Unit information: Geology 1 in 2012/13

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

Description including Unit Aims

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.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding of:

• terminologies, classifications, nomenclatures and practical means of identifying and collecting data on earth materials and structures;
• terminologies, classifications, nomenclatures and practical means of identifying and sampling strategies for earth materials with a view to precise documentation;
• structure and composition of the constituent parts of the solid earth and physico-chemical controls on their genesis;
• structure, composition and properties (gravity, heat flow magnetism) of the constituent parts of the solid earth and their influence on the near-surface to surface environment;
• evolution of the Earth in terms of its chemical variation, thermal development, chronological and stratigraphic history recording the major events in earth history;
• the development of life and its role as an integrated part of earth processes;
• the influence of extra-terrestrial events on the evolution of the earth;
• movement of materials and energy within the solid earth as visualised in the plate tectonic paradigm, and the resultant petrological, geophysical and tectonic expressions of this movement;
• chemical and physical controls on the movement of fluids and contaminants (organic, metallic & radioactive) in the surface and near-surface environment, so as to model and predict their fate in the environment;
• basic understanding of the driving forces and behaviour of the atmosphere, linking to its chemistry, physics and interrelationship with volcanology and climate change;
• interaction between physical, chemical, biological and dynamic earth processes on varying spatial and temporal scales.

Be able to:

• critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (often incomplete);
• to frame appropriate questions and make judgements;
• to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;
• act independently and in a team, in planning, researching backgrounds and undertaking tasks;
• appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;
• be able to develop and sustain arguments in the analysis and solving of problems;
• apply taught methods and techniques to safely handle, identify and interpret a broad range of Earth materials (minerals, rocks, fossils and maps) in the laboratory and in the field;
• make sound observations, record, collect, analyse and interpret field and laboratory data of a variety of forms and using a variety of techniques;
• apply subject knowledge, understanding and skills in interpreting, analysing and solving geological problems of a familiar and unfamiliar nature;
• retrieve information and data using library and on-line resources and where appropriate manipulate data confidently and accurately using algebra, graphs, error analysis, logarithms and exponentials, trigonometry, vectors, calculus and statistics;
• efficiently use various software packages including MS Word, MS Excel, Matlab and Adobe Illustrator;
• evaluate one's own progress and performance;
• manage time and work to meet deadlines for independent and team work;
• manage one's own learning environment by identification of, and working towards academic and personal targets and career development;
• understand the need for continual training of a professional or equivalent nature.

Teaching Information

This Unit comprises a series of 72 lectures, 24 practicals and fieldwork (see below), together with associated tutorials.

Assessment Information

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.

Reading and References

Essential

Benton, M.J. & Harper, D.A.T. An Introduction to Palaeobiology and the Fossil Record. WileyBlackwell, 2009; Henderson, P. and Henderson, G.M. The Cambridge Handbook of Earth Science Data. Cambridge; University Press, 2009; *Lambourne, R and Tinker, M. Basic Mathematics for the Physical Sciences.Wiley Blackwell, 2000; Mackenzie, W.S.. and Adams A.E. Rocks and minerals in thin section: a colour atlas. Wiley 1994; Nichols, G. Sedimentology and stratigraphy. (2nd ed.) Blackwell, 2009; *Press, F., Siever, R., Jordan, T & Grotzinger, J. Understanding Earth 5th ed.). Freeman, 2007; Woodcock NH and Strachan RA. Geological History of Britain and Ireland. Wiley, 2000;

Background reading

Barnes, J.W. & Lisle, R.W. Basic geological mapping (4th ed.). Wiley, 2003. (for mapping classes); Fortey, R. A. The Hidden Landscape: a journal into the geological past (2nd ed.). The Bodley Head, 2010; Park, R.G. Foundations of structural geology (3rd ed) Nelson Thornes, 1997; Stanley, S. M. Earth System History, 3rd Ed. W.H.Freeman, 2009; Tucker, M.E. Sedimentary petrology: an introduction to the origin of sedimentary rocks. (3rd ed.). Blackwell, 2001; Van Andel, T.H. New views on an old planet: a history of global change (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press, 1994.