GEOL111-15S1 (C) Semester One 2015

Planet Earth: An Introduction to Geology

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 23 February 2015
End Date: Sunday, 28 June 2015
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 8 March 2015
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 24 May 2015

Description

A general introduction to the study of the dynamic Earth and its geology, including Earth structure and plate tectonics, volcanic activity, crystal processes and the nature of minerals and rocks.

The lecture course covers such topics as the Earth and its interior, an introduction to continental drift and plate tectonics, earthquake activity, geomagnetism, absolute dating, minerals and rocks, igneous processes and volcanoes, sedimentary processes in marine, river and glacial environments, metamorphic processes, evolution and dating of the Earth’s crust. A comparison will be made with processes and rock types on the Moon and other planets as well as introducing topics related to critical zone processes (terroir) and medical geology.

Practical work includes the study and recognition of common minerals and rocks in hand specimen, and the significance of outcrop relationships in terms of geological history.

Since Geology is a field-based subject, a one-day field trip is scheduled. This trip is an integral part of the course, and students must attend. Dates for the Port Hills/Darfield trips are tentatively 21/22 and 28/29 March. Students will be allocated a trip at enrolment and they should see the lab coordinator as soon as possible if they have any problem or a particular need for a specific day for the trip. Health & Safety forms (issued in the practical class) should be filled out and returned before the field trips.

Taught only in first semester there are three lectures and one practical class per week.

What you need for this course:
Just enthusiasm and interest! This introductory course is suitable for students with no previous experience in geology or other science subjects.

What this course gets you into:
GEOL111, along with GEOL112, is prerequisite preparation for all second year geology courses.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students successfully completing this course should:
  • Gain a general knowledge of the composition, structure and geological processes of planet Earth.
        -understand the framework of plate tectonics
        -appreciate the extent of geological time
        -have a basic understanding of geological processes and their products.

  • Know the general classification of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
        -examine geological samples, identify them accurately and draw simple geological inferences

  • Understand the relationship between practical class and field observations.
        -relate practical class samples to actual field occurrences
        -understand how geological observations are made in the field at a number of scales and how these can be integrated into a geological story.

Restrictions

ENCI271

Course Coordinators

Catherine Reid and Chris Oze

Lecturers

Tim Davies and Chris Oze

Lab Coordinator

Paul Ashwell

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
On-line quizzes 10% On-line quizzes (10 quizzes)
Short answer test 20% Short answer test
Laboratory assessment 30% Laboratory assessment
Final examination 40% Final examination

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Bishop, A. C. et al; Cambridge guide to minerals, rocks and fossils ; Rev. and expanded ed; Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Kearey, P; The new Penguin dictionary of geology ; 2nd ed; Penguin, 2001.

Marshak, Stephen; Earth : portrait of a planet ; 4th ed; W. W. Norton, 2012.

Course links

Library portal

Notes

Practical classes are held in the Stage 1 classroom on the ground floor of the Geological Sciences Department. See Kate Pedley if no practical stream has been allocated or if there is a clash with other courses and you are unable to change it yourself on UC Student Web.
NOTE: There is no practical class in the first week of teaching.

Practical Class Topics
A series of practical classes in which you will learn:
• How to recognise rock-forming minerals by their physical characteristics
• How to distinguish igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
• How to recognise the significance of patterns in rock outcrops
• How to use minerals and textures to identify different rock types
• How to interpret rock relationships from contacts.

Note that the above schedule planned for Practical class topics is subject to change depending on when we can get access to the Stage 1 lab room in the department and access to rock/mineral samples. You will be notified on Learn about these changes.

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

GENERAL INFORMATION

Marks and Grades
The Department of Geological Sciences uses the following scale to convert marks into grades:
100-90 A+    75-79 B+     60-64 C+
85-89 A       70-74 B      55-59 C
80-84 A-      65-69 B-     50-54 C-     Below 50 D/E
The Department of Geological Sciences reserves the right to adjust this mark/grade conversion, when deemed necessary.

Late Work
It is the policy for this course that late work is not accepted. Or, late work should be accompanied with a detailed explanation of why the work is late.  The work will be marked and marks will be subtracted for each day the work is late.  Days late include week-end and holidays.  

Academic Liaison
Catherine Reid (room 326, catherine.reid@canterbury.ac.nz, phone (03) 364 2987 ext 7764) is in charge of liaison with students in geology courses.  Each year level will appoint a student representative(s) to the liaison committee at the start of the semester.  Please feel free to talk to the Academic Liaison or the student rep about any problems or concerns that you might have.

Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities should speak with someone at Disability Resource Service. Their office is on Level 2 in the James Hight Library. Phone: 364 2350 (or ext. 6350), email: disabilities@canterbury.ac.nz

Policy on Dishonest Practice
Plagiarism, collusion, copying and ghost writing are unacceptable and dishonest practices.
• Plagiarism is the presentation of any material (text, data, figures or drawings, on any medium including computer files) from any other source without clear and adequate acknowledgement of the source.
• Collusion is the presentation of work performed in conjunction with another person or persons, but submitted as if it has been completed only by the names author(s).  
• Copying is the use of material (in any medium, including computer files) produced by another person(s) with or without their knowledge and approval.
• Ghost writing is the use of another person(s) (with or without payment) to prepare all or part of an item submitted for assessment.  

In cases where dishonest practice is involved in tests or other work submitted for credit, the student will be referred to the University Proctor.  The instructor may choose to not mark the work.  

Reconsideration of Grades
Students should, in the first instance, speak to the course co-ordinator about their marks.  If they cannot reach an agreeable solution, students should then speak to the Head of the Geological Sciences Department. Students can appeal any decision made on their final grade.  You can apply at the Registry to appeal the final grade within 4 weeks of the end of the semester.  Be aware that there are time limits for each step of the appeals process.  

Aegrotat Applications
If you feel that illness, injury, bereavement or other critical circumstances has prevented you from completing an item of assessment or affected your performance, you should complete an aegrotat application form, available from the Registry or the Student Health and Counselling Service.  This should be within seven days of the due date for the required work or the date of the examination.  In the case of illness or injury, medical consultation should normally have taken place shortly before or within 24 hours after the due date for the required work, or the date of the test or examination.  For further details on aegrotat applications, please refer to the Enrolment Handbook.  You have the right to appeal any decision made, including aegrotat decisions.  

Missing of Tests
In rare cases a student will not be able to sit a test.  In such cases, the student should consult with the course co-ordinator to the Head of the Department of Geological Sciences to arrange alternative procedures.   This must be done well in advance of the set date for the test.

The lecture course covers such topics as the Earth and its interior, an introduction to continental drift and plate tectonics, earthquake activity, geomagnetism, absolute dating, minerals and rocks, igneous processes and volcanoes, sedimentary processes in marine, river and glacial environments, metamorphic processes, evolution and dating of the Earth’s crust. A comparison will be made with processes and rock types on the Moon and other planets as well as introducing topics related to critical zone processes (terroir) and medical geology.

Practical work includes the study and recognition of common minerals and rocks in hand specimen, and the significance of outcrop relationships in terms of geological history.

Practical classes are held in the Stage 1 classroom on the ground floor of the Geological Sciences Department. See Kate Pedley if no practical stream has been allocated or if there is a clash with other courses and you are unable to change it yourself on UC Student Web.
NOTE: There is no practical class in the first week of teaching.

Practical Class Topics
A series of practical classes in which you will learn:
• How to recognise rock-forming minerals by their physical characteristics
• How to distinguish igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
• How to recognise the significance of patterns in rock outcrops
• How to use minerals and textures to identify different rock types
• How to interpret rock relationships from contacts.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $808.00

International fee $3,638.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Earth and Environment .

All GEOL111 Occurrences