This class is taught every semester by a different member of the Geology
faculty.
Below is the syllabus for the version of the class I offered Fall 2002.
I will update this with a page of links that were helpful for developing
course material.
Last updated 2/03
Geology 110N
INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY
Lecture: MWF 10-10:50 Daly
Labs Tuesday :
9-10:50 Daly (section 001)
11-12:50 Reusch (section 004)
1-2:50 Daly (section 002)
3-4:50 Reusch (section 003)
Text: Undersanding Earth, Press and Siever, 3rd edition
Other materials: small notebook (for lab), colored pencils, simple calculator
Instructors:
Julia Daly
Ricker 38, x 7403
dalyj@maine.edu
Office hours: MWF 11-12, or stop by*
Douglas Reusch
Ricker 21, x 7463
reusch@maine.edu
Office hours: MWF 11-12, or stop by*
* NOT before class or exams
About this class:
Geology is the study of the earth and changes in the earth system through
time. Humans are intimately connected to the earth system through our
use of resources and our interaction with the landscape. Studying active
geological features – rivers, glaciers, or volcanoes – helps us to interpret
the geologic record and infer the geologic events leading to the present configuration
of the Earth. We can apply our understanding of past events to help
predict the future behavior of the earth system. The links between
the past, present, and future are crucial to understanding the earth system.
Current hot topics – climate change, energy resources – require an understanding
of geologic processes to inform our public policy.
This class will focus on the diverse geologic record of the Farmington area
to investigate geologic processes and to decipher the history of geologic
events. The class is divided into four parts:
1) active processes: the Sandy River watershed
2) recent events (less than 20,000 years ago): glaciers and sea-level change
3) ancient events (hundreds of millions of years ago): local bedrock records
4) synthesis: the Appalachian Mtns. and long-term change; THE BIG PICTURE
Course objectives:
• To learn the major paradigms/principles that guide geologic
thinking AND the evidence for these ideas.
• To develop the process of scientific inquiry: posing
questions, investigating natural phenomena, synthesizing the results, reaching
some conclusions, and defining new questions to be studied. We will
investigate the local geology of the Farmington area to meet this objective.
• To apply your knowledge and use available resources
(maps, internet, scientific articles) to address a geologic problem.
Examples of geologic problems:
1. Usually, Androscoggin Lake drains into the Androscoggin
River. During the spring, meltwater raises the level of the river and
reverses the flow, delivering water into Androscoggin Lake. This flow
may be responsible for delivering Hg and dioxin into the lake. What’s
the solution?
2. Should the numerous sand and gravel bars in the Sandy
River be available for ‘mining’?
3. Should the petroleum found in the rocks beneath the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be developed as a resource?
4. Global sea-level is rising, so why is sea level falling
rapidly around Hudson’s Bay?
5. Why are there marine sediments at the top of Mt. Everest?
Attendance & make-up policy
Attendance in class and labs is required. There will be no scheduled
exam or lab make-ups. In an emergency (if you are sick, etc.), contact
the instructor as soon possible to discuss alternatives.
Equal educational opportunity is offered to students with special needs
due to disability. Please notify me if a reasonable accommodation is
needed to meet course requirements.
Poster project
The poster project is an opportunity for you to research a geologic topic
or problem and present your findings. The general theme of this project
is “Geology and Environmental Issues”. You will choose a topic that
applies geological knowledge to an environmental problem or issue. This
is a group project (usually two students and no more than three) that will
be result in a brief oral presentation accompanied by a poster display.
The layout and content of the poster will be discussed in lab.
10/23: poster topic due
11/8: outline due
11/27: poster mock-up due
12/11: poster presentation
Please remember this is YOUR OWN WORK. Plagiarism, electronic or otherwise,
will result in a grade of zero. If you are uncertain about using research
material or how to cite an article, please come see one of the instructors.
Grading policy:
Exam I, II, III 10% each
Final 20%
Labs 30%
Poster project 10%
Assignments 10%
Week Date
Topic
Lab
Reading
1 9/2
NO CLASS
Info
Chap.: pg.
9/4
Intro to earth system
1:3-19
9/6
Streams I
13:281-291
2 9/9
Streams II
Sandy River
13:292-303
9/11
Weathering, soils
6:117-137
9/13
Mass wasting
11:231-238
3 9/16
Groundwater
Chesterville esker
12:253-268
9/18
Water as a resource
12:269-277
9/20
Sediments
7:141-153
4 9/23
Sedimentary rocks Field synthesis
7:153-165
9/25
Stratigraphy: principles
9:187-200
9/27
EXAM I
5 9/30
Glaciers
Daggett's Rock
15:329-338
10/2
Glacial landforms
15:339-346
10/4
Glacial landforms
other
6 10/7
Shorelines
Farmington striations
17:375-390
10/9
Sea-level change
other
10/11
Eolian processes
14:307-321
7 10/14
NO CLASS
Minerals
10/16
Climate change I
15:346-353
10/18
Climate change II
other
8 10/21
Geologic Time I Local bedrock
9:200-207
10/23
Climate change policy
23:562-571
10/25
EXAM II
9 10/28
Plates I
Plate I
20:453-466
10/30
Plates II
20:466-481
11/1
Earthquakes
18:411-424
10 11/4
Earth's interior
Plate II
19:435-449
11/6
Earth's interior
2:25-37
11/8
Minerals I
2:37-48
11 11/11 Igneous
rocks Igneous
rocks
4:67-82
11/13
Volcanism
5:91-108
11/15
Rock cycle
3:53-64
12 11/18 Metamorphism
Sedimentary rocks
8:169-184
11/20
Tectonic assemblages
review
11/22
EXAM III
13 11/25 Folds
and faults Metamorphic
rocks 10:211-226
11/27
NO CLASS
11/29
NO CLASS
14 12/2
Deformation & mountain building Quiz/Geol. Time
21:485-500
12/4
The Appalachians
other
12/6
Geologic Time II
Scotese
15 12/9
Earth History I
Poster presentation Scotese
12/11
Earth History II
22:507-522
12/13
Energy resources
22:522-539