| Unit name | Geology 1 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC10001 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Tim Elliott |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
n/a |
| Co-requisites |
n/a |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This is a broad introduction to Geology and covers the following topics: geological time, geochronology, structure of the earth and global tectonics, mineralogy, igneous petrology, sedimentology, metamorphism, structural geology, palaeontology, earth history and geological maps. Fieldwork includes day-trips during term-time and a week at Easter for Honours Geologists.
The course presents an overview of our Planet, showing how the dynamic interior has shaped its evolution and given rise to the present Earth structure, materials, life forms and global tectonics . We emphasiset the inter-disciplinary bio-, chemico- and physico-principles that underlie many of the Earth systems examined.
The practicals are designed to give a hands-on experience in examining, in the laboratory and in the field, the variety of common Earth materials (minerals, rocks and fossils) and to collect data of various forms (e.g. grain size, textures, geometrical disposition of rocks etc, morphology) on these materials. The work provides an introduction to the use of the polarising microscope for the investigation of minerals and rocks in thin section and the understanding geological maps so that the 3-D disposition of rocks can be understood. Use is made of the data collected to make interpretations about the origin of minerals and rocks and the Earth settings in which they might have formed, or the type, ecology and stratigraphic range of fossils. The laboratory-learnt skills will be applied in formal classes and self-led tasks giving the opportunity to understanding geology in the field, particularly with relevance to the Geology of the Bristol region and use of Earth materials in the city.
This Unit comprises a series of 72 lectures, 24 practicals and fieldwork (see below), together with associated tutorials.
20% from a January progress exam (1 hour), 80% from the summer exam (3 hours). Note that the summer exam will include material covered in the whole year including questions on material covered in practicals and local fieldwork as well as lectures.
