2021 Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Advanced Earth and Space Sciences I
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Akira Ishikawa
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue / 3-4 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A426
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
For decoding the evolution of solid Earth over its 4.55 billion year history, it is quite important to learn how chemical differetiation proceed through igneous processes in the variety of tectonic settings on modern Earth. In this course, the basic knowledge about igneous processes, as the fundamental role on creating variety of igneous rocks, will be given with their geological occurrences, and the spatiotemporal variations of chemical differentiaion in solid Earth will be able to understand.
Course description and aims
Goals of this course are:
1) to understand basics of igneous petrology and solid Earth geochemistry
2) to understand the relationship between rock formation and chemial evolution of the solid Earth
Keywords
Igneous petrology, Solid Earth geochemistry, Magma, Crust, Mantle, Earth's evolution
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
First half: Before coming to class, students should read the course schedule and prepare for the topics with handouts and references. The second half: students will make presentations regarding the topics given in the first half of classes.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Peirdotite: composition of the Earth's mantle |
Understanding of the Earth's mantle composition |
| Class 2 | Basalt 1: igneous processes on mid-oceanic ridge |
Understanding of the role of parital melting and crystal fractionation on the formation and evolution of mid-oceanic ridge basalt |
| Class 3 | Basalt 2: variations in island arc volcanism |
Understanding of magma generation and variation in subdcution zone |
| Class 4 | Basalt 3: hotspots, flood basalts, mantle plume |
Understanding the role of mantle plume on the formation of intraplate volcanism |
| Class 5 | Granite: classification of felsic magma and growth of continents |
Understanding of the continental crust formation and its secular change |
| Class 6 | Eclogite: classification of metabasalt and orogeny |
Understanding of the variety of crust-mantle recycling |
| Class 7 | Komatiite |
Understanding of the geological significance of komatiite |
| Class 8 | Kimberlite and Archean craton |
Understanding of the geological significance of Archean craton |
| Class 9 | Presentation 1 (mantle peridotite) |
Understanding of the current debate on the Earth's mantle composition |
| Class 10 | Presentation 2 (mid-oceanic ridge basalts) |
Understanding of the current debate on the formation of mid-oceanic ridge basalts |
| Class 11 | Presentation 3 (island arc volcanism) |
Understanding of the current debate on the magma generation over subdction zone |
| Class 12 | Presentation 4 (mantle plume) |
Understanding of the current debate on the mantle plume hypothesis |
| Class 13 | Presentation 5 (continental crust) |
Understanding of the current debate on the formation and growth of continental crust |
| Class 14 | Presentation 6 (komatiite magma) |
Understanding of the current debate on the formation of komatiite magma |
| Class 15 | Presentation 7 (tectosphere) |
Understanding of the current debate on the formation of tectosphere (cratonic mantle) |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Paul C. Hess "Origins of Igneous Rocks" Harvard University Press
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Handouts will be provided during the class
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on their understanding of (1) the role of igneous processes for creating variability of rocks, and (2) what extent of solid Earth's history was revealed. Students' course scores are based on discussion during the class (30%) and group presentation (70%).
Related courses
- EPS.A201 ： Introduction to Material Sciences of Earth and Planet
- EPS.A203 ： Introduction to History of the Earth
- EPS.A330 ： Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry
- EPS.A331 ： Earth Materials
- EPS.A336 ： Dynamics of the Earth and Planet
Prerequisites
No prerequisites