FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY (GEOL-101) Hunter College Department of Geography Dr. Shruti Philips Office: HC North, Room 1032 Dept. Telephone: (212) 772 – 5265 E-mail: [email protected] Class Meeting: Mon, Tues, Wed, &Thurs 11.40am -1.14 pm Introduction: Fundamentals of Geology is an introduction to planet Earth. This course will discuss how and when the Earth may have formed, what it is made up of, the large-scale processes that shape it and how we know what we know about its workings. We will answer these questions by describing how the various components of the earth system interact to create all that we see around us. In addition to a firm foundation provided in classroom lectures and demonstrations, field trips to Central Park and The Museum of Natural History will further enhance the student’s appreciation for our planet. Extensive use is made of multi-media materials. Films and power point presentations will be used. Laboratory work will provide hands-on experience and will be coordinated with the lectures. Laboratory units will include the study of minerals, the three classes of rocks, earth structures, and relative and absolute dating methods. Basic material covered in the course includes: The nature of scientific inquiry and the origin of the earth. The earth’s place in the Universe. Matter and minerals. Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Volcanic and plutonic activity. Earthquakes and the Earth’s interior Plate tectonics, crustal deformation and mountain building. Course Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. This course may serve as an excellent foundation for other geology/earth science courses such as GEOL102- Historical Geology, SCI 180- Oceanography, GEOL-205 Environmental Geology and GEOL 280- Marine Geology. Course Learning Outcomes: Newspaper and television reports frequently feature stories about geologic events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Popular movies have also been made featuring these same geologic topics. Students may frequently pass exposures of rock along highways and utilize products derived from mineral resources every day. This course is designed to familiarize students with basic knowledge about the physical aspects of our earth, to correct common misconceptions and to help them achieve a measure of scientific literacy. It is expected that the student will emerge from this course with the following competencies: An appreciation and understanding of scientific methodology. 1 A greater appreciation of geology as a science. The ability to recognize common rocks and minerals both in the lab and in the field. An understanding of basic physical principles through the study of earthquakes, the earth’s interior and plate tectonics. An appreciation of the earth’s place in the solar system and universe. An appreciation of both the earth’s internal and external processes, which have produced the Earth as we know it today. The student will achieve a firm foundation in the physical aspects of the earth for the purpose of continued study in another course in the earth sciences. Required Reading: available at the Hunter college bookstore Textbook: Lutgens and Tarbuck, Essentials of Geology, 11th Edition 2012, Prentice Hall ISBN- 10: 0321714725; Lab Manual: Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 8th ed., Richard M. Busch, Editor, Prentice Hall, prepared for Hunter College ISBN: 978-053-623-2748 Assessment and Grading Policy: There will be a midterm exam given during the semester and a final exam at the end of the semester. If you are absent for the midterm exams, you must submit a medical note which documents the reason for the absence before a make-up exam is given. Exams: Exams are based on lecture, laboratory, and text material. These exams will count 25% each for a total of 50% of the grade. The lab part of the course is worth the remaining 50% of the grade. The grading on examinations is: 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; <59 = F. The exam dates are given on the calendar portion of the syllabus. You must bring at least one #2 pencil and eraser to the exams and they will be multiple choice tests. The answer sheets must be filled out so that you write and bubble in your name last name first. You must not fill in any other fields except the answers themselves. If you fail to bubble in your name or bubble in additional information points will be deducted from your score. Grading: Lecture: 50%: Midterm Exam: 25% Final Exam: 25% Laboratory: 50%: Lab Note book = 45% (includes Museum & Field trip reports) Lab Tests =45% (includes mineral, rock & timescale tests: 15% each) Participation 5% Attendance = 5% The Final Grade: If you miss the final exam a makeup will be given only if you inform me within 72 hours of the day/time of the final exam and present me with checkable documentary evidence of the reason for your absence--a doctor's note, a bill from the hospital, a note from the funeral home etc. For an IN to be awarded you must contact me about making up the exam and fill out the appropriate form within 72 hours of the day/time of the final exam. An unresolved IN becomes an FIN at the end of the following semester. 2 To qualify for the CR/NCR option students must have completed ALL of the course requirements and taken all the exams. I will agree to the CR-NCR option only if you earn a grade of at least 40% on at least 1 of the two midterm examinations. If you choose the CR-NCR option then a grade of ≥ 70 = CR and a grade of <70 = NCR. I will not agree to “a B if I get a B and a CR if I get a C.” If you want a B in this course, work towards that goal from day one!! If you want an A in this course, work towards that goal form day one! Attendance: Students are urged to attend all classes. There is a direct correlation between good grades and good attendance. All students are responsible for work covered in their absence and must be sure to obtain any hand-out material. Tips for getting good grades: In general, the more time you put in, the better your grade will be. Be sure to read the chapters BEFORE each lecture and read carefully. Note the things you do not understand and ask questions during the lecture. Review each chapter afterwards. Work through review questions. Be sure to work hard throughout the semester as there will be no extra credit assignments! Blackboard: Please note that course documents, hand-out sheets, and useful links will be posted on Blackboard. Announcements and other information will also be posted from time to time, so please check the site regularly. Important: Students should check their Hunter e-mail messages regularly for messages from the instructor! Classroom Etiquette: Cell phones must be turned off in class. Any student whose phone rings will be asked to leave the room. Conversation during class and walking in and out of the room is disruptive and must be kept to a minimum. Please keep eating and drinking to a minimum and discard all trash in garbage or recycling bins. Your cooperation will be appreciated by the instructor and your fellow students. Academic Integrity: Please note that Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The college is committed to enforcing CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures. See the following report by the Hunter College Senate for more details: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/senate/assets/Documents/Hunter%20College%20Policy%20on%20 Academic%20Integrity.pdf 3 Tentative Lecture Syllabus for Summer-1, 2011 Dates Topic Chapter W 6/1 INTRODUCTION : The Earth System 1 Th 6/2 Origin of Planet Earth M 6/6 Minerals 2 T 6/7 Minerals W 6/8 Minerals Th 6/9 Igneous Rocks 3 M 6/13 Igneous Rocks T 6/14 Volcanoes 4 W 6/15 Intrusive Igneous Activity Th 6/16 Plate tectonics & Igneous activity M 6/20 Weathering 5 T 6/21 Soils 5 W 6/22 Midterm Examination 1,2,3,4, 5 Th 6/23 Sedimentary Rocks 6 M 6/27 Sedimentary Environments T 6/28 Metamorphic Rocks 7 W 6/29 Metamorphic Rocks Th 6/30 Earthquakes and the Earth’s Interior 14 T 7/5 Earthquakes and the Earth’s Interior W 7/6 Plate Tectonics 15 Th 7/7 Plate Tectonics M 7/11 Geologic Time: Relative Dating 18 T 7/12 Geologic Time: Absolute Dating 18 W 7/13 FINAL EXAMINATION 6,7, 14, 15, 18 For the Lab: Materials: You should purchase a metric/English ruler, compass (for drawing circles) and a hand lens. The Hunter College Bookstore has these materials. In addition, you must purchase a bound black & white or green & white composition notebook. It should be lined or gridded. This notebook will be your lab notebook, i.e a permanent record of your observations and class work. Bring your lab notebook and a ruler and other tools as specified to each lab meeting. You will also need to bring your lab manual to each lab meeting. 4 Tentative Laboratory Syllabus for Summer 2011 Dates Lab Topic W 6/1 Lab-1 Introduction Th 6/2 Lab-1A,B: Observing and Measuring Earth’s Materials M 6/6 Lab-1B,C T 6/7 Lab-1C,D W 6/8 Lab-3 Minerals Th 6/9 Lab-3 minerals M 6/13 Lab-3 minerals T 6/14 Lab-3 minerals W 6/15 Minerals identification practical TEST Th 6/16 Lab 5: Igneous Rocks M 6/20 Igneous Rocks contd.