Geology 179: Geology of Western Washington
Summer 2010
GENERAL INFO:
Class room meetings: June 28, 29, July 7 Room 29-223L, 10:50a-12:20p
Field trips: 1) Thurs-Sun July 8-11, Northern Olympic Peninsula. Approximate departure time, 4p, approximate return
time, 6p.
2) Fri-Sun July 23-25, San Juan Islands. Approximate departure time, 6a, approximate return time, 6p.
Required Reading:
1) Geology 179 Course Materials available in the TCC bookstore.
2) The Restless Northwest, Hill Williams, Washington State University Press, 2002
Instructor: Ralph Hitz
Office: Building 29-234
Office Hours: by appointment
Office Phone: 566-5299
E-Mail: rhitz@tacomacc.edu
Web page: http://www.tacomacc.edu/home/rhitz/
NOTE: The details in this syllabus are subject to change or error. I will notify you in class about any changes or
corrections.
THE COURSE:
This course introduces students to some of the key geologic features of western Washington. We’ll examine these
topics through lectures, lab exercises, and two extended weekend field trips.
OBJECTIVES. [Acronyms correspond to TCC’s student learning outcomes.]
Students completing the course should be able to:
 describe the internal structure of the earth and the fundamentals of how plate tectonics works (IIT, CRT)
 describe the sequence of terrane accretion in the Pacific Northwest over the past 200 million years
(IIT, CRT)
 describe how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks differ in origin and how to identify in hand specimen
common examples from each group (IIT, CRT)
 describe how coastal sediment budgets operate and problems particular to the sediment budget of the northern Olypmic
Peninsula coast (IIT, CRT)
 describe the formation of sea caves, sea stacks, and wave-cut platforms and recognize these features in the field (IIT,
CRT)
 describe sediment texture and make interpretation of depositional environments based on those observations (IIT, CRT)
 describe the pattern of glacial and interglacial cycles in the Pleistocene and the landforms that glaciation produces (IIT,
CRT)
 make a sand box model representing the tectonic evolution of the Olympic Mountains and understand how to relate
details of the model to field observations (IIT, CRT)
 understand the basic ideas of stratigraphy in the context of field observations (IIT, CRT)
 describe theories explaining the accretion of the San Juans Terrane onto the North American continent as well as rock
types associated with the terrane (IIT, CRT)
 describe how rocks become folded and recognize rocks that have been folded in the field (IIT, CRT)
GRADING:
Grading will be based on exercises that will be completed during class hours. These exercises are related to both
lecture material and fieldtrip sites and are weighted as indicated below. The course grade will be determined by adding the
percentage of points earned from each of the categories below. A simple, straight percentage scale will then be used to
assign course grade: 100%-92.5% is an A, 92.5%-90% is an A-, 90%-87.5% is a B+, 87.5%-82.5% is a B, 82.5%-80% is a
B-, 80%-77.5% is a C+, 77.5%-72.5% is a C, 72.5%-70% is a C-, 70%-67.5% is a D+, 67.5%-62.5% is a D, 62.5%-60% is
a D-, less than 60% is an E).
Reading questions
10%
These questions are aimed at getting you to think critically about the
assigned reading and to better prepare you for the lecture, lab, and field trip
content. Due at first class meeting, June 28th.
Lab exercises
30%
Plate tectonics, Accretionary tectonics, and Rock types are weach worth
10% of the total course grade.
Field exercises
60%
Exercises associated with the two field trips are each worth 30% of the
course grade.
CLASS POLICIES:
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory for all three meetings in order to receive credit for the class. With fieldtrips comprising
most of the activity there is no option for making up work. If an emergency prevents a student from completing the course,
arrangements may be with the instructor, including the possibility of a withdrawal from the class (WI) or an incomplete (I),
depending on circumstances.
Field trips
Two of the class meetings are extended weekend fieldtrips. Bring gear and materials as described in the course
materials and noted by the instructor A release form (in the introduction letter) will need to be signed before participating
in the fieldtrips.
Cheating
Cheating on an assignment or quiz will result in zero credit for that item and appropriate action as outlined in the
TCC catalog. Plagiarism is likewise unacceptable. See the TCC Students Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for more
information about cheating and plagiarism.
Late material/missed quizzes or exams
Work is due the day specified by the instructor. No late work will be accepted unless specific arrangements are
made with the instructor.
Students with Special Needs
All students are responsible for all requirements of the class, but the way they meet these requirements may vary.
If you need specific auxiliary aids or services due to a disability, please contact the Access Services office in Building 7
(253-566-5328). They will require you to present formal, written documentation of your disability from an appropriate
professional. When this step has been completed, arrangements will be made for you to receive reasonable auxiliary aids or
services. The disability accommodation documentation prepared by Access Services must be given to me before the
accommodation is needed so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Accommodations for disabilities
Accommodations for physical disabilities will be made insofar as they are possible. The lecture and laboratory
work will take place in a classroom setting and should present no difficulties. Most of the fieldtrip stops are roadside and
require minimal walking. However, several of the field trip stops do require hikes on unimproved surfaces. If you have a
physical disability, please speak with the instructor before the course begins.
Classroom disputes
If you have questions or concerns about this class or me, please come to talk with me about your concerns. If we are
unable to resolve the issue the next step would be to talk to the Science and Engineering Department Chair. However, since
I’m currently the chair, instead I can direct you to another administrative official.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
I expect basic courtesy: no conversations with neighbors during lectures, no leaving in the middle of lecture,
punctual arrival to class and fieldtrips, and cell phones turned off in class and in the field. If a student persists in rude
behavior, counter to what I outlined in the previous sentence, I will take appropriate measures, dropping the student from
the class if necessary.
READING ASSINGMENTS
The assigned book, The Restless Northwest, is short and you can easily read it all of it without much effort, and I
recommend doing that. However, at a minimum, read the pages listed below, because they pertain directly to the geology
we’ll see on the field trips. The reading assignment and the corresponding questions are due at our first class meeting, June
28th.
PART I
PART II
PART II
PART II
all chapters
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
pp. 1-60
pp. 63-74
pp. 75-78
Pp 107-115