Geology 334 - Overview

Purpose and Objectives:

This course is designed to help students learn fundamental concepts in sedimentology and stratigraphy and their relation to surficial and basinal processes ranging from local to global. We will cover topics including (but not limited to) physical processes of sediment transport and deposition, classification of sedimentary rocks, origin of chemical sediments, depositional environments, theory and application of sequence stratigraphy, and climatic and tectonic controls on sedimentation and basin development. The course will be oriented toward understanding a wide range of sedimentary processes and their products, and we will develop some of the tools that are commonly used in interpreting the stratigraphic record of these processes. Through this approach students will gain a deeper appreciationfor the significant role that sedimentary geology plays in shaping and recording the evolution of the Earth’s surface.

Organization:

Link to Schedule of Lectures and Labs.

For the lecture part of the course there will be 4 homework assignments, a midterm exam and a final exam. Homeworks will be closely related to the lecture material and are intended to keep you engaged in the course content during the quarter. They will include problem sets, short answers to conceptual questions, and writing assignments, and will help you prepare for the midterm and final exams.

Labs meet Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Columbia Rm 254 and other locations (see Schedule for details). Labs will include hand-sample and thin-section study of sedimentary rocks, quantitative exercises in physical sedimentology (including use of computer spreadsheet programs), and a couple of projects involving stratigraphic reconstructions and ice-core analysis. Lab and Homework assignments must be handed in one week after they are assigned in order to receive credit for work done.

There will be a required one-day field trip to look at Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in the Coast Ranges (see schedule for date); attendance and a written summary of the field trip will count for 5% of the course grade. Students who are unable to attend the trip due to a legitimate scheduling conflict will be allowed to submit a short research paper instead, at my discretion.

Grading:

Grades for this course will be determined in the following way:

Homeworks (4 @ 5% each)	20%
Midterm Exam	20%
Field Trip and report	5%
Final Exam	30%
Lab	25%
TOTAL	100%

How to Contact Me (Becky Dorsey):

My Office Hours are M,T,Th, 4-5, rm 305D Cascade. Feel free to visit me in person with any questions or concerns. If these times are not good for you, be sure to contact me to schedule an appointment.

My E-mail: I check e-mail often, and I respond quickly whenever possible. This is an excellent way to get feedback from me on any questions or concerns related to this course.

My Telephone: 346-4431. Feel free to use this too. I'm out of the office alot, so if you miss me just leave voice mail. I will respond.