Microstructural Evidence for Intracrystalline Plasticity
Summary
The practical is designed to introduce a variety of microstructures caused by intracrystalline deformational mechanisms in rock-forming minerals: in particular, those in which dislocation movement plays a major role.
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Context
Audience
This activity is designed for a graduate lecture/lab/field course in microstructures and rock rheology.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Basic structural geology, basic petrography, basic mineralogy
How the activity is situated in the course
As one of 4-5 dominantly petrographic exercises given throughout the semester.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Intracrystalline deformation mechanisms, petrographic recognition of features related to dislocation motion and dislocation creep
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Synthesis of ideas learned in lecture. Students are given some direction, but the questions and exercises are mostly free-form, requiring the students to choose their own organizational style for their descriptions and sketches.
Other skills goals for this activity
Some writing required,
Description and Teaching Materials
The movie in Exercise 1 can be accessed here: http://www.atmos.albany.edu/geology/webpages/wdmovies/02.mov.
Exercise 2 requires several rock thin sections and associated hand samples. Although the descriptions and questions asked in this lab are specific to rocks and thin sections within my own collection, most features described can be found in similar rocks collected elsewhere.
Teaching Notes and Tips
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