Ge 101 Syllabus (revised 9/26/09)

Introduction to Geology and Geochemistry

Fall 2009

Professor: Paul Asimow (253 Arms; asimow@gps; x4133).

Teaching Assistant: Emily Hamecher (072 Arms; hamecher@gps; x4290)

Lecture Times: 11:00 – 11:55 AM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; 251 Arms

Lab Times: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM, Mondays by announcement (not every week); 267 Arms

Required Texts:

Understanding Earth, 5th edition, Grotzinger, Jordan, Press, and Siever (2007, Freeman)

Geochemistry, an Introduction, 2^nd edition, Albarède (2009, Cambridge)

Class Website:http://www.asimow.com/Ge101.html is used for posting lecture notes in powerpoint format, distributing problems sets, updating the syllabus, and sundry other uses.

Syllabus:

WEEK 1: 9/30, 10/1

0. Logistics

1a. Geologic time, plate tectonics

1b. Geodynamic settings of major rock suites

2a. Igneous classification, mid-ocean ridges

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapters 1, 2, 4, 8; Albarède, chapter 8

WEEK 2: 10/5, 10/6, 10/7, 10/8

10/7 Quiz: The geologic timescale

10/5 Lab 1: GIS, in NM 309; TIME TO BE DETERMINED at OM (due Monday 10/12)

2b. Hot spots

3. Subduction and volcanology

4. Chemical thermodynamics: melting, major elements, mineralogy

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapters 3, 6, 12; Albarède, Appendix C

WEEK 3: 10/12, 10/13, 10/14, 10/15 (Friday 10/16 is “ADD DAY”)

10/12 Lab 2 (kickoff): Analytical techniques for mineral identification (Due Friday 10/23)

5. Structural geology

6. Geomorphology

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapters 7, 13, 22

WEEK 4: 10/19, 10/20, 10/21, 10/22

10/19 Lab 2 (roundup)

10/23 Friday Noon – 10/25 Sunday 7:00 PM: OPTIONAL FIELD TRIP to Owens Valley (Fun!)

Problem Set 1: Structural geology and geomorphology (due Wednesday 11/4)

7. Orogeny, continental dynamics, and regional metamorphism

8a. Stratigraphy and paleomagnetism

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapters 10, 14, 21

WEEK 5: 10/26, 10/27, 10/28, 10/29

10/26 Lab time for collective work on Problem Set 1

9. Chemical and physical weathering, sedimentary rocks

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapters 5, 16, 18, 19

WEEK 6: 11/2, 11/3, 11/4, 11/5

Problem Set 2: Nuclear chemistry, thermodynamics, phase diagrams (due 11/11)

10. Cosmochemistry: origin of nuclei, solar system, and Earth

11. Geochemical classification of elements and gross differentiation of Earth

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapter 9; Albarède, chapters 1, 7, 9, 10 (see also Broecker, How to Build a Habitable Planet)

WEEK 7: 11/9, 11/10, 11/11, 11/12

Problem Set 3: Radioactivity and differentiation (due 11/18)

12. Radioactivity

13. Origin of hydrosphere and atmosphere, box model concepts

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapter 11, 15, 17; Albarède, chapters 2, 3, 5

WEEK 8: 11/16, 11/17, 11/18, 11/19 (Wednesday 11/18 is “DROP DAY”)

Problem Set 4: Stable isotopes and paleoclimate (due 11/25)

14. Stable isotopes, climate, hydrologic cycle

15. Ocean chemistry

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapter 23; Albarède, chapters 4, 6

WEEK 9: 11/23, 11/24, 11/25; 11/26 is Thanksgiving holiday

Problem Set 5: Box models, mixing theory, chemical oceanography (due 12/4)

16. Atmospheric chemistry

17. We’ll see.

Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapter 20

WEEK 10: 11/30, 12/1, 12/2, 12/3

Exam available Friday 12/4, due by Noon Friday 12/11

Here are the exam review questions.

18. Chemical geodynamics: lithophile trace elements and isotopes

19. Chemical geodynamics: noble gases

Reading: Albarède, chapter 8 again

Grading:

Problem Sets and Labs 65%

Final Exam 35%

Late work policy: Scores decay exponentially after the due date, with a half-life of two days (unless excused).