Ge 101 Syllabus (revised 9/22/05)
Introduction to Geology and
Geochemistry
Fall 2005
Professor: Paul
Asimow (253 Arms; asimow@gps;
x4133).
Teaching Assistants: Eun-Seo
Choi (358 SM; echoi@gps; x6971), primarily for geology. Troy Hudson (167 SM; thudson@gps;
x3992), primarily for geochemistry.
Lecture Times: 1:00 – 2:55 PM Tuesday and Thursday, 251 Arms
Lab Times: 5:30
PM - 8:30 PM, Mondays by announcement (not every week), 251 Arms
Required Texts:
Understanding Earth, 4th edition, Press, Siever, Grotzinger and Jordan (2004,
Freeman)
Geochemistry, an Introduction, Albarède (2003, Cambridge)
Class Website:
http://www.asimow.com/Ge101.html
is used for posting lecture notes in powerpoint format, distributing problems
sets, accessing the online textbook, updating the syllabus, and sundry other
uses.
Syllabus:
WEEK 1
1. 9/27 Geologic time, plate tectonics, geodynamic settings of major rock
suites
2. 9/29 Igneous classification, mid-ocean ridges, hot-spots
Reading: Press et al., chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 10; Albarède, chapter 8
WEEK 2
10/3 Lab 1 (kickoff): Analytical techniques for mineral identification (Due
Tuesday 10/11)
10/4 Quiz: The geologic timescale
3. 10/4 Subduction and volcanology
4. 10/6 Chemical thermodynamics: melting, major elements, mineralogy
Reading: Press et al., chapters 3, 6, 9, 21; Albarède, Appendix C
WEEK 3
10/10 Lab 1 (roundup)
5. 10/11 Structural geology
6. 10/13 Geomorphology
Problem Set 1: Structural geology and geomorphology (due Thursday 10/20)
Reading: Press et al., chapters 11, 12, 13, 18
WEEK 4
10/17 Lab time for collective work on Problem Set 1
7. 10/18 Orogeny, continental dynamics, and regional metamorphism
8. 10/20 Stratigraphy and paleomagnetism, survey of California geology
Reading: Press et al., chapters 16, 17, 19, 20
10/21 Noon – 10/23 7:00 PM: FIELD TRIP to Owens Valley (Required! and Fun!)
WEEK 5
10/24 Lab 2: GIS (due Thursday 10/27)
9. 10/25 Chemical and physical weathering, sedimentary rocks
10. 10/27 Cosmochemistry: origin of nuclei, solar system, and Earth
Problem Set 2: Nuclear chemistry, thermodynamics, phase diagrams (due
Thursday 11/3)
Reading: Press et al., chapters 7, 8, 14, 15; Albarède, chapters 7, 9 (see
also Broecker, How to Build a Habitable Planet)
WEEK 6
11. 11/1 Geochemical classification of elements and gross differentiation of
Earth
11/3 NO
LECTURE
Problem Set 3: Radioactivity and differentiation (due Thursday 11/10)
Reading: Albarède, chapters 1, 10
WEEK 7
12. 11/8 Radioactivity
13. 11/10 Origin of hydrosphere and atmosphere, box model concepts
Problem Set 4: Stable isotopes and paleoclimate (due Thursday 11/17)
Reading: White chapter 9 and 13
WEEK 8
14. 11/15 Stable isotopes, climate, hydrologic cycle
15. 11/17 Ocean chemistry
Problem Set 5: Box models and mixing theory (due Wednesday 11/23)
Reading: White chapters 14 and 15
WEEK 9 (Thanksgiving week)
16. 11/22 Atmospheric chemistry
Problem Set 6: Chemical oceanography (due Thursday 12/1)
Reading: Press et al., chapters 22 and 23
WEEK 10
18. 11/29 Chemical geodynamics: lithophile trace elements and isotopes
19. 12/1 Chemical geodynamics: noble gases
Reading: White chapters 11 and 12
Exam available Friday 12/3, due by Noon
Friday 12/10 in Paul’s mailbox.
Grading:
Problem Sets and Labs 60%
Field Report 10%
Final Exam 30%