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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.
This summer course is aimed at College of Science and College of Engineering students of any major, who have completed one year of study and are now intending to major in Geology in the College of Science. Students will also have passed either GEOL115 (or GEOL112) or GEOL113 in semester 2. It is designed to allow students to cover all of the major topics of the GEOL111 course in order to progress through to 200-level geology with all the required knowledge. It will consist of an intensive two week course primarily taught in the field, with a morning lecture and an afternoon field exercise to introduce geology as a subject.The lecture component will cover such topics as the Earth and its interior, an introduction to plate tectonics, igneous processes and volcanoes, sedimentary processes in marine, river and glacial environments, metamorphic processes and economic geology. The practical component will give hands on experience into minerals and rocks by way of studying rock outcrops in the field, how they relate to the topics discussed within the lectures and the significance of outcrop relationships in terms of geological history.The field component of the summer course will run every weekday for 2-3 weeks over the summer break in 2017 to 2018 (it will run during one semester, but which semester is TBC). Students are required to attend the full field course. The following week will be a period of revision and reading, and will include 2 tutorials during this time. The examination component will occur at the end of the course.
Goal of the CourseTo provide a general introduction to the Earth, with an emphasis on processes and rocks found at and near the Earth’s surface. Learning OutcomesStudents successfully completing this course should:Gain a general knowledge of the composition, structure and geological processes of planet Earth.Understand the framework of plate tectonicsAppreciate the extent of geological timeHave a basic understanding of geological processes and their products.Know the general classification of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocksExamine geological samples, identify them accurately and draw simple geological inferences
ENCI271
Timetabling dependant on which semester the Summer Course will run in, at this stage this is TBC.
Paul Ashwell
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.
TimetableField Component:2 to 3 weeks of fieldwork occurring on the Banks Peninsula and West CoastTutorial:2 Tutorials in the third to fourth week of the course (exact times TBC)Prerequisites:One year of study at UC in the College of Science or College of Engineering and a B grade or higher in either GEOL115 or GEOL113. Students who have not passed either GEOL115 or GEOL113 should speak to the Head of Department of Geological Sciences. This course is not intended for mid-year starting students who have only completed on semester of study. Restrictions – GEOL111-S1Class size – the class is restricted to 30 students in total in order to be successfully delivered in this format.
Summary of the Course ContentThe topics coved by this course are:• 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.• Metamorphism, metamorphic rocks and economic geology; Evolution of the crust and methods of dating; Mineral resources and exploration.
Domestic fee $848.00
International fee $3,713.00
* 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.
Maximum enrolment is 30
For further information see School of Earth and Environment .