conditions.
The range of investigated rocks encompasses mantle rocks, tholeiitic, calc-alkaline and alkaline plutonic and volcanic rocks that contain the most common igneous minerals.
Lecture notesBasis of the optical determinations of (igneous) minerals using the polarizing microscope are the tables of Tröger ('Optische Bestimmung der gesteinsbildenden Minerale', Optical determination of rock-forming minerals, 1982) that are available in sufficient number in the class room.
Additional notes will be distributed during the lecture
Furthermore, I recommend the lecture notes of H.-G- Stosch (University of Karlsruhe, in German) that can be provided in printed form upon request.
LiteratureThere are several good textbooks on the subject of ´mineralogy in thin sections´ that I can suggest upon request.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course does not include an introduction in optical mineralogy and the use of a polarizing microscope and, therefore, bases on the course ¨Microscopy of metamorphic rocks¨ taught by A. Galli immediately before this course where these basic principles are provided. Alternatively, e.g. for external students, an equivalent course is required to follow this practical course.

The delivery of 3 acceptably solved homework assignments is acknowledged with an increase of the final grade by 0.25.

Other microscope courses taught at ETH Zurich at the D-ERDW are:
Basics of optical mineralogy and petrography (M.W. Schmidt, BSc-course in German)
Microscopy of metamophic rocks (A. Galli, prerequisite for this course)
Sedimentary petrography and microscopy (V. Picotti & M.G. Fellin)
Reflected Light Microscopy and Ore Deposits Practical (T. Driesner)
651-4233-00LGeotectonic Environments and Deep Global Cycles3 credits2VM. W. Schmidt, P. Ulmer, A. Giuliani, P. A. Sossi
AbstractThis course addresses master students interested in in integral view of processes operating in various tectonic environments, most specifically divergent and convergent plate margins
Learning objective