Ge 101 Syllabus (revised 11/1/2012)
Introduction
to Geology and Geochemistry
Fall
2012
Professor: Paul Asimow
(253 Arms; asimow@gps;
x4133).
Teaching Assistant: Claire Thomas
(258 Arms; cwaller@gps;
x6482)
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
26, noon – Sunday October 28, 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, 6th edition, Grotzinger & Jordan, (2010, 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: 10/1, 10/2, 10/3, 10/4
0.
Logistics
1a.
Geologic time, plate tectonics
1b.
Geodynamic settings of major rock suites
2a.
Igneous classification,
mid-ocean ridges
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan, chapters 1, 2, 4, 8; Albar重e, chapter 8
WEEK 2: 10/8, 10/9, 10/10 (Claire), 10/11 (Claire)
10/8
Quiz: The geologic timescale
10/8
Lab 1: GIS, in NM 309; TIME TO BE DETERMINED at OM
(due Monday 10/15)
2b.
Hot spots
4.
Chemical thermodynamics: melting, major elements, mineralogy
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan chapters 3, 6, 12; Albar重e, Appendix C
WEEK 3: 10/15, 10/16, 10/17, 10/18 (Friday
10/19 is ﾒADD DAYﾓ)
10/17
Lab 2l TIME TO BE DETERMINED: Analytical techniques for mineral identification
(Due Friday 10/26)
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan, chapters 7, 13, 22
WEEK 4: 10/22, 10/23, 10/24, 10/25
10/22
Lab 2 (roundup)
10/26
Friday Noon – 10/28 Sunday 7:00 PM: FIELD TRIP to Owens Valley (WooHoo!)
Problem
Set 1: Structural geology and geomorphology (due Wednesday 11/7)
7.
Orogeny, continental dynamics, and regional
metamorphism
8a.
Stratigraphy and paleomagnetism
8b.
Introduction to California Geology, Field Trip prep
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan, chapters 10, 14, 21
WEEK 5: 10/29, 10/30, 10/31, 11/1
10/29
Lab time for collective work on Problem Set 1
9.
Chemical and physical weathering, sedimentary rocks
10.
Cosmochemistry: origin of
nuclei, solar system, and Earth
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan, chapters 5, 16, 18, 19
WEEK 6: 11/5, 11/6, 11/7, 11/8
Problem
Set 2: Nuclear chemistry, thermodynamics, phase diagrams (due 11/14)
11.
Geochemical classification of elements and gross
differentiation of Earth
12.
Radioactivity
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan, chapter 9; Albar重e, chapters 1, 7, 9, 10 (see also Langmuir & Broecker, How to
Build a Habitable Planet)
WEEK 7: 11/12, 11/13, 11/14, 11/15
Problem
Set 3: Radioactivity and differentiation (due 11/21)
13.
Origin of hydrosphere and atmosphere, box model
concepts
14.
Stable isotopes, climate, hydrologic
cycle
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan, chapter 11, 15, 17; Albar重e, chapters 2, 3, 5
WEEK 8: 11/19, 11/20, 11/21, (Wednesday
11/21 is ﾒDROP DAYﾓ; Thursday 11/22 is Thanksgiving
holiday)
Problem
Set 4: Stable isotopes and paleoclimate (due 11/28)
15.
Ocean chemistry
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan, chapter 23; Albar重e, chapters 4, 6
WEEK 9: 11/26, 11/27, 11/28, 11/29
Problem
Set 5: Box models, mixing theory, chemical oceanography (due 12/5; if you are
going to AGU you may submit electronically to Claire)
18.
Chemical geodynamics: lithophile trace elements and
isotopes
19.
Chemical geodynamics: noble gases
Reading:
Grotzinger & Jordan, chapter 20, Albar重e, chapter 8 again
WEEK 10: No lectures – AGU Fall
Meeting is December 3 to 7
Exam available Friday 12/7, due by Noon Friday 12/14 at Caltech (electronic submission acceptable if
you are leaving town after AGU).
Here
are the exam review questions.
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).