Syllabus, fall 2004GE 264: Sedimentology and StratigraphyLecturer: Prof. Paul Strother. Lecture ScheduleSeptember 7 The Rock Cycle & The Earth Secular. Course Introduction and logistics. Some basic comments on Uniformitarianism and geologic time. Part I: SedimentologySeptember 9 Weathering: The generation of sediment & Cement.. September 14Sedimentary Rocks I: Rock Composition We look at the composition of rocks, starting with minerals and ending with texture & fabric. September 16 Sedimentary Rocks II: Clastic Rocks Sedimentary Rocks I. Clastic rock composition and processes governing sedimentation. September 21 Sedimentary Rocks III . Carbonates. September 23 Sedimentary Rocks III .The odd bits of sedimentary rocks that fall outsice of the clastic vs carbonate classification include peats and coals, amber, some evaporites & concretions, etc. September 28 Sedimentary Facies. Introduction to facies concepts. September 30 Sedimentary Structures. Discussion of facies continues. October 5 Ichnology The study of facies continues with an introduction to the study of trace fossils. October 7 Extant Depositional Environments. A key aspect of the study of Sedimentology concerns the interpretation of former sedimentary environments of deposition. We use a Uniformitarianist approach in studying modern depositional systems in order to interpret ancient rocks. October 12 Ancient Depositional Environments. Continuation of the interpretative use of sedimentary rocks. Part II: StratigraphyOctober 14 Steno's LawsThe historical development of a geologic timescale. October 19 Principles of Biostratigraphy.. October 21 Midterm Examination October 26 Geochronology. The science of dating rocks. October 28 Chemostratigraphy. Looking at the secular history of the Earth through the use of stable isotopes. November 2 Applied Stratigraphy. A bit on stratigraphic correlation methods and sequence stratigraphy. November 4 The Evolution of the North American Craton I. We begin our survey of the stratigraphic record of North America with the Precambrian formation of the craton. November 9 The Evolution of the North American Craton II. Lower Paleozoic sedimentary record. November 11 The Evolution of the North American Craton III. The upper Paleozoic sedimentary record. November 16 The Evolution of the North American Craton IV. The Mesozoic sedimentary record. November 18 The Evolution of the North American Craton V. The Cenozoic sedimentary record. November 23 The Evolution of the North American Craton VI. Quaternary Geology & the study of glaciers. November 25 Thanksgiving Holiday Part III: Earth Systems HistoryNovember 30 Cycles & Evolution: Periodic vs. Secular Dynamics. We look at grand and small periodic and secular processes and controls on Earth history. A bit about biological evolution as well. December 2 Evolution of the Atmosphere & Oceans. December 7 Evolution of Sedimentary Rocks I. December 9 Final Exam at 10:30 am, Devlin 324. Assignments and ParticularsOffice Hours: 1-3 pm Tuesdays/Thursdays or by appointment (phone 2-8395). Email: strother@bc.edu, please use "GE264" in the subject heading of any course-related email. Textbook and Reading Assignments
Reading assignments will be announced in class. You will need a few additional items for the course, specifically a hand lens, a rock hammer and a field notebook.
Grading and ExamsGrading for the course will be broken down as follows:
update 6 September 2004. |