Ge 101 Syllabus (revised 10/24/2011)

 

Introduction to Geology and Geochemistry

 

Fall 2011

 

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

 

Teaching Assistant: June Wicks (062b Arms; wicks@gps; x6863)

 

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

 

Field Trip: Friday October 21, noon – Sunday October 23, about 7 PM. The field trip is an important part of the class and is required. If you canﾕt make it, you must make special arrangements with Prof. Asimow.

Required Texts:

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

 

Geochemistry, an Introduction, 2nd edition, Albar重e (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: 9/26, 9/27, 9/28, 9/29

 

         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; Albar重e, chapter 8

 

WEEK 2: 10/3, 10/4, 10/5, 10/6

 

         10/3 Quiz: The geologic timescale

         10/3 Lab 1: GIS, in NM 309; TIME TO BE DETERMINED at OM (due Monday 10/10)

 

         2b. Hot spots

         3. Subduction and volcanology

         4. Chemical thermodynamics: melting, major elements, mineralogy

 

         Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapters 3, 6, 12; Albar重e, Appendix C

 

WEEK 3: 10/10, 10/11, 10/12, 10/13  (Friday 10/14 is ﾒADD DAYﾓ)

 

         10/10 Lab 2 (kickoff): Analytical techniques for mineral identification (Due Friday 10/21)

 

         5. Structural geology

         6. Geomorphology

 

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

 

WEEK 4: 10/17, 10/18, 10/19, 10/20

 

         10/17 Lab 2 (roundup)

         10/21 Friday Noon – 10/23 Sunday 7:00 PM: FIELD TRIP to Owens Valley (WooHoo!)

 

         Problem Set 1: Structural geology and geomorphology (due Wednesday 11/2)

 

         7. Orogeny, continental dynamics, and regional metamorphism

         8a. Stratigraphy and paleomagnetism

         8b. Introduction to California Geology, Field Trip prep

        

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

 

WEEK 5: 10/24, 10/25, 10/26, 10/27

 

         10/24 Lab time for collective work on Problem Set 1

        

         9. Chemical and physical weathering, sedimentary rocks 

         Weﾕre frequently behind at this point. Opening left to catch up and finish geology before we move on to geochemistry.

 

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

 

WEEK 6: 10/31, 11/1*, 11/2*, 11/3* (* = Juneﾕs lectures)

 

         Problem Set 2: Nuclear chemistry, thermodynamics, phase diagrams (due 11/9)

 

         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; Albar重e, chapters 1, 7, 9, 10 (see also Broecker, How to Build a Habitable Planet)

 

WEEK 7: 11/7, 11/8, 11/9, 11/10

 

         Problem Set 3: Radioactivity and differentiation (due 11/16)

 

         12. Radioactivity

         13. Origin of hydrosphere and atmosphere, box model concepts

 

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

 

WEEK 8: 11/14, 11/15, 11/16, 11/17 (Wednesday 11/16 is ﾒDROP DAYﾓ)

 

         Problem Set 4: Stable isotopes and paleoclimate (due 11/23)

 

         14. Stable isotopes, climate, hydrologic cycle

         15. Ocean chemistry

 

         Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapter 23; Albar重e, chapters 4, 6

 

WEEK 9: 11/21, 11/22, 11/23; 11/24 is Thanksgiving holiday

 

         Problem Set 5: Box models, mixing theory, chemical oceanography (due 12/2)

 

         16. Atmospheric chemistry

         17. Weﾕll see.

 

         Reading: Grotzinger et al., chapter 20

 

WEEK 10: 11/28, 11/29, 11/30, 12/1

        

         Exam available Friday 12/2, due by Noon Friday 12/9 at Caltech (or noon Wednesday 12/7 at AGU)

         Here are the exam review questions.

 

         18. Chemical geodynamics: lithophile trace elements and isotopes

         19. Chemical geodynamics: noble gases

          

         Reading: Albar重e, chapter 8 again

 

Grading:

 

Problem Sets and Labs 60%

Final Exam 30%

Field Trip Report 10%

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