12.490 Advanced Igneous Petrology, Fall 2005
Pillow basalts form when volcanic magma erupts into much cooler air/water and harden rapidly as they flow. (Image courtesy of
USGS.)
Highlights of this Course
Course Description
Advanced Igneous Petrology covers the history of and recent developments in the study of igneous rocks. Students review the chemistry and structure of igneous rock-forming minerals and proceed to study how these minerals occur and interact in igneous rocks. The course focuses on igneous processes and how we have learned about them through studying a number of significant sites worldwide.