Class: Roney 203 Instructor: Dr. Sam Peavy
Office: Roney 206
Text: An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophyics , 2 nd
Ed.
by John M. Reynolds
TR 9:30 - 10:45
Lab: Roney 203
W 2:00 - 3:50 PM
Objective Statement:
By the end of the course, the student will:
1) Familiarize themselves with the methods commonly employed in exploration geophysics;
2) Learn to utilize various geophysical methods such as seismology, gravimetry, magnetism, electrical methods, electromagnetic methods and geophysical well logging to explore and interpret the properties and structure of the Earth’s crust;
3) Design field surveys to locate exploration targets;
4) Analyze geophysical data to determine the structure and properties of the Earth’s crust; and
5) Write a report on an aspect of one of the exploration methods covered in the course.
Class Policies:
1) All students at Georgia Southwestern State University are to abide by published rules outlining academic honesty. Please review the "Policy on Academic Integrity" from the undergraduate bulletin that can be found at the following URL: http://gsw.edu/Academics/Registrars-Office/GSW-
CatalogBulletin/bulletin2012U/reg/index#POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
You will be asked to sign a pledge stating that you have read and fully understand the policy. Any violations of academic integrity will result in a grade of zero on an assignment or exam for the first violation, and an "F" in the course for any additional violations.
In addition it is possible that this course will involve the use of plagiarism-prevention technology.
For example, you may be required to submit written assignments on-line through a plagiarismprevention service or to allow me to submit copies of your writing to such a service. The written assignments may then be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.
2) A student requesting classroom accommodations or modifications due to a documented disability must notify me within the first two days of the semester. The student has not already done so, he or she must contact the Office of Student Support Services located in room 104 of Sanford Hall. The phone number is 229-931-2294.
3) Attendance is required for both lecture and lab. If you miss an exam or lab, you must have an excuse from a doctor or the Student Health Center to make up missed graded material. Failure to provide an adequate excuse will result in a grade of 0 (“zero”) for the assignment.
4) I will be available in my office for questions from 10:00-10:50 AM on MW, and from 8:30-9:15 TR
(other times by appointment only). I can also be called at 931-2330 or reached by email at speavy@gsw.edu.

5) Your grade will be based on lecture exams, lab reports, a project report, paper discussion assignments and a comprehensive Final Exam at the end of the semester. Your course grade will be determined as follows:
4 Lecture Exams (100 each)
12 Lab Reports (keep 10)
Term Paper (0,20,30,40,60)
400 points
200 points
150 points
Final Exam
Total
150 points
900 points
6) Lab reports will be written in a formalized style (see handout) and are due the week following the initial assignment.
7) A sequenced writing assignment will be undertaken using instructions in a handout. Each successive part of the assignment will be worth more points than the preceding part, leading to a final paper that should be the best possible result.
8) The grading scale will be as follows:
Total
Points
810 – 900
720 – 809
630 – 719
540 – 524
< 450
Letter
Grade
A
B
C
D
F

Date
Jan. 8 – 10
Jan. 15 – 17
Jan. 22 – 24
Jan. 29
Lecture Topic List
Topic
Introduction to Geophysics; Gravity
Gravity Methods
Gravity Methods, Geomagnetic Methods
Geomagnetic Methods
Readings
Chapters 1, 2
Chapter 2
Chapters 2, 3
Chapter 3
Jan. 31
Feb. 5 – 7
EXAM 1
Introduction to Applied Seismology;
Earthquakes
Feb. 12 – 14 Earthquakes; Refraction Surveying
Feb. 19 – 21
Feb. 26
Seismic Refraction Interpretation; Seismic
Reflection
Seismic Reflection Interpretation
Feb. 28
Mar. 5-7
Mar. 12 - 14
Mar. 15
Exam 2
Electrical Resistivity Methods
Electrical Resistivity Methods, Spontaneous
(self) Potential Methods
Field Trip
March 18 – 21 Spring Break
Chapters 1 – 3
Chapter 4
Chapters 4, 5
Chapters 5, 6
Chapter 6
Chapters 4 – 6
Chapter 7
Chapters 7, 8
Mar. 26 – 28 Induced Polarization, Well Logging
Apr. 2 EXAM 3
Enjoy!!!
Chapter 9
Chapters 7 - 9
Apr. 4
Apr. 9 – 11
Electromagnetic Methods: Introduction
EM Methods: Introduction, EM Methods:
Systems and Applications
Chapter 10
Chapters 10, 11
Apr. 16 – 18 EM Methods: Systems and Applications, GPR Chapters 11, 12, 13
Apr. 23
Apr. 25
Ground Penetrating Radar
May 2
EXAM 4
Final Exam, 8:00 – 10:00
Chapters 13, 14
Chapters 10 - 14
All Covered Topics

Date
Jan. 9
Jan. 16
Jan. 23
Jan. 30
Feb. 6
Feb. 13
Feb. 20
Feb. 27*
Mar. 6
Mar. 13
Mar. 15
Mar. 27
Apr. 3
Apr. 10
Apr. 17
Apr. 24
Lab Schedule
Topic
Surveying I
Surveying II
Introduction to Gravity Surveying
Campus Gravity Survey
Introduction to Geomagnetic Surveying
Geomagnetic Survey of the Bowen Property
Gravity and Magnetic Modeling
Refraction Interpretation Exercise
Reflection Interpretation Exercise
No Lab
Field Trip
No Lab (Spring Break)
Resistivity Arrays
Resistivity Surveying of the Bowen Property
Well Log Interpretation
No Lab
*We will be attending Dr. Heather DeShon’s talks on the 27 th
.

Term Paper Information (based upon assignment in “Whole Earth Geophysics”)
The term paper will be a “sequenced writing assignment”, meaning that you will be turning in your paper multiple times for evaluation. Each time you turn in the paper, it should give more information about the topic. The final paper should present evidence on the crustal structure and evolution of a region.
The following are suggested locations for your geophysical study. Any location that you choose should have enough information available to supply at least 10 references, of which only three maximum can be pure internet sources .
This means you will need to go to the library and most likely take advantage of interlibrary loan. Here are some locations where you can find information that might be useful:
1) Galileo (through the GSW Library page) – searchable to find articles on many topics, including specific databases that might be useful. “Browse by Subject”, then “Science” then “Geology” will get you to some useful information.
2) Google Scholar – will find papers on a particular topic or at least abstracts with enough information that you can request the article.
3) http://www.gsapubs.org/search.dtl
-- Geological Society of America Journals Search
4) http://www.seg.org/seg -- Society of Exploration Geophysics. Click on “Resources” and then under
“Publications” click on “Digital Cumulative Index”. Good for background information on the various methods. Some articles are highly technical so beware!
Suggested Regions
East African Rift
Basin and Range
The North Sea
Eastern North America
Gulf of Mexico
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Japan
U.S. Pacific Northwest
Western South America
Himalayas
San Andreas Fault
Hawaii
Columbia Plateau/Snake River Plain/Yellowstone
Term Paper Schedule
Date Part Due Points towards Grade
Jan. 15 0
Feb. 5
March 5
April 4
April 24
Topic Selected
Iteration #1 – Gravity and
Magnetics
Iteration #2 – add
Seismology
Iteration #3 – add other geophysical data (EM, Heat
Flow, etc.)
Final Paper
20
30
40
60

Outline of Paper
During the course of the term you will be learning about different geophysical techniques. As you learn more about the techniques you will incorporate the information into your paper. Each step will have feedback from the instructor, allowing for a longer and better paper with each iteration. One thing that is important is that the writing be concise and that you summarize the content of the published articles in your own style with your own thoughts included. The following would be a good outline to use when building your paper.

Title

Abstract

Main Body

Introduction

Observations and Interpretations o Gravity o Magnetics o Earthquakes o Refraction and Reflection Seismology o Other Geophysical Methods

Discussion

Conclusions

References Cited

Figures (with appropriate captions)
Iteration #1
Gravity Constraints: Density distribution; crustal thickness changes; lithospheric changes; isostasy status
Gravity Observations/Interpretations: Relationship between topography and crustal thickness; thickness of oceanic crust/lithosphere; strength of lithosphere
Magnetics Constraints: Susceptibility, size and orientation of magnetic bodies; depth to basement; magnetic reversals and paleomagnetism
Magnetics Observations/Interpretations: Continental vs. Oceanic basement; age of sea floor, spreading rates; latitude of rocks when formed
Iteration #2
Earthquake Constraints: Plate boundary locations; stress types in region; lithospheric thickness
Earthquake Observations/Interpretations: Relationship between plate boundary type and earthquake depths; focal plane solutions and boundary type; Lithospheric thickness
Seismic Refraction/Reflection Constraints: Overall crustal thickness; crustal thickness patterns; P- & S-wave velocities in the crust and upper mantle; reflection boundaries within crust and potentially the mantle
Seismic Refraction/Reflection Observations/Interpretations: Thickness of crust in different settings; transition from continental to oceanic crust; geologic interpretation of velocity and reflection structure
Iteration #3
Other Geophysical Constraints: Heat flow and geothermal gradient; depth to brittle-ductile transition; electrical and electromagnetic properties of crust and upper mantle
Other Geophysical Observations/Interpretations: Crustal thickness; proximity to magma sources; geologic interpretation of electrical and electromagnetic results

Additional Information on Paper Components
1) The Title should tell the reader what the paper is about and make the person want to read the paper.
2) The Abstract is a concise summary of the paper (including results/conclusions) and should make the reader want to read the rest of the article.
3) The Introduction should have the following properties: a) Introduce the geography, geology and tectonic setting of the region with a location map b) Define the objective of your paper (for example “to understand the crustal structure and tectonic evolution of…”) c) Summarize how you went about achieving your objective (“researched constraints on crustal structure and tectonic evolution offered by geophysical observations of…) d) States specific geophysical studies reported in the papers you read (figures or tables might be useful here) e) Offers conclusions, perhaps in the form of general models developed from these studies
4) Observations and Interpretations gives the specific observations for each type of data, summarizes the constraints on crustal structure or tectonics offered by each data type and cites interpretations from the papers you’ve read.
There should be many figures and perhaps tables associated with this part of the paper.
5) Discussion presents your own discussion on how the constraints contribute to understanding the crustal structure and tectonics of the region.
6) Conclusions should present what you conclude from your synthesis/analysis of the data.
7) References Cited should include all papers cited in your paper, but should include only those cited in your paper.
Use the GSA standard found at the bottom of http://www.geosociety.org/pubs/bulletin/bulGuide5.htm
.