GEOL235-08S2 (C) Semester Two 2008

Earth Surface Processes

11 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2008
End Date: Sunday, 16 November 2008
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2008
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 12 October 2008

Description

The course presents the principles of sedimentary processes and how these relate to rock textures and composition. This will be followed by an overview of how the processes shape depositional environments and how these can be used to reconstruct palaeogeography.

The aim of this course is to develop an understanding of geological processes occurring at the surface of the Earth and to apply this knowledge to recreating past events in geological history. Lectures and laboratory classes will introduce the principles of fluid flow, sediment transport, biogenic, and volcanic processes. We will address how the type of process affects the texture and composition of sedimentary and volcanic rocks and how these are described and classified. This will be followed by an overview of how the processes affect depositional environments and determine sedimentary/volcanic facies.

What the course entails:
Two lectures and one practical class per week. There will be several short required trips during laboratory periods.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students successfully completing this course will:
  • have developed an understanding of geological processes occurring at the surface of the Earth
  • have developed an understanding of how geological processes relate to depositional environments
  • be able to classify and identify common sedimentary and volcanic rocks in both hand specimen and under the microscope  
  • be able to use facies analysis to interpret ancient environments and to reconstruct paleogeography.

Prerequisites

GEOL111 and GEOL112 (GEOL113 or GEOL114 may be substituted for either of these provided a candidate has attained an overall B grade in GEOL 100 level courses, or
a standard which is acceptable to the HOD). RP: GEOL232 and GEOL234

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Kari Bassett

Lecturer

Jim Cole

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Ripple migration in the flume 06 Aug 2009 10% Assessed laboratory exercise
Volcanic facies 10 Sep 2009 15% Assessed laboratory exercise
Evaporite/coal 01 Oct 2009 10% Assessed laboratory exercise
Assessed field exercises 15% Assessed field exercises - 1 October, 8 October and 15 October 2009
Final examination 50% Final examination

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Boggs, Sam; Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy ; 4th ed; Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.

Chester, David K; Volcanoes and society ; E. Arnold ;, 1993.

Course links

Library portal

Notes

Relationship of GEOL235 to Other Courses
Completion of GEOL111 and GEOL112 or GEOL113 is required for this course. GEOL235 is an essential prerequisite for GEOL331, and an optional prerequisite for GEOL352. GEOL334 and GEOL333.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $434.00

International fee $1,953.00

* 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 .

All GEOL235 Occurrences

  • GEOL235-08S2 (C) Semester Two 2008
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