GEOLOGY 252--HISTORICAL GEOLOGY
PEDRO C. RAMIREZ
Lec/Lab: TTH 8:30 – 12:00 pm
Room: BIOS 119
Office: LaKretz 160; X2417
Office Hr: MW 10:00-12:00
email: pramire@calstatela.edu
TEXT: Wicander and Monroe, Historical Geology, Evolution of the Earth and Life through time, 6th edition,
West Pub.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course, I will introduce and discuss the basic concepts used in interpreting
earth's history. Students will learn to interpret the rock record and to place geologic events in a chronological
framework. Our readings will focus on fundamental topics relevant to historical geology such as organic
evolution, geologic time and sedimentary processes. Furthermore, the readings will cover the historical
development of the earth and will focus primarily on North America. Our labs will be used to gain a practical
understanding of the concepts necessary to interpret the rock record. Labs focus on identifying basic rock types,
reading and constructing geologic maps, and on identifying fossils and making environmental interpretations.
CLASS POLICY: All labs are due a week after the date on which they were assigned. Late labs are
unacceptable. Make-up exams are only available to students who have a valid excuse, such as illness. Class
participation is essential. Students must attend every field trip. University policy allows a grade of incomplete to
be given only to those who have been sick, injured, or have a similar valid excuse. Incompletes will not be given
after poor performance in the course.
If you are repeating any Cal State L.A. course in order to remove a D or an F from your transcript, you must file
an academic renewal petition in Administration 101 no later than the last day to add a class. Instructions for
doing this may be found under "Academic Renewal" in your Schedule of Classes. Make sure that you take the
W.P.E. prior to completing 135 units of course work, and after you have completed your English requirements.
EXAMS: Two quizzes and a final exam are scheduled for the lecture part of the class and two quizzes and a
final for the lab portion of the class. Additionally, “pop” quizzes worth 10 points may be given throughout the
quarter. Poor attendance will result in weekly quizzes. Your performance on lecture exams is worth 1/2 half of
your grade and your performance on lab assignments and lab exams is also worth one half of your overall grade.
Grade assignments depend on the percentage of total class points. Grades are assigned according to the
following scale: 85% or greater = A; 75 - 85% = B; 75 - 65% = C; 65 - 55% = D.
FIELD TRIPS: Two field trips are tentatively scheduled for the course. Our first field trip will likely be to the
Palos Verdes Peninsula where will observe both modern and ancient sedimentary environments and where we
will discuss lateral and vertical facies relationships. Our second trip is to the Barstow area where we will learn
geologic mapping and note taking techniques. Time spent on field trips will be deducted from our lab time.
LAB MATERIALS: The following is a list of materials required for this course. It is important that you
purchase them immediately. Hammer, 10x hand lens, sturdy field notebook, mechanical pencil, color pencils,
protractor, combined metric and standard ruler, lab notebook, engineering paper (10 squares/inch). Prior to our
field trips, I will let you know of additional equipment (tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear, etc.) which you will
require.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Date
Lecture
CHAPTER
Lab
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jan.
7
Introduction
1(10-15), 2(26-29), 6
Clastic Rocks
9
Geologic Time Scale
5(86-91)
Read Chap 2(26-29), & 6
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
14
Geologic
4
Carbonate Rocks
16
Time
4
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
21
Rocks
5
Sed. Environ., Facies
23
and
5
(QUIZ)
Time
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
28
PreCambrian Geology
8
Topographic Maps
30
PreCambrian Life (QUIZ)
9
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Feb
4
Paleozoic
10
Structural Geology
6
Geology
11
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
11
Paleozoic
12
Geologic Maps
13
Life
13
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
18
Mesozoic
14
(QUIZ)
20
Geology (QUIZ)
14
Phylum Arthropoda/Brachiopoda/ Coelenterata
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
25
Mesozoic
15
Correlation
27
Life
15
Phylums Mollusca / Echinodermata
class Cephalopoda
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
March
4
Cenozoic
16
Miscellaneous Fossils
6
Geology
17
&_ Microfossils
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
11
Cenozoic
13
Life
18
Review
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tentative Field trips:
Jan 25
FEB. 22 &23
Palos Verdes Peninsula
Rainbow Basin
FINAL LECTURE EXAM: TUESDAY. March.18, 8:00 to 10:30 AM Room BIOS 119
FINAL LAB EXAM TO BE SCHEDULED