Marine Geology
Instructor: Dr. M.A. Gibson
Residence: House 6 (251-861-8532)
Phone: Cell 731.514.4797
E-mail: mgibson@utm.edu
DISL
Summer, 2015
Classroom/Lab Meeting Place: Horizon 3
Day/Time: M, T 9a.m. - Noon; 1 - 4p.m.; F 9a.m. - Noon
Teaching Assistant: Lei Wang
T.A. E-mail: 228-342-8612; lwang@disl.org
“Geologists…inhabit scenes that no one ever saw, scenes of global sweep, gone and gone again, including seas, mountains, rivers,
forests and archipelagoes of aching beauty rising in volcanic violence to settle down quietly and then forever disappear…”
- John McPhee
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Marine Geology (3 credit hours) – A study of the geology of the ocean basins, with special emphasis on the
continental shelves, their sediment and the sedimentary processes at work there. Field trips will be taken to study
beach processes and sediments in the bay and offshore (field emphasis on the Northeast Gulf of Mexico). Students
will be introduced to the following: technical writing, conducting a research project; working as a team member; data
management; concepts of marine geology; critical thinking; principles of science (hypothesis testing). We will apply
multidisciplinary approaches, borrowing tools and concepts from chemistry, biology, and physics, to study the
current architecture of the ocean basins and their margins, evolution of Earth’s oceans, and techniques used to
reconstruct past ocean realms so that we may better understand ocean systems. (Prerequisite: Introductory geology
recommended, or permission of instructor).
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment daily for time after 8 a.m. Evening help sessions can be arranged via e-mail.
ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, ENTHUSIASM:
Marine Geology is an integrated lecture/hands-on format with field trips. Your ability to remember & understand
material is proportional to the number of times your brain has to juggle that material. Classroom & field exposure is
cornerstone to this, so expect the material to reoccur often in multiple formats. Sometimes we will be on field trips
that can not be made up or working in groups on some graded activities or homework as part of class, so participation
with enthusiasm is expected. Learning is a “participation sport”, not a spectator sport! Make-up exams will be given only
for approved absences for which written documentation may be required.
LECTURE:
Marine Geology, as is geology in general, is a visual and historical science. Emphasis is placed on the physical, chemical,
and biological aspects of the oceans, past and present. The easiest way to learn how the oceans formed, how they have
evolved, what their characteristics are today, and how these factors affect society is to do so with pictures. As
American advertising executive Frederick R. Barnard said in 1921, "A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS"
(he is also the one who started the rumor that this was an ancient Chinese proverb). You will find that there will be
numerous diagrams and drawings as part of your notes. I suggest you take notes in pencil in large spaces to allow you to
label diagrams and jot notes about them. Supplement your notes from the readings AFTER I discuss them in class). To
facilitate your note-taking task, I will provide you with “notes templates” that will contain some of the diagrams I
intend to use and help you with organization during note taking. By the end of the course, you should have developed a
comprehensive “marine geology manual” for later reference.
LAB/FIELD WORK:
Laboratory activities and field trips are integral to this course and difficult to “make-up”, especially those trips
involving shipboard time or travel. If you miss a field trip for any excused reason, a substitute activity will be assigned
depending upon the nature of the activities on the field trip, or a make-up/substitute trip will be assigned. Written
summaries of each trip will be assigned. Field notebooks will be provided and collected for evaluation and grading.
Weekends or evenings may be required to complete some work and fieldtrips may start earlier than class. In the event
that weather causes us to postpone a field trip, then we will move on to the next thing in the syllabus and reschedule
the trip if possible.
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STUDENT OUTCOMES: Upon completion of Marine Geology, you should have:
1. a thorough understanding of the principles and methods used to study marine geology;
2. a detailed understanding of the architecture of modern ocean basins and margins
3. a detailed understanding of the geological, chemical, and biological evolution of the Earth’ ocean basins & margins;
4. knowledge and developed skill in field and ship-board techniques used to study marine geology; and
5. an appreciation for the role that marine geology plays in the other marine sciences, and
6. an appreciation for the role that marine geology plays in the future of mankind and society.
GRADES (Note: I reserve the right to adjust the grading method as needed):
Exams are an unavoidable complication to academic life, but I will try to make the ones you take in this class as
enjoyable as an exam can be. You can expect a variety of question formats: Some multiple choice & T or F, but mostly
short answer, hands-on identification/manipulation, diagram completion/explanation, and essay. Field notebooks will be
graded and included in the lab portion of grading. Graduate students will be held to a higher grading standard
commensurate with their more advanced educational training, expected to write more informative and insightful essays,
and can expect some additional laboratory assignments. The following grade categories are anticipated:
Lecture Tests (2 x 100 pts)
Lab/Field Activities
Individual/Grp Project
200 pts. (45 % of course grade)
~ 300 pts. (35 % of course grade)
~100 pts. (10 % of course grade)
TOTAL: ~600 pts. (100%)
GRADING SCALE: I use a 10-point grading scale (90-100, etc.) weighted as follows:
98-100 = A+
92-97 = A
90-91 = A-
88-89 = B+
82-87 = B
80-81 = B-
78-79 = C+
72-77 = C
70-71 = C-
68-69 = D+
62-67 = D
60-61 = D-
Below 60 = F
TEXTBOOKS:

Lecture Text: None Required. Reserve readings will be assigned or handed out in class; however,
the following textbook on reserve can serve as a useful reference: Kennett, James. 1982. Marine
Geology. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 813 p.

Lecture Manual: Gibson, M.A. 2015. Marine Geology (downloaded from DISL Share or provided).
CLASS
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SUPPLIES – These may be obtained from the Estuarium Gift Shop. Obtain 1st day of class!
Grain size chart
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Marine Geology notes in 3-ring binder
Hand lens (10X)
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Marine GeoTools – Supplied by instructor
Field book (preferably with cover)
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Pencils – NO PENS
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
1. Promptness is expected. Please inform me of necessary late arrivals or early departures, preferably in advance.
2. Attentiveness is expected. Do not sleep in class. Sleeping in class may result in loss of points on exams.
3. Cell phones should be turned off or set to vibrate when entering the class. Text messaging is NOT allowed
during class or lab. Should you receive a call or message that you MUST take, please leave the room quietly
so as not to disturb others. Absolutely NO text messaging during exams.
4. Clean up work space each time you leave the classroom or Ro-tap room.
MAKE-UP POLICY & OTHER GRADE DISCREPANCIES:
In general, there will be no make-up exams; if you miss an exam, you will receive a "0". A substitute assignment may be
made for missed exams or missing field trips, depending upon when the exam/trip was missed. You should save all
papers and returned tests until after you receive your final course grade in case of grade discrepancies. If I don't
have a grade listed, and you can't show me a graded test, you will receive a "0" for that test!
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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY:
Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Forms of scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:
plagiarism, utilization of unauthorized materials during examinations, and giving or receiving unauthorized assistance
during examinations. Graphic calculators, programmable calculators, cell phone calculators may not be used unless
indicated so by the instructor. If you are caught violating the academic honesty policy you will receive an F for the
course.
DISL DISABILITY POLICY:
It is the policy of DISL to afford equal opportunity in education to qualified students. If you have a disability that
may prevent you from meeting course requirements, contact the instructor within the first three class meetings to
file a Student Disability Statement, at which point an accommodation plan will be developed with your consultation.
Course requirements will not be waived; however, accommodations will be made to allow you to meet requirements,
provided that you are timely in working with the instructor to develop the accommodation plan.
“Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I'll understand.”
-- Confucius
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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS – MARINE GEOLOGY (DISL)
(* Additional reading assignments will be made in class)
Field trips may begin earlier & run longer than normal class times.
I reserve the right to make adjustments to this schedule, including due dates, as necessary and announced.
WEEK OF:
July 6-10:(M)
(Tu)
(F)
July 13-17: (M)
(Tu)
(F)
TOPIC
Course Logistics; What is Marine Geology? Origin & Age of Modern Ocean Basins & Ocean Water
Field Activity 1 (Late Afternoon): DISL Beach Sand Characteristics & Features
 How to take geologic field notes in marine geology.
 Just what do we know about “sand”? Field scavenger hunt questions determined.
Hands-on Lecture Activity: Marine Minerals & Bowen’s Reaction Series (Due: Same Day)
Overview of World Oceans; Origin & Types of Ocean Basins (Modern & Ancient)
Basic Physiography of Oceans & Sediment Distribution
Sea Floor Crustal Structure & Lithology
Lab Activity – Ocean floor rocks & Ophiolites (Due: Same Day)
Overview of Marine & Coastal Sediments & Sedimentation:
A. Sediments & Sedimentary Rocks Defined
B. Geologist’s vs. Oceanographer’s Sediment Classification Schemes
C. Clastic (Lithogenous) Sediment Classification & Description
Field Activity - GOM – Mobile Bay Trip on RV Alabama Discovery – All Day beginning @ 8 a.m.
Field Activity – Comparative Seafloor Sampling & Shipboard Facies Map (Due: F., July 17)
Exam 1 @ 9 a.m. (Introduction – Clastic Sediments)
Cosmogenous Sediment
Lab Activity – Cosmogenous Sediment (Due: Mon., July 20)
July 20-24: (M)
Field & Shipboard Sediment Sampling; Clastic Sieving Procedure & Sieve Statistics
Lab Activity – Clastic (Lithogenous) Sediment Comparative Study: Sieving, Scope Analysis, &
Statistics of Known Samples (Due: Mon. Aug. 3 @ 9 a.m.)
(Tu) Bioclastic Hydrogenous Carbonate Sediments
Lab Activity – Bioclastic Hydrogenous Carbonate Sediments (Due: M., July 27)
(F) Hydrogenous Marine Sediments (Non-Bioclastic Carbonates)
Lab Activity – Hydrogenous & Non-Bioclastic Carbonate Sediments (Due: Same Day)
July 27-31: (M)
(Tu)
(F)
Aug. 3-7: (M)
(Tu)
(F)
Sedimentary Structures, Marine EOD Interpretations, Organism - Sediment Relationships
Lab Specimen Activity – Sedimentary Structure ID & Interpretation (Due: Fr. July 31)
Field Activity – West End DI: Sedimentary Structure Scavenge Hunt (Due: Same Day)
Field Activity – West End DI: Organism - Sediment Relationships & Autecology (Due: Same Day)
Field Activity – Airport Marsh EOD (Due: Mon., Aug. 3)
Paleoceanography & Ocean History
Lab Activity - Paleoocean Analysis (Due: Same Day)
Lab Practical (9:00 a.m. – Noon)
Finish Individual Grain-size Analysis & Report of Sediment (Due by 4 p.m.)
Lecture Exam 2 @ 9 a.m. (Hydrogenous sediment – End) - All final papers, field books, projects,
equipment, etc. due by beginning of exam
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