Teaching
I regularly teach at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate courses that I have primary teaching responsibilities for include Geology 330 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology) and Geology 380 (Planetary Geoscience). I co-teach a graduate petrology course, Geology 530 (Petrogenesis of Crystalline Rocks), with Ted Labotka. Much of my graduate course offerings are in the form of seminars, the topics of which vary each time. Some recent seminar topics include: Volcanology, Meteoritics and Cosmochemistry, and Mars Exploration. Several course syllabi are shown below.
IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY
(Geology 330)
Hap McSween, mcsween@utk.edu
Purpose of the Course:
I expect that you will become familiar with the common volcanic, plutonic, and metamorphic rocks that comprise much of the Earth's crust and upper mantle. We will learn how geologists use petrography, geochemistry, experiments, and field relationships to understand the origin of crystalline rocks. We encourage you to focus on understanding igneous and metamorphic processes rather than description. We will also explore the relationship between tectonics and magmatism or metamorphism on the Earth, and see how magmatism differs on other planets that do not have plate tectonics.
Click here to view a PDF of the following schedule
| Lecture Schedule | ||
| Date | Lecture Topic | Assignment* |
| 1/13 | Equilibrium among rock-forming minerals | |
| 1/15 | Classification of igneous rocks | 40-53 |
| 1/27 | Magma eruption/emplacement and igneous textures | 8-29 |
| 1/29 | Binary phase diagrams | 58-73 |
| 2/3 | Magma generation and ascent | 82-90 |
| 2/5 | Magma differentiation and contamination | 90-93 |
| 2/10 | Chemical variations in igneous rocks | 32-36 |
| 2/12 | Trace elements and radiogenic isotopes in petrogenesis | |
| 2/17 | Test I | |
| 2/19 | Basaltic volcanism | 98-116 |
| 2/24 | Fractionation in layered intrusions | 158-176 |
| 3/3 | Felsic volcanic and pyroclastic rocks | 122-153 |
| 3/5 | Granitic batholiths | 191-237 |
| 3/10 | Ophiolites and ultramafic rocks | 176-185, 656-675 |
| 3/12 | Alkaline rocks and kimberlites | 239-259 |
| 3/31 | Tectonics and planetary magmatism | |
| 4/2 | Test II | |
| 4/7 | Metamorphic rocks: textures and classification | 472-492, 496-500 |
| 4/9 | Zones and facies, physical conditions | 500-513 |
| 4/14 | Equilibrium and the phase rule | 516-520 |
| 4/16 | Metamorphic assemblages in phase diagrams | 520-524 |
| 4/21 | Metabasites | 550-578 |
| 4/23 | Metapelites | 587-616 |
| 4/28 | Marbles and migmatites | 578-581 |
| 4/30 | Tectonics, time, and metamorphic belts | 680-683 |
| 5/7 | Test III (Alternative Period) | |
| *Assignment refers to readings in the text: Petrology, 2nd edition, by Loren A. Raymond (published by McGraw-Hill). | ||
| Grading: Each exam counts 25%, lab counts 25% | ||
| Laboratory Schedule | |
| Lab. # | Laboratory Exercise |
| 1 | Rock-forming minerals (review) |
| 2 | Estimating modes and classifying igneous rocks |
| 3 | Recognizing and interpreting igneous textures |
| 4 | Constructing and using phase diagrams |
| 5 | Igneous rock chemistry: variation diagrams and norms |
| 6 | Plutonic rocks in thin section |
| 7 | Volcanic rocks in thin section |
| 8 | Petrographic exercise: Liberty Hill batholith |
| 9 | Petrographic exercise: Stillwater complex |
| 10 | Mantle petrology and geophysics |
| 11 | Identifying metamorphic minerals and textures |
| 12 | Metamorphic rocks in thin section |
| 13 | Isograds and facies exercise |
| 14 | Interpreting metamorphic phase diagrams |
| 4/26 Mandatory one-day class field trip to Blue Ridge | |
Contact instructor at mcsween@utk.edu or 974-9805
Note: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a documented disability or if you have emergency information to share, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 191 Hoskins Library at 974-6087. This will ensure that you are properly registered for services.
PLANETARY GEOSCIENCE
(Geology 380)
Hap McSween, mcsween@utk.edu
Click here to view a PDF of the Geology 380 schedule
PETROGENESIS OF CRYSTALLINE ROCKS
(Geology 530), First Half
Hap McSween, mcsween@utk.edu
Purpose of the Course:
This half of the course is intended to introduce igneous rocks - their petrographic characteristics, chemical compositions and phase relationships, as well as their field and tectonic relationships. The student should learn how information on the origin of igneous rocks is extracted from them, based on petrographic observations, crystallization experiments, chemical and isotopic analyses, and field relationships.
Click here to view a PDF of the following schedule
| Lecture Schedule | |
| Date | Lecture Topic |
| Aug 21 | Classification of igneous rocks: practical and thermodynamic |
| Aug 23 | Crystallization and igneous textures |
| Aug 26 | Magmatic processes: fractionation and contamination |
| Aug 28 | Phase equilibria and crystallization |
| Aug 30 | Mechanisms of melting in the mantle and crust |
| Sep 2 | Holiday |
| Sep 4 | Phase equilibria and melting |
| Sep 6 | Magma ascent, pluton emplacement, and eruption |
| Sep 9 | Bulk chemistry, norms, and variation diagrams |
| Sep 11 | Trace elements in igneous systems |
| Sep 13 | Radiogenic isotopes in igneous systems |
| Sep 16 | Volatiles and oxidation state in igneous systems |
| Sep 18 | Igneous Test |
| Sep 20 | Fractional crystallization in mafic plutons |
| Sep 23 | Spreading center magmatism: MORB and ophiolites |
| Sep 25 | Plume volcanism: flood basalts and oceanic islands |
| Sep 27 | Rift zone magmatism: alkaline rocks |
| Sep 30 | Subduction zone volcanism: andesites |
| Oct 2 | Continental granitic plutons and pyroclastic rocks |
| Oct 4 | Holiday |
| Oct 7 | Precambrian associations: Archean crust, komatiites, anorthosites |
| ON TO METAMORPHIC ROCKS | |
|
Readings
Text is McBirney, Igneous Petrology |
|
| Aug 21 | McB 24-36, Carmichael et al. (1974) Igneous Petrology, 50-59 |
| Aug 23 | McB 96-130 |
| Aug 26 | McB 131-152, Stolper and Walker (1980) Contr. Min. Petr. 74, 7-12 |
| Aug 28 | McB 60-95 |
| Aug 30 | McB 37-50, 26-268 |
| Sep 4 | McB 257-263 |
| Sep 6 | McB 50-59 |
| Sep 9 | McB 152-158, Cox, Bell, Pankhurst 145-161, 407-414 |
| Sep 11 | McB 158-171, Pearce et al. (1977) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 36, 121-132 |
| Sep 13 | Philpotts (1990) Principles Ig Metam Petrology, 432-438 |
| Sep 16 | Philpotts (1990) Principles Ig Metam Petrology, 192-213, Newman et al. (1988) J. Volc. Geotherm. Res. 35, 75-96 |
| Sep 20 | McB173-218 |
| Sep 23 | McB 271-307 |
| Sep 25 | Richards et al. (1989) Science 246, 103-107, Fodor (1987) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 84, 423-430 |
| Sep 27 | McB 408-457 |
| Sep 30 | McB 309-352 |
| Oct 2 | McB 354-406, Speer et al. (1994) J. Geol. 102, 249-267 |
| Oct 7 | Pyke et al. (1973) GSA Bull. 84, 955-978, Morse (1982) Am. Mineral. 67, 1087-1100 |
| Laboratories | |
| Aug 21 | Liberty Hill granitic batholith |
| Aug 28 | Apache Leap pyroclastics |
| Sep 4 | Diabasic and ultramafic dike rocks |
| Sep 11 | Stillwater layered complex |
| Sep 18 | Concord gabbro-syenite complex |
| Sep 25 | Medicine Lake andesitic volcano |
| Oct 2 | Kaiserstuhl alkaline-carbonatite complex |
Hap McSween
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
1412 Circle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-1410
Phone: (865) 974-9805
Email: mcsween@utk.edu