GEOLOGY 5340 - Fall 2008 - Paleopedology
Instructor: Dr. Steve Driese E-mail: [email protected] Room D409.1 BSB Lectures: T&R, 9:30 AM -10:45 AM, E426 BSB Voice mail: 710-2177 Lab: R, 2:00-4:00 PM, E426 BSB
Catalog Description: “Field, microscopic, and geochemical analysis of fossil soils (paleosols) and comparison with modern analog soils; interpretation of changes in paleoweathering processes, paleoclimate, and paleoatmospheric chemistry over 4.6 billion years of earth history based on paleosols.”
Objectives: This graduate course emphasizes practical field and laboratory study of fossil soils, or paleosols. My goals are that you: 1) develop an understanding of the field and laboratory methodologies used to interpret paleosols, including micromorphology and geochemistry, 2) develop a better understanding of weathering processes and soil formation in the geological past through comparisons with modern soils and soil-forming processes, 3) develop the ability to identify paleosols in the field, so that you are able to use paleosols for interpreting paleoclimates and paleolandscape conditions, and 4) become familiar with the geological record of soils and soil-forming processes, and evidence for secular changes in paleoatmospheric chemistry and paleoecosystems provided by paleosols.
Organization: The Geology 5340 course is divided into three major parts. Part 1 concerns the features, processes, and nomenclature of soils and paleosols. Part 2 deals with the “Jenny” factors that influence the formation of soils and paleosol deposits. Part 3 examines the geological record of soils. There will be two lecture exams and no comprehensive final examination. The laboratory will have at least two required weekend field trips, coupled with extensive laboratory work. You should expect to spend an average of about 8 hours (total) per week on this course. You must keep up with the work if you are to get anything from the course!
Prerequisites: I will assume that you have at least a rudimentary knowledge of geological materials (i.e., rocks and minerals), principles of stratigraphy, and content of a freshman chemistry course, or that you are capable of reading and assimilating supplementary materials in these areas. Graduate students from Departments other than Geology are always welcome and are encouraged to enroll in order to add diversity to the course!
Co-requisites: None
Grading: Lecture Test I - 25%; Lecture Test II - 25%; Laboratory Exercises - 45%; Laboratory Final Exam - 5%; A=90-100%, B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D = 60-69% and F <60%
Required Textbook:
Retallack, G.J., 2001, Soils of the Past: An Introduction to Paleopedology (2nd edition): Oxford, Blackwell Science, Ltd., 416 p.
Supplementary Readings:
1 Most journal readings are available through the Baylor University electronic holdings. Readings will be provided from current and historically significant geology, earth and soil science literature, including the following journals and monographs: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, American Journal of Science, American Scientist, Catena, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Earth Science Reviews, Geological Society of America Bulletin, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Geoderma, Geological Society of America Special Publications, Geology, Journal of Geology, Journal of Sedimentary Research, Palaios, Nature, Palaeoecology-Palaeoclimatology-Palaeogeography, Quaternary Research, Science, Scientific American, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology, Soil Science Society of America Journal (personal collection of Dr. Lee Nordt), Smithsonian, US Department of Agriculture (Natural Resources Conservation Service) (personal collections of Dr. Steve Driese and of Dr. Lee Nordt). El Sevier Journals are at: (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journals/earth) and other Society-sponsored (non-profit) journals are at: (http://www.geoscienceworld.org/). Paper copies and reprints from my personal collection are available in a file cabinet located in Room E426 of the Baylor Sciences Building; please do not hold readings more than one day + overnight! ______
GEOLOGY 5340 - LECTURE SYLLABUS
Part 1 - Features and Processes of Soils and Paleosols
Lecture Date Lecture Topics to be Covered Readings
August 26 Paleopedology & paleosols defined; stratigraphy Part 1, Chapters 1, 2
August 28 Soil processes - physical weathering: loosening, Part 1, Chapter 4 fluid flow, clay swelling, fire heating, freezing
September 1 Labor Day Holiday (NO CLASSES)
September 2 Soil processes - chemical weathering: hydrolysis, Part 1, Chapter 4 oxidation-reduction; dehydration-hydration, dissolution, salinization
September 4 Soil processes - biological weathering: Part 1, Chapter 4 humification, nutrient availability, bioturbation
September 9 Generalized soil-forming regimes: gleization, Part 1, Chapter 4 podzolization, lessivage, ferrallitization, calcification, salinization
September 11 Features of modern and fossil soils: soil structures Part 1, Chapter 3 and horizons Retallack (1988)
September 16 Introduction to USDA Soil Taxonomy; paleosol Part 1, Chapter 5; Taxonomy (Dr. Lee Nordt, guest) Soil Taxonomy (1998 Mack et al. (1993)
2 September 18 Micromorphological (thin section) approaches Part 1, Chapter 3; FitzPatrick (1993)
September 23 Geochemical approaches: molecular ratios and Part 1, Chapter 12; mass-balance reconstructions Mora et al. (1993); Driese et al. (2000)
September 25 Isotopic approaches: carbon isotope systems Cerling (1991); Mora for temperature and pCO2 (Dr. Lee Nordt, guest) et al. (1996); Rasbury et al. (2000)
September 30 Diagenetic alteration of paleosols: compaction, Part 1, Chapter 7; oxidation of organic C, dehydration of hydrous Retallack (1991); phases, cementation, illitization Mora et al. (1998)
October 2 Lecture Midterm Test I (Driese away on GSA Field Trip)
October 5-8 Annual Meeting of Geological Society of America, in Houston, TX (NO CLASSES)
Part 2 - Factors Influencing Soil and Paleosol Formation
October 9 Role of parent material: general properties, Part 2, Chapters 8, 12; common types, base line for soil formation Chadwick (2001)
October 14 Role of climate: indicators of rainfall, Part 2, Chapter 9; temperature, seasonality Stiles et al. (2001, 2003); Nordt et al. (2006)
October 16 Role of organisms; traces of organisms, Part 2, Chapter 10 ecosystems, fossil preservation
October 17 Fall Break (NO CLASSES)
October 21 Role of topographic relief: indicators of past Part 2, Chapter 11; geomorphic setting, water-table positions; Kraus (1987); paleocatenas Wright et al. (2000)
October 23 Role of time: indicators of soil age; soil Part 2, Chapter 13 chronosequences
Part III - The Geological Record of Soils
October 28 Precambrian paleosols: interpreting a paleo- Part 3, Chapters 14, oxygenation record: Case study: The 2.2 Ga 16,17; Ohmoto (1996) Hekpoort paleosol, Waterval Onder, South Driese (2004); Africa Sheldon (2006)
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October 30 Early Paleozoic paleosols: the rise of early land Part 3, Chapter 18; animals and plants: Case studies: Juniata and Driese & Mora (2001) Bloomsburg Fms., central PA Driese and Foreman (1991, 1992); Driese et al. (1992)
November 4 Middle Paleozoic paleosols: the first forest Part 3, Chapter 19 ecosystems: Case studies: Battery Point and Driese et al. (1997) Catskill Fms., Quebec and PA-NY Elick et al. (1998)
November 6 Late Paleozoic paleosols: evidence of coal Part 3, Chapter 19 swamps and mires: Case study: Pennsylvanian Gardner et al. (1988); underclay paleosols, PA and TN Ober and Driese (2005)
November 11 Permian-Triassic Extinction event paleosols: Part 3, Chapter 19 Evidence from South Africa and Antarctica Retallack (1995, 1999)
November 18 Mesozoic paleosols: soils at the K-T Boundary Fastovsky and Extinction event: Case studies from Montana and McSweeney (1987); Alberta sections Nordt et al. (2003)
November 20 Tertiary paleosols: the first grassland ecosystems: Part 3, Chapter 20; Case studies from eastern OR and WA badlands Retallack et al (2000); Bestland (2002); Retallack et al. (2003)
November 25 Pleistocene paleosols: human impact on landscapes Part 3, Chapter 21; and fine-tuning Milankovitch climate cycles: Case Ashley and Driese studies from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, and East (2000); Driese et al. African Rift, Kenya (2004)
November 26-28 Thanksgiving Holiday (NO CLASSES)
December 2 Holocene paleosols: evidence for Altithermal, Lamb et al. (2003) Medieval Warm Period, Little Ice Ages: Case Driese et al. (2004) Studies from East African Rift, Kenya and TX Nordt et al. (2002)
December 4 Paleosols and sequence stratigraphy of fluvial Atchley et al. (2004); successions (Dr. Stacy Atchley, guest) McCarthy et al. (1998); McCarthy and Plint (1998)
December 16 Lecture Test II (Time: 9:00-11:00 AM)
4 GEOLOGY 5340 Laboratory Syllabus
Date Subject
August 28 Lab 1: Particle size and bulk density analyses of soils and paleosols
September 4 Lab 2: Micromorphological analysis (thin-section description and interpretation); an introduction
September 11 Lab 3: Geochemical analysis (whole-soil and whole-rock) and data manipulation
September 18 Lab 4: Soil morphology and USDA Taxonomy – examine soil monoliths in Dr. Nordt’s laboratory (BSB E419)
September 25 Lab 5: USDA soil characterization: Examination of the National Soils Database and characterization data
September 27 (Sat.) Field trip to examine surface soils and Quaternary paleosols on a modern floodplain, Joe Brezina property in eastern McLennan County (7:30 AM-1:00 PM with Lee Nordt)
October 2 Lab 6: Oxygen isotope and Sr analysis (Dr. Steve Dworkin, guest)
October 5-8 GSA Meeting in Houston – Driese away
October 9 Lab 7: Diagenetic alteration of paleosols during burial (geochemistry and physical compaction)
October 16 Lab 8: Multi-proxy approaches to paleoclimate analysis using paleosols
October 23 Lab 9: Environmental applications of pedology and paleopedology: Chattanooga Creek Superfund site, Chattanooga, TN
October 25 (Sat.) Field trip to examine lithified Pennsylvanian and Cretaceous paleosols in central Texas (leave Friday evening, with overnight motel provided)
October 30 Lab 10: Applications of paleopedology to paleolandscape analysis and paleoanthropology: Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
November 6 Lab 11: Applications of paleopedology to geoarchaeology: Buttermilk Creek Site near Salado, TX: a possible pre-Clovis site?
November 13 Lab 12: Paleozoic paleosols of the first forests in North America (Jason Mintz, guest lab leader)
November 20 Lab 13: Precambrian and Cambrian paleosols of the North American craton
5 November 27 Lab 14: Calibrating the sphaerosiderite paleothermometer and the isotopic composition of paleoprecipitation: ongoing NSF-funded studies in KS, LA, and TX
December 4 Lab Final Exam, Course Evaluations; Review
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