General Comments:

The purpose of this course is to investigate current models of mid-ocean ridge
processes and to visit the Oman ophiolite in order to see first hand a section through what
is inferred to be a paleo-spreading center.  The Oman ophiolite is perhaps
the world's best exposed section of oceanic crust and mantle.  As such, it provides
the earth scientist an opportunity to examine features at a scale and detail that
is not possible in the marine environment.  As well, the country of Oman
itself is overwhelming in its natural beauty and cultural heritage.  To make
best use of our time in the field, the first part of the course will be
designed to review what is currently known about mid-ocean ridges, ophiolites,
and the Oman ophiolite in particular.

The field trip will occur between February 20th and March 3rd.  Up until February 20th,
our time will be split between reviewing the geological, geophysical and petrologic
signatures of ridges and ophiolites.  The general outline of the course is as follows:

        Weeks 1-4:        Geophysical and geological aspects of ridges and the Oman
                                    ophiolite
        Weeks 5-7:        Petrologic aspects of ridges and the Oman ophiolite
        Weeks 8-9:       Field Trip!!
        Week 10:            Evaluation of Proposal Topics
 

Expectations and Format of the Class Meetings:

Opportunities like this do not occur very often.  To a large degree, what we get out
of this field trip is dependent on how much each of us puts into the preparation period.
Moreover, a quick scan of GeoRef indicates that there are over 400 references
to the Oman Ophiolite!  Hence we will have to choose which topics, in particular,
we would like to emphasize.

The format of the course will be seminar style.   During each class meeting two
students will be responsible for presenting an overview of a particular subject
(nominally 30 minutes in length), followed by discussion.  For a given subject,
say "models of melt transport in the mantle", one student will present an overview from
the ridge perspective while the other will do the same but from the perspective
of what is known from studies of the Oman ophiolite.  In this way we can quickly
come up to speed on what is know about ridges in general and the Oman ophiolite
in particular.

Syllabus:

Week 1  (Jan. 5-9): Week 2  (Jan 12-16):
  1. Structure of crustal magma chambers at ridges(Brandon)
  2. Structure of mature oceanic crust (Andrew)

    3. Question of the Day for 1.13.98
  3. Models of constructing oceanic crust from crustal magma chambers (Derek)
  4. Melt transport in the crust (Jennifer)

    5. Questions of the Day for 1.15.98
Week 3  (Jan 19-23):
  1. Volcanic events at ridges (Anita)
  2. Hydrothermal processes at fast-spreading ridges(Martin)
  3. Tectonic setting of the Oman ophiolite (Renee)
  4. Models of ophiolite emplacement(Mark)
Week 4  (Jan 26-30):
  1. Discussion of upper crustal field trip sites
  2. Discussion of lower crustal and upper mantle field trip sites
Week 5  (Feb 2-6):
  1.  Petrologic signatures of ridges and ophiolites
Week 6  (Feb 9-13): Week 7  (Feb 16-20): Week 8  (Feb 23-27):
  1.  Field trip to the Oman ophiolite
Week 9 (March 2-6)
  1.  Field trip to the Oman ophiolite
Week 10  (March 9-13)
  1.  TBA

    2.  

     
     
     
     
     

Pillow Basalts From the Geotimes Section: Typical Pillow is
1-2 m in cross-section, many meters in length.