Exploration and Development
The Lowell Program in Economic Geology was endowed by a gift from J. David Lowell to the University of Arizona.
Examples of existing courses that would fall under the Exploration and Development portion of the curriculum:
An analysis of the geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and tectonic evolution of selected world mountain systems ranging from currently active belts in both oceanic and continental settings back through Phanerozoic, Proterozoic, and into Archean time.
- Interpretation of seismic velocities
- Paleomagnetism
- Lithospheric rheology
- Subduction and transform processes
- Mid ocean ridge, hot spot, island arc, continental arc, continental collision, orogenic collapse magmatism
- Plate tectonics and methods, interpretation of Tectonic assemblages
Geologic mapping in a variety of rock types and structural regimes, with emphasis on the recognition and solution of regionally significant structural problems.
- Descriptive methods
- Kinematic methods
- Dynamic methods
- Regional scale
- District scale
Geology, characteristics, and origins of ore deposits in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Laboratories include field trips, analytical techniques, and problem solving.
- Depositional and tectonic environments
- Primary ore mineralogy and processes
- Secondary ore mineralogy and processes
- Hydrothermal geochemistry
The study of the chemical composition and physical properties of volcanic centers, their origin, and tectonic setting. Laboratories include field trips, petrologic classification, and applications.
- Silicic eruptions (lava domes and flows)
- Pyroclastic eruptions (ash-flow tuffs, falls and surges)
- Phreatomagmatic eruptions (maars, tuff rings, and cones)
- Intermediate eruptions (Vulcanian, Plinian, Peléean, Strombolian)
- Mafic eruptions (Hawaiian, Strombolian, Surtseyan)
- Morphologies (lava flows, flow breccias, block and ash flows, lahars, debris avalanches)
- Alkalic eruptions (carbonatites, kimberlites, komatiites, limburgites)
- Volatiles (saturation, solubility, phase changes, compositional effects)
- Volcanism and mineral deposits
An advanced treatment of the topic based primarily on the principles of classical thermodynamics, reaction-, order-, disorder- and diffusion-kinetics, and heat transfer.
- Igneous Petrology
- Volcanology
- Metamorphic Petrology
Principles of gravity, magnetic, seismic and electrical exploration; acquisition and interpretation of data to define geologic structure and evaluate resources. Seismic, magnetic, electrical, and gravity exploration techniques. Requirements include field project.
- Seismic methods (refraction, reflection)
- Electric methods (resistivity, induced potential, electromagnetism)
- Gravity and magnetic methods (reduction techniques)