GEO2150 – Petrology and Geochemistry
Course content
This course provides an introduction to both magmatic and metamorphic petrology. You shall understand processes like the crystallization of melts, the development of different types of volcanoes, and the changes within rocks in different geological settings. For this, you will use, among other things, diagrams and basic geochemical methods.
You shall also work with petrographic microscopes to identify minerals and recognize some of the processes that you learned about in the theoretical part in natural samples.
Learning outcome
After taking this course, you will be able to
- interpret phase diagrams that describe the melting and crystallization of magmatic rocks
- discuss the processes that form and modify a melt based on the chemical composition of rocks
- construct and interpret phase diagrams that describe the stability fields of metamorphic rocks as a function of pressure, temperature, and fluid composition
- analyze the mineral content and basic microstructures in a rock sample with a petrographic microscope
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The course includes laboratory work. A HSE course for safety in the lab must be passed before you can sign up for the course:
Recommended previous knowledge
Teaching
There are 4 hours of lectures and exercises and 2 hours of microscopy lab per week.
There is a mandatory 1-day excursion.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Examination
- This course includes a mandatory excursion that must be completed and approved before you sit the final exam.
- A practical test in microscopy counts 30% towards the final grade.
- A final written examination counts 70% towards the final grade.
- Both the practical test and the final examination must be passed separately in order to pass the course.
Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Examination support material
For the practical test in microscopy:
- list of optical properties of minerals and Michel-Lévy chart
For the final exam:
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.