FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY (GEOL-101) Hunter College Department of Geography

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1 FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY (GEOL-101) Hunter College Department of Geography Dr. Shruti Philips Office: HC North, Room 1032 Office Hours: Tues & Fri am or by appointment Telephone: (212) Class Meeting: Tues & Fri 11.10am pm (Hunter North Assembly) Introduction: Fundamentals of Geology is an introduction to planet Earth. In this course we will learn about 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, earthquakes 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: 1

2 An appreciation and understanding of scientific methodology. 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, 10 th Edition 2009, Prentice-Hall (paperback) ISBN: Lab Manual: Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 7 th ed., Richard M. Busch, Editor, prepared for Hunter College ISBN: Assessment and Grading Policy: There will be two midterm exams given during the semester and a final exam at the end of the semester. The lower of the two midterm grades will be dropped (If you miss one midterm for any reason, there will be no makeup but the other midterm grade will be counted as your midterm grade). If you are absent for both 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: = A; = B; = C; = 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 2

3 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. To qualify for the C/NC 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 first two 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 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: Academic%20Integrity.pdf 3

4 Tentative Lecture Syllabus for Spring 2010 Dates Topic Chapter F 1/29 INTRODUCTION : The Earth System 1 T 2/2 Dynamic Earth F 2/5 Origin of Planet Earth T 2/9 Minerals 2 T 2/16 Minerals F 2/19 Minerals T 2/23 Igneous Rocks 3 F 2/26 Igneous Rocks T 3/2 Volcanoes 4 F 3/5 Intrusive Igneous Activity T 3/9 Plate tectonics & Igneous activity F 3/12 Midterm-1 1,2,3,4 T 3/16 Weathering 5 F 3/19 Soils 5 T 3/23 Sedimentary Rocks 6 F 3/26 Sedimentary Environments T 4/6 Metamorphic Rocks 7 F 4/9 Metamorphic Rocks T 4/13 Rock Deformation 17 F 4/16 Rock Deformation T 4/20 Midterm-2 5, 6,7, 17 (p ) F 4/23 Earthquakes and the Earth s Interior 14 T 4/27 Earthquakes and the Earth s Interior F 4/30 Plate Tectonics 15 T 5/4 Plate Tectonics F 5/7 Ocean Floor & Continental development 16, 17 T 5/11 Geologic Time: Relative Dating 18 F 5/14 Geologic Time: Absolute Dating 18 T 5/ am to 11.00am FINAL EXAMINATION 14, 15, 16, 17 (p ), 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

5 Tentative Laboratory Syllabus for Spring 2010 Dates Week-1 Week-2 Week-3 Week-4 Week-5 Week-6 Week-7 Week-8 Week-9 Week-10 Week-11 Week-12 Week-13 Week-14 Lab Topic Lab-1 Introduction Lab-1A,B: Observing and Measuring Earth s Materials Lab-1B,C Lab-1C,D Lab-3 Minerals Lab-3 minerals Lab-3 minerals Lab-3 minerals Minerals identification practical TEST Lab 5: Igneous Rocks Igneous Rocks contd. Igneous rocks contd. Lab-6 Sedimentary rocks Lab-6 Sedimentary rocks Lab-6 Sedimentary rocks Lab 7: Metamorphic Rocks. Central Park Field trip. Lab-4 Rock cycle Igneous, Sed., & Metamorphic Rock identification TEST Lab-10 Geologic Structures all sections except part C Lab-10 Geologic Structures Earthquake Lab Earthquake Lab Lab-2 Plate Tectonics Lab-2 Plate Tectonics Lab-8 Relative & Absolute Dating. Lab-8 contd. Lab Notebooks Due: Time Scale Quiz Laboratory Preparation: It is imperative that you read the laboratory manual before coming to class. The labs are complex, and if you do not read them before class you will have difficulty turning them in on time. Lab notebook Preparation: The lab book is the most important record a scientist can keep. In it they keep a record of their experiments, observations, results, successes and failures. In this class you are required to keep a laboratory notebook as a record of your laboratory work. This book will serve as an important record of your experiments and observations. It will also serve the practical purpose of keeping all of your assignments in one place, so that you can use it as a reference and as a study tool. You are required to follow the following directions to prepare and keep your notebook: At the beginning of each new lab, you must come to class with the introduction already written. This is to make sure you are familiar with the laboratory material 5

6 and have thought about the purpose and methods of the lab. This will enhance your enjoyment of the lab and help you use the laboratory period efficiently. 1) Number all the pages in the lab manual and label the first three pages Table of Contents. 2) As you work in the lab notebook date each page with the current date and fill in the Table of Contents. All page numbers and dates should be on the upper left of the lefthand pages and the upper right of the right-hand pages. 3) All work must be done in pen. If you need to change an answer etc. cross out the original with a single line, and clearly make the desired change. The purpose of keeping a lab notebook is to give you experience in keeping a permanent record that would allow you, or anyone reading your notebook, to reconstruct your experiment(s) and obtain similar results. Keeping such a record is one of the most important aspects of doing science. Notes that your TA will give you in the beginning of each laboratory in this notebook, or you may choose to keep these in a separate book. 4) Each laboratory will include the following sections: -an introduction (in your own words written before you come to the first meeting of each new lab) -charts and tables (to be filled in your lab manual and attached to your note book) -answers to the questions posed in the lab manual -a conclusion (in your own words) Any charts, tables, maps etc. from the lab manual are to be stapled or taped into your lab notebook so that both sides of the page are easily readable (if necessary) and so that no paper extends beyond the bounds of the book. This means that if you refer to any diagrams, charts etc they must be included in your notebook. You will be shown an example of a laboratory notebook in class. You may work with other students at your lab table, but each student must turn in his/her own notebook. 5) Answer all questions in full sentences. DO NOT RECOPY THE QUESTION IN YOUR NOTEBOOK. Rather, answer the question so that the question is implicit in the answer. For instance. If the question is: What color is the rock on table A your answer might be The color of the rock on table A is gray. An unacceptable answer would be gray. 6) It is your responsibility to make your notebook clear and legible. Your TA s must grade your notebooks efficiently and if they cannot find your answers easily points will be deducted. The books will be collected at the end of each lab for grading. Late labs will not be accepted. Your lab notebooks should be neat and complete. The grading for the laboratories will be as follows: 5= excellent, 4= good, 3=- fair, 2= poor, 1= terrible, 0= not handed in. You will automatically lose points if your laboratory is sloppy, or done in pencil, and if your pages are not numbered and dated. Make-up labs will not be given. If you fail to hand in a lab because you did not attend you will get a 0". If you have extenuating circumstances, contact your instructor, before the class is to meet or soon afterwards, but expect the mandatory attendance and no late lab policies to be enforced. 6

7 Field Trips: There will be two Field trips, one mandatory & one optional. Both trips are lab assignments. Trip-1 (mandatory) is a field trip to Central Park. It will take place during the lab class time and the date will be announced by your lab instructor. In case of rain bring rain gear (umbrellas / raincoats). A report giving details of what you saw in Central Park and a brief geological history of New York City, must be put down in your notebook. Trip-2 (optional) is a trip to the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79 th Street. It is a self-guided trip. A report must be completed and put down in your notebook. This will earn you 5 extra credit points towards your notebook grade. Museum Report: (Discuss 5 exhibits in the Museum of Natural History- 1-3 paragraphs devoted to each exhibit. Two exhibits must be located in the Hall of Earth. The others may be from the Hall of Minerals, the Hall of Meteorites & the Rose Center.) Below are the names and addresses of the lab instructors associated with this course: Laurence Fleischer, sections 001, laurence.fleischer@gmail.com Andre Scheinwald, sections 003, aschein33001@gmail.com Angelos Lampousis, sections 005, alampousis@gc.cuny.edu Susana Palamarczuk, sections 007, oldlittleone@hotmail.com Paul Feinberg, section feinbergpaul@yahoo.com Teodosia Manecan, section tmanecan@hunter.cuny.edu 7