Syllabus


Summer 2006

 

 

GEOL 320

Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Petrology and Petrography

4 semester hours

GEOL 320 Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Petrology and Petrography

4 hours

Summer

Prerequisite: GEOL 111 and 112.

An introduction to the description, origin, and historical interpretation of stratified rocks.  (Offered periodically)

2006-07, Southwestern Adventist University Bulletin




Instructors:

  • Elaine Kennedy, Ph.D, (sedimentology, basin analysis) 


Textbook:

       Nichols, G., 1999.  Sedimentology and Stratigraphy.  Blackwell, Oxford, 355 pp.  ISBN 0-632-03578-1.

The textbook is required. You need to obtain a copy before coming to class. A most convenient (and possibly the least expensive) way to obtain your copy is to order it on-line from a company such as  http://www.amazon.com/  (opens in a new browser window).


General Description:

The class will focus on the principles of sediment origin, transport and deposition.  It will cover mechanisms of sediment erosion, including eolian, coastal and fluvial systems and mechanisms of transport and deposition. The origin and history of basinal deposition will be emphasized, as well as the identification an characterization of sedimentary rocks in outcrop, hand samples and thin section. Field trips to the Wind River Range and to local outcrops will stress the interpretation of rock structures and strata.


Grading

Grades are determined from three broad areas:

Laboratory exercises 30%

Midterm exam                       30%

Final Exam                             40%

 


Final grades are then computed from the weighted average of percentages earned according to:

 

 

90% — 100%

A

 

 

80% —  90%

B

 

 

70% —  80%

C

 

 

60% —  70%

D

 

 

  0% —  60%

F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Schedule

2005



In addition to scheduled activities will be occasional classroom exercises in preparing and labeling specimens, etc. Chapter reading assignments are in the textbook,  Sedimentology and Stratigraphy.


 

Date                            Lecture                                                                                                                       Reading                                   Lab

 

Jun 6, Mon                  Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentology                                                                 Chap 1                         Lab 1 – Grain size analysis

Jun 7, Tue                    Clastic Sediments                                                                                                         Chap 2,3                       

Jun 8, Wed                   Clastic Sedimentary Rocks                                                                                          Chap 4                        Lab 2 – Sediment analysis

Jun 9, Thu                   Diagenetic Alteration of Sedimentary Rocks                                                                  Chap 17                        Lab 3 – Sedimentary rock analysis

Jun 10 Fri                     Field trip to local outcrops to examine sedimentary structures

Jun 13, Mon                Sedimentary Processes – Transportation and Deposition of Sediment                Chap 5                         Lab 4 – Sandstones and carbonates

Jun 14, Tue                 Sedimentary Structures                                                                                                 Chap 6                         Lab 5 – Sedimentary dynamics

Jun 15, Wed                 Depositional Environments – The Facies Concept                                                          Chap 7                          Lab 6 – Sed structures I

Jun 16, Th                    Depositional Environments I – glacial, eoliam, lacustrine                                     Chap 8                         Lab 7 – Sed structures II

Jun 17, Fri                    Midterm exam                                     

Jun 20, Mon                Depositional Environments II – fluvial – deltaic                                                  Chap 9 ,12                   Lab 8  - Well log analysis

Jun 21, Tue                  Depositional Environments III –  marine                                                                        Chap 13                       Lab 9 – Cross section analysis

Jun 22, Wed                 Principles of Stratigraphy                                                                                              Chap 18,20

Jun 23, Thu                  Sequence Stratigraphy                                                                                                  Chap 21                        Lab 10 – Sequence stratigraphy

Jun 24, Fri                    Field trip to Wind River Range to study sequence stratigraphy                                                              

Jun 27, Mon                 Sedimentary Basinal Geology                                                                                        Chap 23

Jun 28, Tue                  Models of Sedimentation                                                                                             

Jun 29, Wed                 Summary         

Jun 30, Thu                 Final Exam 

 

latest revision: 26 May 06