Syllabus

Fall 2001

Text: Murck and Skinner, Geology Today

Grade Calculation:	2 Preliminary Exams	25% each
	CUMULATIVE Final Exam	25%
	Recitation Performance (quizzes, assignments, etc.)	20%
	Professor's Fudge Factor (participation, etc.)	5%
	**Course will be curved to a B-	100% = Total

Lecture #

Day

Date

Lecture Topic

1

F

9/7

Introduction; Background; Course Logistics

Unit I: The Earth and Its Systems

2	M	9/10	Systems, Cycles, and Equilibria I.
			Reading: Ch. 1.
3	W	9/12	Systems, Cycles, and Equilibria II.
			Reading: Ch. 1.
4	F	9/14	Snapshot of the Earth I.
			Reading: Ch. 1.
5	M	9/17	Snapshot of the Earth II.
			Reading: Ch. 1.
6	W	9/19	Origin of the Earth and Earth Materials I.
			Reading: Ch. 1, p. 5-11; Ch. 2, p. 30-34; App. B, p. A-7.
7	F	9/21	Origin of the Earth and Earth Materials II.
			Reading: Ch. 1, p. 5-11; Ch. 2, p. 30-34; App. B, p. A-7.
8	M	9/24	The Earth System: Heat Dumping Revisited.
			Reading: Ch. 2, p. 30-32; Ch. 4, p. 105-109.
9	W	9/26	The Deep Earth: Core and Mantle I.
			Reading: Ch. 5, p. 142-146.
10	F	9/28	The Deep Earth: Core and Mantle II.
			Reading: Ch. 5, p. 142-146.
11	M	10/1	Plate Tectonics I: Plates and Shallow Convection System.
			Reading: Ch. 4, p. 98-105.
12	W	10/3	Plate Tectonics II: Constructive Plate Boundaries I: Rifting and Young Ocean Basins.
			Reading: Ch. 4, p. 98-105.
13	F	10/5	Plate Tectonics III: Constructive Plate Boundaries II: Mature/Passive Ocean Basins.
			Reading: Ch. 4, p. 98-105.
14	M	10/8	Plate Tectonics IV: Destructive Plate Boundaries I.
			Reading: Ch. 4, p. 98-105.
15	W	10/10	Plate Tectonics V: Destructive Plate Boundaries II.
			Reading: Ch. 4, p. 98-105.
	F	10/12	NO CLASS -- FALL BREAK
			Reading: None.
16	M	10/15	Plate Tectonics VI: Collisions; The Wilson Cycle.
			Reading: Ch. 4, p. 98-105.
17	W	10/17	EXAM I.
			Reading: None.
18	F	10/19	Plate Tectonics VII: Conservative Plate Boundaries, Plumes.
			Reading: Ch. 4, p. 98-105.
19	M	10/22	The Atmosphere/Hydrosphere/Cryosphere System I.
			Reading: Ch. 13, p. 367-386; Ch. 14, p. 409-416.
20	W	10/24	The Atmosphere/Hydrosphere/Cryosphere System II.
			Reading: Ch. 13, p. 367-386; Ch. 14, p. 409-416.

Unit II: Minerals, Rocks, and Time

21	F	10/26	Minerals I.
			Reading: Ch. 2.
22	M	10/29	Minerals II.
			Reading: Ch. 2.
23	W	10/31	Igneous Rocks.
			Reading: Ch. 6.
24	F	11/2	Sedimentary Rocks.
			Reading: Ch. 8.
25	M	11/5	Metamorphic Rocks.
			Reading: Ch. 10.
26	W	11/7	Geologic Time.
			Reading: Ch. 3; Ch. 15, p. 449-454.

Unit III: Cycles in the Earth

27	F	11/9	The Plate Cycle: Deformation, Metamorphism, and Magnetism I.
			Reading: Ch. 9; Review Ch. 4, p. 98-105; Ch. 6; Ch. 10.
28	M	11/12	The Plate Cycle: Deformation, Metamorphism, and Magnetism II.
			Reading: Ch. 9; Review Ch. 4, p. 98-105; Ch. 6; Ch. 10.
29	W	11/14	The Rock Cycle.
			Reading: Ch. 7, p. 190-191; You may find some helpful material in Ch. 11.
30	F	11/16	Cycles in the Atmosphere/Hydrosphere/Cryosphere I.
			Reading: Review Ch. 13, p. 367-386 and Ch. 14, p. 409-416.
31	M	11/19	EXAM II.
			Reading: None.
32	W	11/21	Biospheric Cycles in a Geospheric Context.
			Reading: Ch.15, p. 435-448.
33	F	11/23	NO CLASS -- THANKSGIVING.
			Reading: None.

Unit IV: Introduction to Reading Landscapes: Interactions Between Cycles

34	M	11/26	Interactions Between Cycles: Weathering and Erosion.
			Reading: Ch. 7.
35	W	11/28	Interactions Between Cycles: Landforms and Erosion I: Rivers and Lakes.
			Reading: Ch. 12.
36	F	11/30	Interactions Between Cycles: Landforms and Erosion II: Coasts.
			Reading: Ch. 13, especially p. 383-394.
37	M	12/3	Interactions Between Cycles: Landforms and Erosion III: Deserts and Glaciers.
			Reading: Ch. 14.
38	W	12/5	Interactions Between Cycles: Biosphere and Geosphere.
			Reading: (none yet).
39	F	12/7	Interactions Between Cycles: Civilization and Earth Cycles
			Reading: Ch. 17.
40	M	12/10	(Held in Reserve)
			Reading: (to be assigned).

	F	12/15	FINAL EXAM
		8:30-10:30 AM	Reading: None/All!