GEOL357-18S2 (C) Semester Two 2018

Topics in New Zealand Geology

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 July 2018
End Date: Sunday, 18 November 2018
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 27 July 2018
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 12 October 2018

Description

This course examines New Zealand geology in a regional and global context of tectonics, climate, and oceanographic events. Topics covered will include tectonics, resources and the geological development of New Zealand. The course aims to develop student’s research, presentation and written communication, and geological synthesis skills, and to build an understanding of New Zealand geology relevant to our future. This course is seen as a capstone course for BSc students, and useful preparation for those going on to postgraduate study.

This course examines New Zealand geology in a regional and global context of tectonics, climate, and oceanographic events. The lectures aim to provide a broad basis of related scientific framework on a general scale as well as place New Zealand into the global context. Students will draw on their existing knowledge of geology to examine and assess key questions in New Zealand geology. The lectures are supported by seminars, and by an individual assessment on a related topic that provides students with an exercise to improve their scientific writing skills. Students will complete a library and classroom based research topic through the latter part of the course.
Topics covered will include tectonics, resources, geological development of New Zealand and will be covered in discrete modules through the course, and students will be expected to complete reading assignments ahead of lectures. The course aims to develop student’s research, written and oral communication and geological synthesis skills, and to build an understanding of New Zealand geology relevant to our future.

Timetable
Lectures: one lectures per week
Practicals: 2.5 hour tutorial or practical sessions as timetabled (see weekly planner)

Prerequisites
45 points from GEOL240-246. GEOL351 and GEOL352 are highly recommended.

Learning Outcomes

  • Goal of the Course
    Students should gain an understanding on the major geological processes that shaped New Zealand through a discussion of the tectonic development at convergent and divergent plate margins and be able to critically assess and utilize geological evidence and place New Zealand into a global context.


    Learning Outcomes
    Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
  • Evaluate the tectonic evolution of New Zealand and the role of plate boundary dynamics
  • Evaluate the major Cenozoic palaeoclimate events and their likely causes, and explain their expression in New Zealand rocks  
  • Articulate the broad petroleum character of New Zealand basins
  • Recognise resource potential of New Zealand geology
  • Gain on overall picture of the Quaternary geology of New Zealand
  • Interpret, critically assess, and utilize different evidence of Past Climate Change.
  • Prepare and present poster on a relevant topic
  • Write a scientific report on an individual topic and exercise literature research as preparation for future tasks in the workforce or during postgraduate studies.

      • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Restrictions

Timetable Note

Lectures and Lecturers:

Week #  -  Week starting  -  Lectures  -  Labs  -  Lecturer
28  -  10th July  -  Introduction  -  CMR  -  Library research session
29  -  17th July  -  NZ Basement terranes  -  CMR  -  Independent research
30  -  24th July  -  Gondwanan relationships  -  CMR  -  Poster development skills session
31  -  31st July  -  New Zealand Petroleum basins  -  CMR  -  Poster Presentation Session
32  -  7th Aug  -  Engineering Geology  -  MCV  -  Introduction to assessment: principles of literature research and scientific writing
33  -  14th Aug  -  Palaeogene climate and ocean chemistry  -  CMR  -  Editing workshop

SEMESTER BREAK

36  -  4th Sept  -  Neogene development of New Zealand  -  CMR
37  -  11th Sept  -  Chatham Rise phosphorite and glauconite  -   CMR  -  Independent research
38  -  18th Sept  -  Wanganui Basin  -  CMR
39  -  25th Sept  -  Hikurangi Margin  -  JRP
40  -  2nd Oct  -  Pacific Arc  -  ARN tbc  -  Supporting exercise
41  -  9th Oct  -  Pliocene to Recent palaeoseismic records records  -  CMR  -  Review paper due

Course Coordinator

Catherine Reid

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
NZ Stratigraphic Column and Cross Section 20% NZ Stratigraphic column and cross section (due date end of week 31)
Palaeobiology/Oceanography Poster 20% Palaeobiology/oceanography poster (due date end of week 37)
Literature-based Report on Individual Quaternary Topics 20% Literature-based report on individual quaternary topics (due date end of week 41)
Final Examination 40% Final examination


Assessments
NZ tectonic exercise 20%  -  Due date: End of week 31 TBC
Research Poster 20%  -  Due date: End of week 37 TBC
Review Paper 20%  -  Due date: End of week 41 TBC

Examination and Formal Tests
Final examination: 40%  -  Date TBA in year-end exam period

Textbooks / Resources

Weekly reading to be advised

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $865.00

International fee $3,788.00

* 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.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 30 people apply to enrol.

For further information see School of Earth and Environment .

All GEOL357 Occurrences

  • GEOL357-18S2 (C) Semester Two 2018
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