Geology 11: Earth and
Life Through Time
Syllabus - Winter 2003
Union College
Web version
1.0 (1 January 2003)
Lecture: TTH 9:15 to 11:05 OLIN 307 TTh
Lab: Tue and Wed, 1:35 to 4:25
Instructor: Dr. John I. Garver, 317 Olin
Email: garverj@union.edu
Course Web page: http://idol.union.edu/~garverj/Geo11/historical.htm
Text: Evolution of the Earth, Sixth Edition
Prothero and Dott , 2002, McGraw-Hill
As outlined below, this
course is divided into three sections, all of which are aimed at understanding
the changes recorded in the Earth's history through the sedimentary
record. Reading assignments are
required and the exams will include reading material even if that material was
not covered in class.
I: Sedimentary sequences;
tectonic framework, the early years
|
Week |
Date |
Lecture/topic |
Reading |
|
One |
7 Jan |
Geologic change
and time |
Chapter
1: Time and terrestrial change |
|
|
9 Jan |
History
of geologic thought |
Chapter
2: Floods, fossils, heresies |
|
|
Lab 1 |
Lab:
Sedimentary rocks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Two |
14 Jan |
Time,
rates, and processes |
Chapter 4:
The relative time scale |
|
|
16 Jan |
Structure
of the earth, early Earth |
Chapter
5: Numerical dating of the Earth |
|
|
lab |
No lab |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three |
21 Jan |
Stratigraphic
principles: Steno's principles |
Chapter 6:
Origin and early Evolution of the Earth |
|
|
23 Jan |
Principles
of plate tectonics |
Chapter
7: Mountain building and drifting continents |
|
|
Lab 2 |
Quiz: Geologic time scale Lab:
Fossils 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Four |
28 Jan |
Precambrian
tectonics, Cratons |
Chapter
8: Cryptozoic history - origin of continental crust |
|
|
30 Jan |
Early
Life: Stromatolites and atmosphere |
Chapter
10: Early Paleozoic |
|
|
Lab 3 |
Lab:
Fossils 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Date |
Topic/lecture |
Reading |
|
Five |
4 Feb |
Exam 1
(Ch. 1,2,3,4,7,8) fossils, and sedimentary rocks (not Ch. 10) |
Chapter
11: Later Ordovician |
|
|
6 Feb |
The
Acadian and Taconic Orogeny,
early Paleozoic life |
Chapter
12: Middle Paleozoic |
|
|
M Lab |
Lab:
Cultural view of volcanic eruptions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six |
11 Feb |
Salt and
Reefs, Late Paleozoic change |
Chapter
13: Late Paleozoic |
|
|
13 Feb |
Paleozoic
and Mesozoic life, Pangea forms and then breakup |
|
|
|
Lab 4 |
Quiz:
North American Geography Lab MZ
mountains part 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven |
18 Feb |
Rifting
and passive margin development |
Chapter
14: Mesozoic Era |
|
|
20 Feb |
Deep
marine sedimentation, mid ocean ridges |
|
|
|
Lab 5 |
Lab: MZ
mountains part 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Week |
Date |
Topic/lecture |
Reading |
|
Eight |
25 Feb |
Exam 2
Ch 10-14 |
Chapter
15: Cenozoic Era |
|
|
27 Feb |
Mesozoic
tectonics |
|
|
|
M Lab |
Lab:
Cultural view of Dinosaurs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine |
4 Mar |
Evolution
of the Rocky Mountains |
Ch. 16:
Pleistocene Glaciation |
|
|
6 Mar |
Earthquakes
and plate boundaries |
|
|
|
Lab 6 |
A
dinosaur named Sue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten |
11 Mar |
K-T
boundary and the death of dinosaurs |
Chapter
17: The best of all possible worlds? |
|
|
13 Mar |
Cenozoic
Tectonics, Ice ages Our place
on this planet |
|
|
|
M Lab |
Lab:
Cultural view of Ice Ages |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FINAL EXAM: Everything will be covered: Comprehensive, but
emphasis on later work.
Grades: Final
grades will be based on the following:
Quizzes (10%); Exam 1 (25%), Exam 2 (25%), and the Comprehensive Final
Exam (40%).
Back to Home page for J.I.
Garver
Back to Union Geology Department
This document can be located from:
http://idol.union.edu/~garverj/Geo11/historical.htm
© Geology Department, Union College, Schenectady N.Y. 12308-3107,
USA . All rights reserved for text only. No part of the document
can be copied and/or redistributed, electronically or otherwise, without
written permission from J.I.Garver, Geology Department, Union College,
Schenectady NY, 12308-2311, USA.
Last Revised: 3 January 2003