Class Schedule
GEOL 111:
PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
Fall, 2007
Instructor: Art Chadwick
CLASS TOPICS:
PHYSICAL GEOLOGY is the study of materials and processes that comprise the solid and liquid parts of the earth. These materials include rocks, minerals, and fluids on any scale, from microscopic through the planet as a whole. We will learn to identify rocks and minerals, to recognize their composition, how they formed, and how they weather. We will consider various landform and landscape features such as waterfalls, mesas, buttes, etc. We will consider the kinds of forms we find in rocks, including various sedimentary and tectonic structures. We will also consider the discovery and uses of geological resources, including fossil fuels, building stone, ores, non-metallic mineral resources, soils, water, geothermal energy, etc. We will extend our understanding of geologic processes to encompass earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mountain building, flooding, landslides, erosion, land subsidence, stream processes, shoreline processes, glaciation, wave action, tidal effects, wind action, dune and cave formation. And finally we will take a look at the geology of the planets, a subject for which the database is rapidly expanding.
Geology vitally impacts the lives of virtually every inhabitant of the earth. We will seek understanding of the roles that geological materials and processes will continue to play in our future. Because geology is a deductive science (rather than inductive) it does not generally lend itself to experimental investigation. Thus our laboratory exercises will focus on developing observational, investigative and interpretive skills. Since geology is best understood in the outcrop, field observation will be an essential part of this class.
Class time: on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 10:30. The lab will be Monday at 4:00. Field trips will be as scheduled.
Required Text: Physical Geology by R. D. Dallmeyer, Kendall/Hunt Publishing.
CLASS SCHEDULE
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Day LECTURE Laboratory Reading
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Sep. 4 - Introduction
to Physical Geology
Sep. 6 – Our Planet
Sep. 11 - Tectonics Introduction
to Minerals Sep. 13 - Tectonics
Sep. 18 – Mineralogy
Mineral Identification Sep. 20 – Igneous Rocks
I
Study of Rocks Sep. 25 – Igneous Rocks II
Igneous Rocks Sep. 27 – Volcanoes Volcanoes Oct. 2 – Weathering
Weathering Oct..4 – Exam I Oct. 9 – Sedimentary Rocks I
Sedimentary
Rocks Oct. 11 – Sedimentary Rocks II Oct. 16 – Metamorphic Rocks Igneous Rocks Oct. 18 - Geologic
time
Geologic Time Oct. 23 –Rock Deformation Topographic
maps Oct. 25 – Rock Deformation
Stream
Patterns Oct. 30 – Earthquakes
Erosion and
Deposition
Nov. 1 - Exam
II
Evolution
of landscapes -
humid Nov. 6 – Mass Movement
Evolution of landscapes - arid
Nov. 8 – Rivers and Streams Ground Water Nov. 13 –Groundwater Systems
Eolian Landforms Nov. 15 – Glaciers and glaciation Glacial
Landforms Nov. 20 – Deserts and Eolian
Landforms Shoreline Processes
Nov. 22 - Exam III Structural Geology Nov. 27 – Geologic
Hazards
Interpretation of Structure Nov. 29 – Thanksgiving
Break Interpretation of Structure Dec. 4 - Environmental
Geology Geologic Hazards Dec. 6 – Forensic
Geology
Environmental Geology Dec. 7 - Subsurface Geology and Fossil Fuels
Plate Tectonics
Dec. 9 – Summary and
Review
Final Exam as Scheduled |
15-30 37-59 313-336 59-76 77-94 95-110 467-493 111-128 129-142 143-160 161-182 183-208 209-226 227-242 243-272 273-312 313-336 337-360 361-393 491-582 583-602 393-422 423-465 |
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Internet sites for further exploration:
University of British Columbia
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING SYSTEM
a) Exams: Three unit exams and a comprehensive final will be given. These exams cover the factual material presented in class and assigned readings over that unit. Conceptual material is by its nature cumulative and some questions of this sort will require integration of conceptual material covered in previous units. Three unit tests (15% each) and a final (20%) will be given. Exams will cover the material in lecture and in lab.
Exams - 65%
b) Field trips: Two required field trips will be scheduled on Sundays. These trips must be accomplished by all students taking this course. Failure to complete either of the required field components will lower your grade by one letter.
c) Labs: The laboratory component will include exercises that will be graded separately. These exercises will comprise 25% of your grade. Failure to complete lab exercises on time will result in a deduction of 10% per day.
Labs - 25%
d) Quizzes: Each class period will include a quiz over the assigned reading material. There will not be a quiz on the first day of class, nor on days when exams are being given. All other days, expect quizzes over the material assigned opposite that day. For example, on Sep. 31, the quiz will cover the material on pages 129 - 142, etc.
Quizzes - 10%
e) Letter Grades: A=90% and above B=80% and above C=70% and above D=55% and above F=below 55%