Geology 326, Spring 2006

Course Information

Prerequisites: Geology 303 or instructor consent

Lecture M,W 1-2:15 Stevenson 1050
Lab: W 2:30-5:20 Stevenson 1050

Instructor: Tom Anderson
Office Hours: TTh, 3-4; Schulz 2009
Phone: 664-2176
e-mail: tom.Anderson@sonoma.edu

Instructor: Dan Karner
Office Hours: M: 3-4:30; T, Th 11-12; Schulz 2009
Phone: 664-2854
e-mail: karner@Sonoma.edu

Textbooks: Boggs, S., 2001, Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (3rd ed.)
Prothero, D.R. and Dott, R.H., 2004, Evolution of the earth (7th ed.)

Course Description: The principles of stratigraphy and historical geology will be discussed with special emphasis given to the application of these principles to the geologic development of North America. The use of sedimentary rocks, fossils, and structural and tectonic principles will be treated as they relate to the development and understanding of geologic history. Laboratory work will include the study of sedimentary rocks and their properties, fossils and their occurrence and distribution, the construction and interpretation of stratigraphic maps and illustrations, detailed studies of selected maps representative of the various geologic provinces of North America, and data analysis tools that can aid with stratigraphic interpretation.

Objectives: We aim to expose you to the many different applications of stratigraphy, to teach you the skills of stratigraphy so that you can apply them in your professional careers, to improve your ability to interpret depositional environments from sedimentary rocks, and to increase your field exposure to stratigraphy.

Anderson and Karner are co-teaching this course. The course will be taught principally in two parts: 1) the principles of stratigraphy; and 2) exploring the stratigraphy to North America to work out the geologic history of the United States. Karner will teach the principles over the first half of the semester, with the Boggs textbook as a guide. Anderson will teach historical geology over the second half of the class, using the Prothero text.

Field trip

On April 9 we will conduct a 1-day field trip to Point Reyes to study the stratigraphy cropping out along the beach cliffs. You will then prepare a report based on your field observations, combined with a detailed literature review.

Grading

Letter grade will be assigned based on your performance in the class relative to your peers; however if every one does well, we will assign favorable grades to you all.

Final grades will be calculated from the following percentages:

Laboratory: 25%

Field trip report: 10%

Midterm 1: 20%

Midterm 2: 20%

Final: 25%

Late work, Missed exams

Students who miss examinations and have reasonable excuses ("reasonable" will be decided by the instructors- prearrange your absences if at all possible) will be permitted to take a make-up exam no later than one week following the scheduled examination date. Laboratory write-ups and field trip reports will be marked down by 10% if turned in within one week following the scheduled due date, and 25% if turned in later.