Main navigation
- Programs
- Subjects
- Universities
- Destinations
- Advice
Petrology examines rocks - including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary types - along with their formation and transformation processes. Mineralogy focuses on analyzing the chemical composition, crystalline structures, and physical characteristics of minerals within rocks. Since both petrological and mineralogical processes respond to environmental factors, scientists analyze rock compositions and their mineral components to address key questions across various geological fields.
At CU Boulder, researchers apply petrology to investigate volcanic formation and magma sources, continental crust development during mountain building and erosion, the creation of accessory minerals like REE phosphates in diverse rock types, the formation of economically valuable mineral and petroleum deposits, Earth's atmospheric, oceanic, and biological evolution through time, as well as geological phenomena on other planets.
The department's petrological and mineralogical studies collaborate with other technical fields like geochemistry and geochronology, while aligning with research objectives in economic resources, astrobiology, geobiology, geodynamics, planetary geology, sedimentology, and structural tectonics.
The department's petrology facilities enable detailed analysis of rock and mineral compositions and textures. These resources feature a state-of-the-art electron microprobe for submicron-scale chemical analysis down to trace elements, plus a Raman microscope-spectrometer for rapid, non-destructive chemical imaging and vibrational analysis of various materials. These microanalysis tools are complemented by comprehensive geochemical equipment for measuring bulk elemental and isotopic compositions in geological samples.