Our objective during the last section of the class is to exercise our petrology muscles, by gaining some hands-on knowledge of a specific petrologic topic, and by presenting the results of our research to an audience.

Topic Selection: Working in teams of one or two, select an igneous or metamorphic site or suite of samples that is of particular interest to you. There are a number of sample suites available in the department from previous field trips. Those of you going on a spring break trip may be able to collect samples that could be used for a project, but remember, it will take time to make thin sections, so you'll have to work quickly to prepare your project. You may also carry out a mathematical or geochemical modeling project based on literature data. All topics must be approved.

Titles Due: Term project titles should be turned in to me by Friday, March 14.

Research: Investigate your samples thoroughly by observing hand samples and thin sections. Chemical analysis by XRF is available in the Dept. of Geosciences, SEM microchemical analysis is available in the NDSU Electron Microscopy Center, and XRD facilities are available in the Materials and Characterization Laboratory of the Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Many other analytical instruments are available across campus - inquire with me for details. Carrying out relevant experiments is also a possibility. Thorough analysis of data from the literature on your sample area may be possible as a research project, but this type of project must be much more than a "book report." You are encouraged to use diverse source materials, including maps, state and federal reports, journals and books to provide background information for your project. Your project should include significant content based on your personal efforts. Be creative!

Class Presentation: For your 15 minute presentation to class, describe what motivated you to study the chosen topic, the geologic background of your samples, and a summary of the results of your research, with diagrams or pertinent data. Bring sufficient copies of a one-page double-sided summary to class. Include a "references cited" section that lists those materials that you actually used in the preparation of your report.

Presentation Dates: Presentations will be made on April 29, May 1, and May 6.

Course Points: 20% of grade

Petrology Home A Few Petrology Links Syllabus (PDF) Lab 423/623 Syllabus Petrology Resources

Projects: Topics and Schedule Tuesday, April 29 Kristen Lorenz and Kathryn Klokstad Title: Investigation of Palisade Rhyolite, Northern Minnesota Abstract: We are going to examine a sample of the Palisade Rhyolite from the North Shore. Through the use of XRD we will determine the crystallography of the silica crystals. With XRF we will be analyzing the whole rock chemistry. Bill Leonard Title: Geochemistry of Miocence Ash from Antarctica Abstract: I will be analyzing 5 samples of Miocene aged ash grains from the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Data was compiled from SEM analysis to discover bulk chemistry. A chemical analysis was plotted on a TAS diagram and samples were compared to one another. Chase Hillebrand Title: Mineralogy of the Snyder Ag mine Abstract: My research is on rock samples from the Ken Snyder Mine. The mine is located in Elko County, Nevada and is a gold and silver precious metal mine. The gold and silver deposits are located in an epithermal deposit, cutting through the host rock. The use of XRF, reflected light microscopy, and SEM analysis will provide chemical information as well as the mineralogy of my samples. Amos Albert and Jessica Eagle-Bluestone Title: Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Banded Sediment(?) at the Grandview Outcrop, near Duluth, Minnesota Abstract: Our research centers on the investigation of a banded sediment that was recovered from an outcrop in the Grandview area of Duluth, Minnesota. The site, located 0.95 miles north of Midway Road, is composed of a series of outcrops that border the contact between the Thomson Formation and the Ely's Peak basalts, which are being pinched out to the north by the Duluth Complex (Frost, 2010). This particular outcrop includes the lower Proterozoic Thomson Formation, (Keighin, et al., 1972); the Middle Proterozoic Nopeming Sandstone (Ojakangas and Morey, 1982); the lower magnetically reversed Ely's Peak Basalts of the North Shore Volcanic Group (Kilburg, 1972); and the contacts between them. Our sample is a rock consisting of bands of light and dark colored grains that fine upwards. The bands measure an average width of 2.8mm and 2.25mm respectively. It has a specific gravity of 2.94 and measures 8-9 on the Mohs scale. Because this sample was recovered from a rock unit that is sandwiched between the Ely's peak Basalts above it and the Thomson Formation beneath, we were curious to know whether this banded sediment comes from the Nopeming sandstone or some other rock units. In order to establish this relationship, we wanted to determine whether the mineralogy of this sample is consistent with that of sandstone. In addition, we also wanted to find out the cause of the banding, as well as the processes that may have led to the formation and deposition of this sediment. To do that, we carried out mineralogical and chemical analysis of the rock sample in order to determine its composition. First, we carried out detailed hand specimen observation of the rock. We then performed thin section microscopy investigation, as well as X-Ray diffraction analysis. Finally, we also obtained images and data from elemental analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy, using a Scanning Electron Microscope. We elected to use different analytical methods so that we could obtain detailed and comprehensive data to enable us to accurately analyze the mineralogy and geochemistry of our rock sample. Thursday, May 1 Alex Van Ningen and Adam Sagaser Title: Geochemistry of basalts from Hawaii Abstract: Two samples taken on a NDSU Geology Field Course, one from the volcano of Kohala and the other from Hualalai, were analyzed and compared to each other. The sample from Hualalai was found to contain olivine xenoliths, so an attempt was made to remove as much of the olivine as possible. In order to prepare these samples for analysis, each one was broken up in a jaw crusher. Both samples were then taken to a ring pulverizer in order to turn them into a fine powder. With the powders ready, loss on ignition (LOI) was conducted to remove moisture and carbon content. A separate sample of each powder was then mixed with flux and ammonium nitrate and heated at a temperature of 1100°C for nine minutes. The resulting glass disks were analyzed by XRF spectrometer for element analysis. The Hualalai sample was discovered to be a basalt, while the sample from Kohala was determined to be a phonotephrite. Our initial hypothesis was that this particular sample was in fact a benmorite. Kris Ekart Title: Thermobarometry of a schist from the Black Hills, South Dakota Abstract: The Garnet schist found in the Black hills region of South Dakota, is a medium grade metamorphic rock that was originally a sedimentary rock. It was altered by an igneous granite plumb in the region that is now exposed and dated to Precambrian times. With the use of data collected using SEM-EDS I will attempt to study the temperature and pressure of the rock at the time it was altered. In order to study this I will use a technique that is known at Geothermobarometry which is the calculation of equilibrium temperatures and pressures from the measured distribution of elements between coexisting phases (Winter, 2010). ​ Lisa Romano Title: Mineralogy of palagonite and hydroclastite from Iceland Abstract: Palagonite is found in several locations in Iceland, but what is it made of? Through clay XRD and XRF on pressed pellets, the composition of palagonite is hoped to be confirmed. Cheyanne Jacobs and Jackie Wrage Title: Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Glacial Cobbles, Dry Valleys, Antarctica Abstract: We will be carrying out X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis on Antarctic granite cobbles using glass disks and powder disks. We will compare our results to the 2008 sample results to compare our methods with previous methods. We will also be doing X-Ray Diffraction on potassium feldspar grains to determine the amount of substitution of Al for Si occurring to possibly determine the depth at which crystallization happened. Nick Hugo Title: Ore Mineralogy, Red Dog Deposit, Alaska Abstract: The Red Dog Mine is a lead-zinc sulfide mine located in northwestern Alaska near Kotzebue on the southern portion of the Brooks Range. The host rock of the main deposit was initially deposited under quiescent sea floor conditions resulting in stratified chert and carbonaceous shale with lenses of carbonate rock (Morelli et. al., 2004). The primary deposit is part of a series of thrust sheets that were uplifted and deformed during an orogeny occurring in the middle Jurassic (Moore et. al., 1986). My research centers on the depositional sequence of events leading to the formation of the Red Dog deposit as there is some debate as to the actual process of deposition (hydrothermal, tectonic igneous activity, etc.). Reflected Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis were both conducted to determine the mineral assemblage within the provided sample. The mineral assemblage observed was Galena, Sphalerite (unspecified type), Pyrite, and Quartz. The SEM confirmed these results and provided chemical analyses of each mineral grain as shown below. Further analysis of these results shows this deposit is of hydrothermal origin that occurred before the middle Jurassic orogeny (Edgerton, 1997). The environment of deposition for the observed mineral grains was hydrothermally derived as well (Pracejus, 2008).​ Tues, May 6 Eric Wilcox and Monty Johnson Title: Comparison of Chalky Buttes Porphyry, ND with Porphyry from Near Forsyth, MT Abstract: We will investigate the source of volcanic porphyry cobbles found in the Chalky Buttes member of the Chadron Formation, North Dakota. We will compare the cobbles with the Flaxville cobbles found in the Yellowstone River, which are very similar in appearance. We will analyze each cobble's whole rock chemistry and compare distinct plagioclase crystals in each of the two cobbles. We plan to gather our data by using XRF, SEM, and microscopic analysis. Brian Kaeter and Darin Wilwand Title: Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks from Patagonia, Argentina Abstract: Samples from the El Cuy region of northern Patagonia, Argentina were examined to determine the formation of the region. This region was previously determined to be an allochthonous, or foreign landmass, that collided with north and central Patagonia. Recent discoveries have taken steps in the other direction to argue against an allochthonous region, such as no indication of subducted ocean floor between northern Patagonia and the rest of the Argentina. The new hypothesis explains the geology of region by the presence of a continental transcurrent fault resulting from the Gondwanide Orogony. Granites can be used to determine tectonic origin through trace element discrimination by perform XRD tests. Results of the tests plot as volcanic arc granites. Samples of metamorphic mylonites where studied to determine if the micro-structures within them hold clues to the formation of the region. A brief definition and classification of mylonites will be given, along with a discussion of shear zones. Christina Lammers and Andrew Van Sickle Title: Mineralogy of anorthositic rocks from the Rogaland Complex, southern Norway Abstract: The Rogaland Complex is located in the southern part of Norway. The complex consists three different massifs; the Egersund-Ogna, the Haland-Helleren, and the Ana-Sira. The two rocks under investigation are part of the Egersund-Ogna and the Ana-Sira massifs. The samples were analyzed via hand specimen and thin section analysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and plotted on plagioclase composition graphs to determine the compositions. The results were then compared to already existing data about the massifs from which they were extracted. Ben Munson Title: Chemical and Mineralogical Analysis of Devils Tower, Wyoming Abstract: A single hand sample was used to analyze the whole rock chemistry, and the phenocryst chemistry of Devils Tower. Analysis on the sample revealed the presence of a unique mineral called analcime, which was investigated further through this research. The sample was first analyzed using x-ray fluorescence (XRF). Whole rock chemistry was compared to previous whole rock chemistry analysis of Devils Tower. The results showed that the sample had a whole rock chemistry of a tracheae. This differs from previous work done on Devils tower which has traditionally plotted the rock as a phonolite. Although this is different from previous work, trachytes and phonolites are similar and only vary slightly in chemistry. A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was also used in analyzing the Devils Tower sample. The SEM was used to identify the large phenocrysts in the sample. The results of the SEM showed that most of the phenocrysts were either anorthoclase (Na,K)AlSi3O8 or aegirine-augite ((Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe+2, Fe+3)Si2O6. A third analysis on the Devils Tower sample was done using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) data that had previously been collected. The XRD data allowed for the identification of analcime, Na(AlSi2O6)-H2O, which is an uncommon but significant mineral. Anorthoclase peak were also identified. NDSU Home | Geosciences Home | Petrology Home Page | B. Saini-Eidukat Petrology Geology 422/622