Initial Publication Date: March 18, 2011

Teaching Petrology Using the Primary Scientific Literature

Minerals, Inclusions and Volcanic Processes

Use readings from the primary literature to: provide a historical perspective of our science; promote critical thinking; help students develop analytical and synthetic thinking; demonstrate applications of modern scientific methods and techniques; and prepare students to begin to contribute to our scientific heritage.

Jump down to Teaching Strategies | Recommended Review and Landmark Papers | Recommended Articles on Igneous Petrology | Recommended Articles on Metamorphic Petrology

Teaching Strategies

Many of us use the primary literature in our courses. However, students (particularly undergraduates) need some guidance in learning how to mine the information in professional scientific writings. Here are a few examples of different approaches one can take in teaching students how to read journal articles.

Friday Forum: Reading from the Primary Literature -- Cameron Davidson, Carleton College
Exercises to teach scientific reading comprehension and mineralogic concepts -- Kurt Hollocher, Union College
Short Readings from the American Mineralogist: Sneaky Tools for Teaching Scientific Reading Comprehension and Mineralogical Concepts--Kurt Hollocher, Union College
Metastability during metamorphism (reading a metamorphic petrology paper from the literature) -- William Peck, Colgate University
Critical Review of a Journal Article: An Assessment Activity -- Dave Mogk, Montana State University
Reading Reflections -- Karl Wirth, Macalester College
Reading the Literature: Cam Davidson, Holli Frey, and Elli Goeke,
Elli's presentation (Acrobat (PDF) 62kB Aug10 11) and her handouts for Mineralogy readings (Acrobat (PDF) 77kB Aug10 11) and Petrology readings (Acrobat (PDF) 72kB Aug10 11) -- from the 2011 Teaching Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry Workshop

Recommended Review and Landmark Volumes

Landmark Papers in Metamorphic Petrology

Reviews of Mineralogy and Geochemistry-- thematic volumes

Consider using chapters from the Reviews of Mineralogy and Geochemistry series. These volumes are the primary source reference for the chosen topics. These volumes are written at a level of an upper division undergraduate or starting graduate student. Each volume provides essential background information for each topic, and also presents the "state of the art". A great place for students to engage in-depth study of the topic, or as a foundation to start a new research project! See a complete listing of topics in this series, and purchase these volumes, at the Mineralogical Society of America Bookstore

Volumes of Landmark Papers (compiled and edited from the "classical" published literature)

Landmark Papers in Volcanic Petrology, papers selected by Ian S. W. Carmichael (2004). This volume provides an historical perspective of the great advances in volcanic petrology. Order from the Mineralogical Society of America. A collection of "classic" articles, with editorial commentary on the context and impacts of these important contributions.

Show Table of Contents

Landmark Papers No 3, Metamorphic Petrology (2007), edited by B.W. Evans. Order from the Mineralogical Society of America. A collection of "classic" articles, with editorial commentary on the context and impacts of these important contributions.

Show Topics Covered

Topics covered

The laws of metamorphism
Barrovian metamorphism
The metamorphic facies
Metamorphism of limestone and the petrogenetic grid
Composition projections
Mixed volatiles
Blueschists
Pseudosections
Thermal models of collision belts
Mineral thermometry
Thermodynamic data base of minerals
Fluid driven metamorphism
Kinetics: experiment and theory
Ultra-high pressure metamorphism
Kinetics: field

cover of the Elements special issue on the Early Earth

Readings from Elements Magazine

Each volume of Elements Magazine focuses on a mineralogy, petrology, or geochemistry topic of interest. These are typically short articles that are easily accessed by students at all levels. The articles provide a good entree to the context and significance of each topic, and the applications to Science and society. Suggested volumes from the recent past that can readily be used in mineralogy, petrology or geochemistry courses include:

Elements v.7 issue 4 August 2011 When the Continental Crust Melts
Elements v.6 issue 3 June 2010 Fluids in Metamorphism
Elements v.4 issue 1 February 2008 Supervolcanoes
Elements v.3 issue 4 August 2007 Frontiers in Textural and Microgeochemical Analysis v3, n1 Zircon related papers
Elements v.2 issue 5 Melt papers
Elements v.2 issue 4 Early Earth papers
Elements v.1 issue 5 Large Igneous Provinces papers
Elements v.1 issue 2Diamond papers

Recommended Articles on Igneous Petrology

This is a compilation of scholarly articles recommended for use in igneous and metamorphic petrology courses. The original compilation was made by Allen Glazner, University of North Carolina, with subsequent contributions made by colleagues on the Mineralogical Society of America email list.

Show Classic Articles on Igneous Petrology from the January 2010 MSA Listserv

Bowen, N. L., and Andersen, O., 1914, The binary system MgO-SiO2: American Journal of Science, v. 37, p. 487-500.
Bowen, N. L., 1948, The granite problem and the method of multiple prejudices: in Origin of Granite, Geological Society of America Memoir 28, p. 79-90. (See Read paper and other papers and discussion in that volume)
Clemens, J.D., 2003, S-type granitic magmas--petrogenetic issues, models and evidence: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 61, p. 1-18.
Coleman, D. S., Gray, W., and Glazner, A. F., 2004, Rethinking the emplacement and evolution of zoned plutons: Geochronologic evidence for incremental assembly of the Tuolumne Intrusive Suite, California: Geology, v. 32, p. 433-436, doi: 10.1130/G20220.1.
Collins, W. J., 2002, Hot orogens, tectonic switching, and creation of continental crust: Geology, v. 30, no. 6, p. 535-538.
Eichelberger, J. C., 1978, Andesitic volcanism and crustal evolution: Nature, v. 275, p. 21-27.
Eichelberger, J.C. 1980, Vesiculation of mafic magma during replenishment of silicic magma reservoirs, Nature, v. 288, p.446.
Glazner, A. F., Bartley, J. M., Coleman, D. S., Gray, W., and Taylor, R. Z., 2004, Are plutons assembled over millions of years by amalgamation from small magma chambers? GSA Today, v. 14, p. 4-11, doi: 10.1130/1052-5173(2004)0142.0.CO;21996.
Hamilton, W. B., 2003, An Alternative Earth: GSA Today, v. 13, no. 11, p. 4-12. (tough going, but it has provided endless fun)
Holness, M.B., 2005, Spatial constraints on magma chamber replenishment events from textural observations of cumulates: the Rum Layered Intrusion, Scotland: Journal of Petrology, v. 46, p. 1585-1601.
Long and Wood, 1986, Structures, textures and cooling histories of Columbia River basalt flows, GSAB v. 97, p. 1144 [this is a bit advanced, but is a fantastic paper for going from outcrop scale observations of jointing, to petrographic observations, to basic thermal modelling]
McBirney, A. R., and Hunter, R. H., 1995, The cumulate paradigm reconsidered: Journal of Geology, v. 103, no. 1, p. 114-122.
Perfit, M.R., (2001). Mid-Ocean Ridge Geochemistry and Petrology. in Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, J. Steel, S. Thorpe and K. Turekian, eds., Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1778-1788.
Perfit, M.R. et al., 1994, Small-scale spatial and temporal variations in mid-ocean ridge crest magmatic processes: Geology, v. 22, p. 375-379
Read, H. H., 1948, Granites and granites: in Origin of Granite, Geological Society of America Memoir 28, p. 79-90. (See Bowen paper and other papers and discussion in that volume)
Sparks et al, 1977, Magma mixing: a mechanism for triggering acid explosive eruptions. Nature, v. 267, p315

"Classic" Articles on Igneous Petrology Compiled from MSA Listserv January 2012

The January 2012 MSA listserv contains review articles as well as articles on basaltic magma generation, granitic rock, volcanic rocks, and igneous processes. You can also download a Word document that contains the January 2012 MSA petrology article compilation (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 25kB Jan31 12).

Show Classic Articles from the January 2012 MSA Listserv

Reviews

Yoder, H. S., editor, 1979, The evolution of the igneous rocks; fiftieth anniversary perspectives: Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University Press, 588 p.
Yoder, H.S., 1993, Timetable of petrology: Journal of Geological Education, v. 41, no. 5, p. 447-489.
Foulger, G., 2009, MantlePlumes.org: Foundations of Earth Science: http://www.mantleplumes.org/Foundations.html (January 2012)
Carroll, M.R., and Holloway, J.R., editors, 1994, Volatiles in Magmas: Washington, D.C., Mineralogical Society of America, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 30, 517 p.
Putirka, K. D., and Tepley, F.J., editors, 2008, Minerals, Inclusions and Volcanic Processes: Washington, D.C., Mineralogical Society of America, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 69, no. 1, 674 p.

Basaltic Magma Generation

Bailey, B.E., Clough, C.T., Wright, B.A., Richey, J.E., and Wilson, G.V., 1924, Tertiary and post-Tertiary geology of Mull, Loch Aline, and Oban: Geological Survey of Scotland Memoir, 449 p.
Brown, G.M., 1956, The Layered Ultrabasic Rocks of Rhum, Inner Hebrides: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, ser. B, v. 240, no. 668, p. 1-53.
Green, D.H., and Ringwood, A.E.,1967, The genesis of basaltic magmas: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 15, no. 2, p. 103-190.
Hess, H.H., 1960, Stillwater igneous complex, Montana: A quantitative mineralogical study: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America Memoir 80, 230 p.
Irvine, T.N., Anderson, J.C.O., and Brooks, C.K., 1998, Included blocks (and blocks within blocks) in the Skaergaard intrusion: Geologic relations and the origins of rhythmic modally graded layers: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 110, no. 11, p. 1398-1447.
Irvine, T.N., 1974. Petrology of the Duke Island ultramafic complex, southeastern Alaska: Geological Society of America Memoir 138, 240 p.
Jackson, E.D., 1961, Primary textures and mineral associations in the ultramafic zone of the Stillwater complex, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 358, 106 p.
Jones, W.R., Peoples, J.W., and Howland, A.L., 1960, Igneous and tectonic structures of the Stillwater complex, Montana: U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin B 1071-H, 59 p.
McBirney, A.R., and Noyes, R.M., 1979, Crystallization and layering of the Skaergaard intrusion: Journal of Petrology, v. 20, no. 3, p. 487-554.
Nockolds, S.R., 1940, The Garabal Hill - Glen Fyne Igneous Complex: Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 96, p. 451-511.
Schiffries, C.M., and Rye, D.M., 1990, Stable isotope systematics of the Bushveld complex: I. Constraints on magmatic processes in layered intrusions. American Journal of Science, v. 289, no. 7, p. 841 " 873.
Schiffries, C.M., and Rye, D.M., 1990, Stable isotope systematics of the Bushveld complex: II. Constraints on hydrothermal processes in layered intrusions: American Journal of Science, v. 290, no. 3, p 209-245.
Sun, S.S., and McDonough, W.F., 1989, Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts: implications for mantle composition and processes in Sanders, A.D., and Norry, M.J., editors, Magmatism in the Ocean Basins: London, UK, Geological Society of London Special Publications, vol. 42, p. 313-35.
Wager, L.R., Brown, G.M., and Wadsworth, W.J, 1960. Types of igneous cumulates. Journal of Petrology, v. 1, no. 1, p. 73-85.
Wager, L.R., and Deer, W.A., 1939, Geological investigations in east Greenland: Part III, The petrology of the Skaergaard Intrusion, Kangerdlugssuaq, East Greenland: Copenhagen, Denmark, Meddelelser Om Gronland, v. 105, no. 4, 335 p.
Walker, K.R., 1969, The Palisades Sill, New Jersey: a reinvestigation: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America Special Paper 111, 178 p.
Walker, F., 1940, Differentiation of the Palisade diabase, New Jersey: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 51, no. 7, p. 1059-1105.
Yoder, H.S., and Tilley, C.R., 1962, Origin of basalt magmas: an experimental study of natural and synthetic rock systems: Journal of Petrology, vol. 3, no. 3, p342-529.

Granitic Rocks

Bowen, N. L., 1928, The evolution of the igneous rocks: Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University Press, 334 p.
Brown, P.E., 1967, Major element composition of the Loch Coire migmatite complex, Sutherland, Scotland: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 14, no. 1, p. 1-26.
Buddington, A.F., 1959, Granite emplacement with special reference to North America: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 70, no. 6, p. 671-747.
Coleman, D. S., Gray, W., and Glazner, A. F., 2004, Rethinking the emplacement and evolution of zoned plutons: Geochronologic evidence for incremental assembly of the Tuolumne Intrusive Suite, California: Geology, v. 32, no. 5, p. 433-436.
Gilluly, J., chairman, 1948, Origin of granite: Geological Society of America Memoir 28, 139 p.
Jahns, R.H., and Burnham, C.W., 1969, Experimental studies of pegmatite genesis: I. A model for the derivation and crystallization of granitic pegmatites: Economic Geology and the Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists, vol. 64, no. 8, p 843-864.
Jahns, R.H. and Tuttle, O.F., 1963, Layered pegmatite-aplite: Mineralogical Society of America Special Paper 1, p. 78-92.
Krauskopf, K.B., 1968, A tale of ten plutons: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 79, no. 1, p. 1-17.
Pabst, A.R., 1928, Observations on inclusions in the granitic rocks of the Sierra Nevada: University of California Publications in Geological Sciences, v. 17, no. 10, p. 325-386.
Tuttle, O.F. and Bowen, N.L., 1958, Origin of granite in the light of experimental studies in the system NaAlSi3O8-KAlSi3O8- siO2-H2O: Geological Society of America Memoir 74, 153 p.
Weaver, J.H., 1958, Utuado pluton, Puerto Rico: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 69, no. 9, p. 1125-1141.
Whitney, J. A., 1988, The origin of granite: The role and source of water in the evolution of granitic magmas: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 100, no. 12, p. 1886-1897.

Volcanic Rocks

Lipman, P.W., Christiansen, R.L., and O'Connor, J.T., 1966, A compositionally zoned ash-flow sheet in southern Nevada: US Geological Survey Professional Paper P 0524-F, p. F1-F47.
Hildreth, W., 1981, Gradients in silicic magma chambers: implications for lithospheric magmatism: Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 86, no. B11, p. 10153-10192.
Hildreth, W., and Wilson, C.J.N., 2007, Compositional zoning of the BIshop Tuff: Journal of Petrology, v. 48, no. 5, p. 951-999.

Igneous Processes

Haskin, L.A., 1979, On rare-earth element behavior in igneous rocks in Ahrens, L.H., ed., Origin and Distribution of the Elements: New York, New York, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, v. 11, p. 175-189.
DePaolo, D.J., 1981, Trace element and isotopic effects of combined wallrock assimilation and fractional crystallization: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 53, no. 2, p. 189-202.
Haskin, L.A., and Paster, T.P., 1979, Geochemistry and mineralogy of the rare earths in Gschneidner, K.A., and Eyring, L., editors, Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths: Amsterdam, Netherlands, North-Holland Publishing Company, p. 1- 80.
O'Hara, M.J., and Mathews, R.E., 1981, Geochemical evolution in an advancing, periodically replenished, periodically tapped, continuously fractionated magma chamber: Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 138, p. 237-277.