Courses:

Course Info

• Course Number / Code:
• 12.48 (Fall 2006) 
• Course Title:
• Thermodynamics for Geoscientists 
• Course Level:
• Graduate 
• Offered by :
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Massachusetts, United States  
• Department:
• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences 
• Course Instructor(s):
• Prof. Timothy Grove 
• Course Introduction:
•  
• 
  
  12.480 Thermodynamics for Geoscientists
  
  
  
  

  Fall 2006

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Course Highlights

  
  
  

  
  
  12.480 Thermodynamics for Geoscientists
  
  
  
  

  Fall 2006

  
  
  

  

  Liquidus diagram for the system forsterite-diopside anorthite. Primary phase boundaries are shown for pressures of 0.1 and 700 MPa. (Image by Prof. Timothy Grove.)

  
  
  

  Course Description

  
  
  

  In this course, principles of thermodynamics are used to infer the physical conditions of formation and modification of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The course includes phase equilibria of homogeneous and heterogeneous systems and thermodynamic modeling of non-ideal crystalline solutions. It also surveys the processes that lead to the formation of metamorphic and igneous rocks in the major tectonic environments in the Earth's crust and mantle.