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An outline of the development and diversity of life on Earth, the forces controlling Earth history and the geological structure and development of New Zealand and the southwest Pacific. The course also considers the application of geological knowledge to society.
The Earth has had a continuously active history since its formation more than 4 thousand million years ago. The course will start by outlining the basic ‘rules’ of geological history that govern the relationship of different rock units in the Earth’s crust. The nature and origin of structures produced by deformation within the Earth’s crust will be explained. New Zealand’s dynamic setting astride an active plate boundary will be used to explain the relationship of structure, deformation and earthquake activity in New Zealand’s geological history. The Earth’s fossil record in sedimentary rocks documents changes in faunas and floras over time. The usefulness of fossils for dating and correlating rocks will be covered, together with the development of the Geological Time Scale. The major invertebrate and vertebrate fossil groups will be introduced and their significance in terms of the evolutionary history of life on Earth will be discussed. The relationships among tectonic, atmospheric, oceanic and biological processes will be explored along with the development of the early Earth. Practical work includes an interpretation of simple geological maps and structures; types of fossilization and examples of common invertebrate fossil groups.
The goal of the course is to introduce students to geological structures and geological time, and the interaction between tectonic, biologic and atmospheric processes in Earth history.Students successfully completing this course should have a basic understanding of:interactions between geological, biological and climatic processesthe evolution of life on Earththe major invertebrate and vertebrate fossil groupssimple geological structures and how they may be producedthe tectonic development of New Zealand.Students will be able to:read a topographic map and identify landscape features on the maps produced by different geological processesinterpret simple geological structures shown on geological maps and write a simple geological history of a mapped areaidentify common fossil invertebrates and appreciate their value in age-dating, correlation, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
RP: GEOL111
ENCI271
GEOL111
For further information see Geological Sciences Head of Department
Each student will have a practical test including fossil identification, mapping techniques and interpretation of a geological map during scheduled laboratory groups.In practical classes you will learn: • the significance of relationships between rocks • the divisions of geological time. • how to visualise three-dimensional geology • problem solving with geological maps • how to interpret folds and faults from geological maps • how to recognise the main fossil groups. • using fossils to date and correlate rocks
Library portalhttps://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/
Field TripsThere is a mandatory one day field trip to North Canterbury scheduled over the weekends of 15/16 September and 22/23 September. Trip lists will be finalised by the end of the fourth week of Term 3. Once students have been assigned a field trip date, they should see the laboratory tutor as soon as possible if the field trip date clashes with any pre-existing commitment. As the field trip will involve several shallow traverses of the Waipara River a change of footwear and dry socks are necessary. Health and Safety forms (issued in the practical class) should be completed and submitted before the field trip. Students are reminded that non-attendance on scheduled field trips without either prior permission from the lecturing staff or a medical certificate to explain their absence means they may be ineligible to obtain examination credit for the course.
GENERAL INFORMATIONMarks and GradesThe 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/EThe Department of Geological Sciences reserves the right to adjust this mark/grade conversion, when deemed necessary.Late WorkIt 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 LiaisonCatherine 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 DisabilitiesStudents with disabilities should speak with someone at Disability Resource Service. Their office is on Level 2 of the James Hight Building. Phone: 364 2350 (or ext. 6350), email: disabilities@canterbury.ac.nzPolicy on Dishonest PracticePlagiarism, 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 GradesStudents 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 ApplicationsIf 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 TestsIn 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 Paul Ashwell 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 TopicsA 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.
Domestic fee $718.00
International fee $3,350.00
* 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 Geological Sciences .