Essentials of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

All geoscience students need to understand the origins, environments and basic processes that produce igneous and metamorphic rocks. This concise textbook, written specifically for one-semester undergraduate courses, provides students with the key information they need to understand these processes. Topics are organized around the types of rocks to expect in a given tectonic environment, rather than around rock classifications: this is much more interesting and engaging for students, as it applies petrology to real geologic environments. This textbook includes over 250 illustrations and photos, and is supplemented by additional color photomicrographs made freely available online. Application boxes throughout the text encourage students to consider how petrology connects to wider aspects of geology, including economic geology, geologic hazards and geophysics. End-of-chapter exercises allow students to apply the concepts they have learnt and practice interpreting petrologic data.

1. Introduction to igneous petrology; 2. An introduction to igneous phase diagrams; 3. Introduction to silicate melts and magmas; 4. The chemistry of igneous rocks; 5. Basalts and mantle structure; 6. Oceanic magmatism; 7. Convergent margin magmatism; 8. Intracontinental volcanism; 9. Intracontinental plutonism; 10. Interpretation of granitic rocks; 11. Introduction to metamorphic petrology; 12. Interpretation of metamorphic phase diagrams; 13. Metamorphic facies and the metamorphism of mafic rocks; 14. Thermobarometry and the conditions of metamorphism; 15. Metamorphism of peridotitic rocks; 16. Metamorphism of pelitic rocks; 17. Metamorphism of calcareous rocks and the role of fluids in metamorphism; 18. Regional occurrence and tectonic significance of metamorphic rocks.

B. Ronald Frost is Professor of Geology at the University of Wyoming, where he performs wide-ranging research on igneous and metamorphic petrology as well as ore deposits. He is the author of more than 110 scientific papers on topics ranging from serpentinization and the metamorphism of serpentinites, ocean floor metamorphism, granulites, thermobarometry, the geochemistry of granites, and melting of sulfide ore deposits. He has conducted extensive field research in the Precambrian basement of Wyoming, as well as in Siberia, Greenland, Northern Canada, and the Broken Hill area of Australia. He is the recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award from the German government. He has been an associate editor for the Journal of Metamorphic Geology and Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, and currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Petrology. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Society of Economic Geologists and the Geochemical Society, and a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America. He has taught mineralogy, petrology, optical mineralogy and ore deposits for more than 35 years.
Carol D. Frost is a Professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming. She investigates the origin and evolution of the continental crust, the provenance of clastic sedimentary rocks, and granite petrogenesis, and she applies isotope geology and geochemistry to environmental issues including water co-produced with hydrocarbons and geological sequestration of carbon dioxide. She is the author of more than 120 scientific papers. She is a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America and Science Editor for the Geological Society of America's journal, Geosphere. She was awarded the CASE Wyoming Professor of the Year award in 2001. In 2008 she received her university's highest faculty award, the George Duke Humphrey medal, recognizing teaching effectiveness, distinction in scholarly work, and distinguished service to th