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A general introduction to the study of the dynamic Earth and its geology, including Earth structure and plate tectonics, volcanic activity, crystal processes and the nature of minerals and rocks.
Planet Earth gives you the opportunity to explore how our planet works. From the tallest mountains to the deepest oceans, our planet’s natural environments each have their own stories to tell yet all are the consequence of geology. In this course we will consider many of these environments and learn how to read their stories based on careful observation and consideration of the information captured in rocks and their expression at the Earth’s surface. Part detective, part interpreter, geologists make sense of things by piecing together complex puzzles using sharp skills of inference and observation: we dissect the Earth searching for clues and cues only to reassemble them into portraits of our planet. There is no question that of all Earth’s portraits none is more inspiring than New Zealand’s. Geysers, gold, glaciers and the Alps, New Zealand’s natural diversity reflects its diverse geology – a unique system of violent volcanic eruptions and steadfast mountains counter-balanced by constant renewal and removal. In this course you will learn how geology creates these awesome environments. In this course you will learn how to read the stories written in Earth.PLEASE NOTE: GEOL111 is prerequisite preparation for all second year geology courses.Timetable:Lectures: 3 lectures per week Laboratory classes:1 lab per week for 6 weeks Tutorial:1 tutorial per week for 5 weeks
Goal of the Course:To provide a general introduction to the Earth, with an emphasis on processes and rocks found at and near the Earth’s surface.Learning Outcomes:Students successfully completing this course should:1) Explain fundamental geological concepts and terms.2) Observe, describe and identify earth materials, structures and landforms.3) Interpret earth processes and events using scientific observations, knowledge and reasoning.4) Discover and explain how Earth works as a system of interacting components across geological timescales.5) Understand geological processes, hazards and resources relevant to society.6) Identify and solve common geological problems by synthesizing multiple independent observations7) Identify, evaluate and reflect on potential career paths and professional opportunities in earth science.Summary of the Course Content:The topics coved by this course include: Mineral composition of the Earth; Silicate minerals; Igneous rocks and processes; Introduction to volcanoes; Volcanoes and volcanic deposits; Intrusive igneous rocks Sedimentary processes and rocks – general classification and features; Weathering of rocks, sediments; Mass movement; Fluvial, glacial, aeolian, coastal and oceanic sedimentary processes and the resulting sedimentary rocks. Structure of the Earth – including faults and folds, plate tectonics and earthquakes. Metamorphism and economic geology; Evolution of the crust and methods of dating; Mineral resources and exploration.
ENCI271
Travis Horton
Darren Gravley and Jarg Pettinga
Paul Ashwell and Kate Pedley
Marshak, Stephen; Earth : portrait of a planet ; 4th ed; W. W. Norton, 2012.
Bishop, A. C. et al; Cambridge guide to minerals, rocks and fossils ; Rev. and expanded ed; Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Kearey, P; The new Penguin dictionary of geology ; 2nd ed; Penguin, 2001.
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GENERAL INFORMATIONMarks and GradesThe Department of Geological Sciences uses the following scale to convert marks into grades:100-90 A+ 75-79 B+ 60-64 C+ 85-89 A 70-74 B 55-59 C 80-84 A- 65-69 B- 50-54 C- Below 50 D/EThe Department of Geological Sciences reserves the right to adjust this mark/grade conversion, when deemed necessary.Late WorkIt is the policy for this course that late work is not accepted. Or, late work should be accompanied with a detailed explanation of why the work is late. The work will be marked and marks will be subtracted for each day the work is late. Days late include week-end and holidays. Academic LiaisonCatherine Reid (room 326, catherine.reid@canterbury.ac.nz, phone (03) 364 2987 ext 7764) is in charge of liaison with students in geology courses. Each year level will appoint a student representative(s) to the liaison committee at the start of the semester. Please feel free to talk to the Academic Liaison or the student rep about any problems or concerns that you might have.Students with DisabilitiesStudents with disabilities should speak with someone at Disability Resource Service. Their office is on Level 2 in the James Hight Library. Phone: 364 2350 (or ext. 6350), email: disabilities@canterbury.ac.nzPolicy on Dishonest PracticePlagiarism, collusion, copying and ghost writing are unacceptable and dishonest practices.• Plagiarism is the presentation of any material (text, data, figures or drawings, on any medium including computer files) from any other source without clear and adequate acknowledgement of the source.• Collusion is the presentation of work performed in conjunction with another person or persons, but submitted as if it has been completed only by the names author(s). • Copying is the use of material (in any medium, including computer files) produced by another person(s) with or without their knowledge and approval.• Ghost writing is the use of another person(s) (with or without payment) to prepare all or part of an item submitted for assessment. In cases where dishonest practice is involved in tests or other work submitted for credit, the student will be referred to the University Proctor. The instructor may choose to not mark the work. Reconsideration of GradesStudents should, in the first instance, speak to the course co-ordinator about their marks. If they cannot reach an agreeable solution, students should then speak to the Head of the Geological Sciences Department. Students can appeal any decision made on their final grade. You can apply at the Registry to appeal the final grade within 4 weeks of the end of the semester. Be aware that there are time limits for each step of the appeals process. Aegrotat ApplicationsIf you feel that illness, injury, bereavement or other critical circumstances has prevented you from completing an item of assessment or affected your performance, you should complete an aegrotat application form, available from the Registry or the Student Health and Counselling Service. This should be within seven days of the due date for the required work or the date of the examination. In the case of illness or injury, medical consultation should normally have taken place shortly before or within 24 hours after the due date for the required work, or the date of the test or examination. For further details on aegrotat applications, please refer to the Enrolment Handbook. You have the right to appeal any decision made, including aegrotat decisions. Missing of TestsIn rare cases a student will not be able to sit a test. In such cases, the student should consult with the course co-ordinator to the Head of the Department of Geological Sciences to arrange alternative procedures. This must be done well in advance of the set date for the test. The lecture course covers such topics as the Earth and its interior, an introduction to continental drift and plate tectonics, earthquake activity, geomagnetism, absolute dating, minerals and rocks, igneous processes and volcanoes, sedimentary processes in marine, river and glacial environments, metamorphic processes, evolution and dating of the Earth’s crust. A comparison will be made with processes and rock types on the Moon and other planets as well as introducing topics related to critical zone processes (terroir) and medical geology.Practical work includes the study and recognition of common minerals and rocks in hand specimen, and the significance of outcrop relationships in terms of geological history. Practical classes are held in the Stage 1 classroom on the ground floor of the Geological Sciences Department. See Kate Pedley if no practical stream has been allocated or if there is a clash with other courses and you are unable to change it yourself on UC Student Web. NOTE: There is no practical class in the first week of teaching.Practical Class TopicsA series of practical classes in which you will learn:• How to recognise rock-forming minerals by their physical characteristics• How to distinguish igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks• How to recognise the significance of patterns in rock outcrops• How to use minerals and textures to identify different rock types• How to interpret rock relationships from contacts.
Week - Topic(s) - Instructor - Reading(s) - Assessment(s)1(lab) - Course Intro. Birth of Earth, Earth Struct./Tect. - DMG - Chapters 1-5 Interlude A (Marshak) 2(lab) - Atoms & Minerals, Minerals & Magma, Plutonic Rocks - DMG - Chapter 6 (Marshak) - On-Line Quiz #13(tut) - Volcanoes & Volcanic Rocks, NZ Volc/Hazards - DMG - Chapter 9 (Marshak) - On-Line Quiz #24(tut) - Rock Cycle, Weathering Soils, Nutr, &Food - TWH - Interlude B (Marshak) - On-Line Quiz #35(lab) - Sed. Princ. & Proc. Clastics, Powell & Grnd. Cyn. - TWH Interlude C (Marshak) - Tutorial Problem Set #16(tut-rev) - Chemical Seds, Sed Envir & Walther, NZ Strat. Arch. - TWH - Chapter 7 (Marshak) - mid-term exam7(tut) - Plate Tectonics, Folds and Duct. Def., NZ Tectonics - JRP - Chapters 2-4 (Marshak) 8(tut) - Faults & Brittle Def, Earthquakes, NZ EQ Events/Haz - JRP - Chapter 10 (Marshak) 9(tut) - Grav/Dens/Isostast, Mountain Building, NZ Orogens - JRP - Chapter 11 (Marshak) - Tutorial Problem Set#210(lab) - Metamorphism - tbd - Chapter 8 (Marshak) - On-Line Quiz #411(lab) - Time: relative and absolute - tbd - Chapter 12 (Marshak) - On-Line Quiz #512(lab) - Energy & Mineral Resources - tbd - Chapters 14 & 15 (Marshak) - On-Line Quiz #6
Domestic fee $832.00
International fee $3,638.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Earth and Environment .