GEOS 3103/3803: Environmental and Sedimentary Geology

GEOS3103 Environmental and Sedimentary Geology (6cp)
GEOS3803 Environmental and Sedimentary Geology (Advanced) (6cp)
Dr Tom Hubble and Dr Adriana Dutkiewicz

Session: July
Assumed knowledge: GEOS1003 and GEOS2124
Prerequisites: GEOS(2124 or 2924) and GEOS(2111 or 2911 or 2114 or 2914 or 2113 or 2913); or GEOS(1003 or 1903) and 24 credit points of intermediate Science units of study with permission of the Head of School
Prohibitions: GEOS3804, GEOS3003, GEOS 3903, GEOS3006, GEOS3906, GEOS3016, GEOS3916, GEOS3017, GEOS3917
Classes: 2 hour lecture, 3 hour tutorial/practical class
Assessment: One 2 hour exam, quiz, practical and field reports

Sediments and sedimentary rocks cover most of the Earth's surface, record much of the Earth's geological history and host important resources such as petroleum, coal, water and mineral ores. The aim of this unit is to provide students with the skills required to examine, describe and interpret sediments and sedimentary rock units for a variety of different purposes. Specific focuses of the unit will be on identifying the recent or ancient environment in which particular sedimentary materials were deposited; the techniques used to identify anthropogenic pollution of modern sediments; and an assessment of natural hazards commonly associated with the formation of sediment bodies such as landslides and deep marine slides. On completion of the unit students will be familiar with the natural processes that form, modify, pollute and lithify sediments and the recognition and management of the environmental hazards associated with sediment bodies. A variety of sedimentary settings will be examined including fluvial, alluvial, lacustrine, marginal marine and deep marine environments. The various controls on the sedimentary record such as climate and sea-level change, as well as diagenesis and geochemical cycles will also be discussed. Practical exercises will require students to examine global datasets, determine the properties of sedimentary rocks, as well as collect and interpret their own field data. The course is relevant to students interested in petroleum or mineral exploration, environmental and engineering geology as well as marine geoscience.