Geology AGLY 325 – Depositional and Diagenetic Environments
Monday & Wednesday, 6:00 - 8:40 PM; Fall, 2012; 4 credit hours
Dr. Doug Wyatt, DougW@usca.edu, Cell: 803.215.7296
Office hours will be scheduled as necessary during the semester.
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Text: Gary Nichols, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, 2nd Ed., Wiley-Blackwell©2009
Class Date
Topic
August
Introduction, class scope & plans, review of syllabus, overview of key
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How the Earth was Made,
Disc 1-3, Birth of the Earth,
Solid Land & Water
The Nature of Earth,
Sedimentary Rocks, Lecture
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September
SKYPE CLASS
The Nature of Earth,
Sedimentary Rocks, Lecture
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Lab
The Nature of Earth,
Sedimentary Rocks, Lecture
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SKYPE CLASS
The Nature of Earth,
Sedimentary Rocks, Lecture
19
SKYPE CLASS
How the Earth was Made,
Disc 1-1, The Grand
Canyon, Immense Changes
& 5.5 Million Years Ago
October
SKYPE CLASS
terms, sediments and deposition, diagenesis,
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Review Chapter 2. Discussion of earth cycles, formation of rocks,
weathering and erosion. Terrigenous Clastic Sediments.
Labor Day – No Class.
Scan Chapter 3. Biogenic, chemical and volcanogenic sediments
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Lab#1 Rock Types and Physical Examination Hands On
Scan Chapter 4. Weathering, erosion, transport, fluid flow, sediment,
soils.
Scan Chapter 5. Describing geology, facies and environments
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Scan Chapter 6. Sources of Sediment
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Lab #2 Rock Types and Physical Examination in the field
Exam #1 followed by review
Scan Chapters 7. Glacial Environments
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Scan Chapter 8. Aeolian Environments
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Review Chapter 9. Rivers and Alluvial Fans
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Scan Chapter 10. Lakes
Review Chapter 11. Marine Processes
Scan Chapter 12. Deltas
Review Chapter 13. Coasts and Estuaries
Lab #3 field walk and field methods, graphics, measurements
Exam #2 followed by review
Review Chapter 14. Shallow Sea
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Review Chapter 15. Shallow Marine Carbonates
Scan Chapters 16 & 17. Deep Marine & Volcanics
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Scan Chapter 18. Structure and Diagenesis
Review Chapter 19, Scan Chapter 20. Stratigraphic Concepts & Change
Thanksgiving, No Class.
Lab #4 Dating & Correlating Rocks (Reference Chapter 21)
Exam #3
Skim Chapters 22, 23, 24. Rocks in the Subsurface, Basins, Sequences
The Nature of Earth,
Sedimentary Rocks, Lecture
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21
SKYPE CLASS
How the Earth was Made,
Disc 1-1, The Grand
Canyon, Immense Changes
& 5.5 Million Years Ago
The Nature of Earth,
Sedimentary Rocks, Lecture
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SKYPE CLASS
SKYPE CLASS
SKYPE CLASS
November
How the Earth was Made,
Disc 1-3, Birth of the Earth,
Origin of Water
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How the Earth was Made,
Disc 1-3, Birth of the Earth,
Final Stage
Video TBD
December
Video TBD
Discussion and Review
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12 Final Exam. 4PM
Note: Lab field dates may vary depending on schedules and weather.
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Last Class
Syllabus Geo325 Fall 2012.doc
Geology AGLY 325 – Depositional and Diagenetic Environments
Monday & Wednesday, 6:00 - 8:40 PM; Fall, 2012; 4 credit hours
Motivation
The vast majority of our economic minerals, energy sources, drinking water, building materials, agricultural materials, the
earth substrate where most of life occurs including us and our routine day to day interaction with our planet primarily
occurs on and within sedimentary rocks!
Class Objectives and Information
My objective for this class is for you to learn the basics of sedimentary rock types, how they are formed and deposited, how
they occur in nature, and what changes they undergo, all to understand their importance for mankind. Basic sedimentology
and stratigraphy will be discussed. Lecture, discussion, videos, and hands on sample analysis will be a large part of our
class activities. If possible, we may have a local on-campus/near-campus field lab/activity. We will have at least four labs
as part of our class activities. For this class we will use the textbook as the primary information source but I will add other
information such as videos as it might help with your understanding. I will also suggest internet reference sources.
Notes: We will use several videos in this class that help us understand sedimentary rock deposition. You will need to take
notes during these videos. Several of our classes may be by videoconference, probably Skype, and you can participate in
these classes from any location if you have the software capability. For our lab activities we will operate in teams. I will
expect only one set of lab results from a team but the grade for that lab will be applied to all in that team. Labs typically
last most of the class period.
Attendance: This is a long class period and we will have a break during the class. Food and drink are permitted.
Attendance at all evening classes is often difficult but you are expected to attend as possible. You may participate in video
classes from any WIFI connection but are expected to be at all regular class meetings. If, BIG If, you cannot attend for
some reason but might have your computer with you we could Skype you in.
If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might affect your performance in this class,
please contact the Office of Disability Services, B&E 134, (803) 643-6816, as soon as possible. The Office of Disability
Services will determine appropriate accommodations based on documentation.
Good writing and communication is valued in this course as in life. For further information on the portfolio requirement
please consult your USCA Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin.
Text: The Nichols text is excellent and you will be expected to read and understand the material. If the syllabus says
“Review” a certain part of the text, I expect you to read it and be conversant in the concepts. If the syllabus says “Scan” a
certain part of the text, I expect you to be familiar with the terms and concepts. If the syllabus indicates “Skim” I would
expect you to be aware of the general concepts being discussed.
Classroom Behavior: It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom any student who disrupts or disturbs the
proceeding of the class. Disruption of the class includes but is not limited to the use of any portable electronic devices,
including cell phones, MP3 players; iPods, etc. unless prior approval has been given to a student or unless required for the
course. In extreme cases the faculty member can request assistance from University Police. If the student who has been
ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied admittance to the class for the
remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of F.
Policy for Portable Electronic Devices: The use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers, MP3
players, iPods, etc., during class is not allowed for any reason unless prior approval has been given to a student from the
instructor or unless required for the course. If you are planning to have any of these devices in class, they must be turned
off and stowed away for the duration of the class period.
Grading Scheme
I use a simple earned points grading system. Grades will be based on completion of three exams, the four lab activities and
a final exam. The point system used and overall grading will be based on the following:
Exam #1 (100 points) – multiple choice, short answer, T/F, sketch, explain, describe
Exam #2 (100 points) – multiple choice, short answer, T/F, sketch, explain, describe
Exam #3 (100 points) – multiple choice, short answer, T/F, sketch, explain, describe
Labs (4) (25 points each) – sediments, rock, mineral investigation and evaluation
Final
(100 points) – (comprehensive) multiple choice, short answer, T/F, sketch, explain
Participation
(±10 points) – add or subtract up to 10 points in either direction, my call!
Total 500 points: 465-500=A; 420-450=B; 451-464 =B+; 380-410=C; 411-419=C+; 340-370=D; 371-379=D+; <340 no
excuses!
Syllabus Geo325 Fall 2012.doc