Unit name | Geology 1 |
---|---|
Unit code | EASC10001 |
Credit points | 40 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Professor. Donoghue |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
n/a |
Co-requisites |
n/a |
School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This is a broad introduction to Geology and covers the following topics: the structure of the Earth and global tectonics, mineralogy, igneous petrology, sedimentology, metamorphism, structural geology, palaeontology, Earth history and geological maps.
The course presents an overview of our Planet, showing how processes of the surface and interior have shaped its evolution and given rise to the present Earth structure, materials, life forms and global tectonics. We emphasise the inter-disciplinary bio-, chemico- and physico-principles that underlie many of the Earth systems examined.
The practicals are designed to give a hands-on experience in examining a variety of common Earth materials (minerals, rocks and fossils) and to collecting data of various forms (e.g. grain size, textures, geometrical disposition of rocks etc, morphology) on these materials. The work provides an introduction to the use of the polarising microscope for the investigation of minerals and rocks in thin section and the understanding of geological maps so that the 3-D disposition of rocks can be understood. Use is made of the data collected to make interpretations about the origin of minerals and rocks and the Earth settings in which they might have formed, or the type, ecology and stratigraphic range of fossils. The laboratory-learnt skills will be applied in formal classes and self-led tasks. Day-long, local field trips will help students synthesise these skills.
By the end of the course students should be able to:
This Unit comprises a series of 72 lectures, 24 practicals and fieldwork, together with associated tutorials.
20% from a 1 hour January progress exam (written) and 80% from two 2 hour summer exams (one written 40%, one practical 40%).
The written exam in the summer will cover material from the lecture course for the whole year and local fieldwork, the practical exam will include questions on material covered in practicals (rock, fossil and thin section identification), and material from mapping classes.
Students should note that in addition to passing summative assessments ALL Rock Skills assignments and practical work must be completed in order to be awarded the credit points for this unit.
Recommended:
Background reading