Historical Geology Syllabus

GEOL 2024, HISTORICAL GEOLOGY SPRING 1996

SYLLABUS

Class meets: 1-2:20, WF. Lab meets: 2:30-5:20 W. Rm 2, McEver Hall. Instructor: Dr. Kline. Office: Rm 6, Mining Institute. Phone: 968-0202. Office Hours: 1:30-5:00 TTh, 8-12:00 WF. On Mondays I will often be in the field, but you may see me if I'm here.

Text: Levin, H.L., 1996, The earth through time, 5th edition, Saunders College Publishing.

Objective: The main emphasis will be to develop an understanding of the principles that are used to interpret sequence of geologic events, such as sedimentation, deformation, metamorphism, plutonism, volcanism, uplift, erosion, etc. A second emphasis will be the application of these principles in understanding geologic history, primarily in the region of Arkansas and vicinity. As a byproduct, students will obtain an overview of Arkansas geology.

Schedule

Date	Topics & Readings
W 1/17	Introduction to Historical Geology. Basic principles of relative timing of geologic phenomena. p. 1-16.
	Lab: Review of common rocks of the earth's crust
F 1/19	Basic principles of relative timing of geologic phenomena (cont.) p. 1-16.
W 1/24	Basic principles of relative timing of geologic phenomena (cont.) p. 1-16.
	Lab: Review of rocks (cont.) + *lab quiz* on these rocks.
F 1/26	Significance of various rocks and their colors, textures and primary structures, in interpreting earth history. Sedimentary depositional environments. p. 46--86.
W 1/31	Significance of various rocks and their colors, textures and primary structures, in interpreting earth history. Sedimentary depositional environments. p. 46--86.
	Lab: Interpretation of relative timing relationships in hypothetical cross sections
F 2/2	Significance of various rocks and their colors, textures and primary structures, in interpreting earth history. Sedimentary depositional environments. p. 46--86.
W 2/7	Significance of various rocks and their colors, textures and primary structures, in interpreting earth history. Sedimentary depositional environments. p. 46--86.
	Lab: Timing relationships (cont.) + lab quiz on these relationships
F 2/9	Stratigraphic principles. "Formations, members, groups"; time vs. rock stratigraphic units; facies; effects of sea-level change, transgressions and regressions. p. 87-104.

W 2/14	Lecture Exam #1.
	Lab: Interpretation of geologic maps (p. 168-172)
F 2/16	Stratigraphic principles, etc. (cont.) p 87-104.
W 2/21	Stratigraphic principles, etc. (cont.) p 87-104.
	Lab: Interpretation of geologic maps (cont.)
F 2/23	Relative timing and the geologic time scale. Quantititative time and isotopic dating methods. p. 16-37.
W 2/28	Relative timing and the geologic time scale. Quantititative time and isotopic dating methods. p. 16-37.
	Lab: Interpretation of geologic maps (cont.)
F 3/1	Relative timing and the geologic time scale. Quantititative time and isotopic dating methods. p. 16-37.
W 3/6	Fossils. Their preservation. Classification, and taxonomy. Principles of evolution. Fossils and stratigraphy. Fossils as indicators of sedimentary environment. Chapter 4.
	Lab: Overview of major invertebrate fossil groups
F 3/8	Lecture exam #2
SAT 3/9	FIELD TRIP. Arkansas geology.
W 3/13	Fossils, etc. (cont.) Chapter 4.
	Lab: Field trip to local sites. Arkansas geology.
F 3/15	Fossils, etc. (cont.) Chapter 4.
W 3/20 & F 3/22 NO CLASS. SPRING VACATION.
FRI/SAT 3/22-23. Two day FIELD TRIP. Arkansas geology.
W 3/27	Earth Structure and Plate tectonics. Chapter 5.
	Lab: Major invertebrate fossils (cont) + lab quiz on fossils.
F 3/29	Earth Structure and Plate tectonics (cont). Chapter 5.
W 4/3	Earth Structure and Plate tectonics (cont.) Chapter 5.
	Lab: No lab.
F 4/5	Geologic History of Arkansas region (plus some U.S.) [Appropriate sections from text chapters 7-14]

W 4/10	Geologic History of Arkansas region (plus some U.S.) [Appropriate sections from text chapters 7-14]
	Lab: Development of Geology of Arkansas Field Guide
F 4/12	Geologic History of Arkansas region (plus some U.S.) [Appropriate sections from text chapters 7-14]
W 4/17	Geologic History of Arkansas region (plus some U.S.) [Appropriate sections from text chapters 7-14]
	Lab: Development of Geology of Arkansas Field Guide
F 4/19	Geologic History of Arkansas region (plus some U.S.) [Appropriate sections from text chapters 7-14]
W 4/24	Geologic History of Arkansas region (plus some U.S.) [Appropriate sections from text chapters 7-14]
	Lab: Development of Geology of Arkansas Field Guide
F 4/26	Geologic History of Arkansas region (plus some U.S.) [Appropriate sections from text chapters 7-14]
W 5/1	Geologic History of Arkansas region (plus some U.S.) [Appropriate sections from text chapters 7-14]
	Lab: Development of Geology of Arkansas Field Guide

Grades will be derived from performance on lecture exams, lab quizzes, graded labs, attendance on class field trips, and a compiled field guide you will make regarding Arkansas geologic history. I will distribute points as follows:

3 lab quizzes @ 4 pts each	12
1 graded lab @ 6 pts (geol maps)	6
1 lab-time field trip	1
3 all-day field trips @ 2 pts each	6
Geology of Arkansas Field Guide	20
2 lecture exams @ 18 pts	36
1 final exam	19
Total	100

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