Physical Geology Laboratory 101
Contact Information
Instructor: John Turbeville
Email (jturbeville@miracosta.edu) Telephone 760-757-2121 ext. 6413
Office Hours: 8:30-9:30 on M/W in Room 4609.
Home Page: http://www.miracosta.edu/home/JTurbeville/index.htm
Geology Laboratory is an opportunity to give you hands-on experience with geologic materials
and the use of geologic methods and techniques in the laboratory and in the field. During each
weekly meeting we will be working either in the lab classroom or at various nearby field trip
sites. This course is designed to accompany Geology 101 (or Geology 101H) lecture. If you drop
the lecture you must drop the lab. Some of the in-class portions of the course may be substituted
for an online component at my discretion.
There are two required items to purchase by the second lab meeting, both available at the college
bookstore.
1. Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology (8th edition), by Busch & Tasa
2. Geology 101 Laboratory Worksheets
Grades
Your grade will be based upon your participation in lab, completion of your notebook, a
midterm, and a final. You can use your class notebook for the exams. You will be working in
groups during the labs but the midterm and final are completed as an individual. Please do not
just copy answers from others in your group, as you will not pass the midterm, final or possibly
the class. The lowest of your lab scores (10 points) will be dropped in computing final grades.
14 (approx) lab sessions at 10 points each
Midterm
Final
Drop lowest lab grade
Approximate total possible points
=
=
=
=
140 points
50 points
50 points
-10 points
230 points
Adjustments may be made to the point total above as necessary. Final grades will be assigned
based on these cutoff percentages: A = 90%+, B = 80%+, C = 70%+, D = 60%+, F = below 60%.
 5 points off total score if you don’t have your lab materials by the 2nd class meeting
 Points deducted for not being prepared
 Pre-labs (word-processed only) are worth 30% of your individual lab grades. These are not
accepted late. Noted as * on schedule.
Lab Procedures
Before the lab
 Read the lab exercise in the lab manual/do the pre-lab if in the field (30% of your lab grade,
word-processed only) before you come to class. I reserve the right to start doing pre-lab
quizzes if people are not prepared.
 Be appropriately dressed for the lab you are about to complete.
During the lab: A brief introduction to the lab by the instructor will help to explain some of the
activities that you will complete in the lab.
 Be prepared by reading the lab and becoming familiar with it before we start.
 Do not disrupt other lab groups by excessive socializing etc.
 You must work with lab partners in groups of 3 or 4 (not any larger groups, please).
 You must have your own lab notebook, no sharing.
 You may not split labs among lab partners and recombine the parts later. In other words, you
must complete the entire lab as a group.
 Please turn off your cell phone unless you are expecting an emergency.
At the end of the lab:
When your group has completed the lab exercise, turn in your completed and STAPLED lab.
You will be assigned 10 points for the work done in lab if it is satisfactory. Points will be
deducted for being disruptive, coming late, not being prepared, or incomplete/unsatisfactory
work.
Attendance: Attendance will be taken weekly. In most cases, you will not be able to receive
credit for missed lab exercises, even if you have a reasonable excuse. This is because most
exercises involve working together in groups, working with samples, or going on field trips; all
activities that cannot easily be repeated at a later date. You must attend each lab at the scheduled
time and place to receive credit for that lab. Your single lowest lab score will be dropped at the
end of the semester, so you can miss one lab without penalty.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they
may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact Disabled Students Programs
& Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely
manner. Authorization from DSP&S is required before any accommodation can be made. Their
phone number is 795-6658 and they are located in Building 3000-Student Services, adjacent to
Parking lot 3C.
Field Trip Cancellation Policy
If the weather looks REALLY threatening (not just raining some) on a day that is scheduled for
a field trip, I will make a determination at least 2 hours before the lab time.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Identify common minerals, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock samples using
physical
properties,
texture
and
composition
in
hand
specimen.
2. Analyze and interpret data from geologic and/or topographic maps.
3. Interpret geologic features and sequences of events (including relative and radio-metric dating)
in the field.
GEOLOGY LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Date
Topic
Chapter from Location
lab manual
& Time
1/25
Introduction / Geologic Measurement
-
OC4529, 2:00 pm
2/1
Mineral Identification & Mineral Uses
3
OC4529, 2:00 pm
2/8
Igneous Rocks
5
OC4529, 2:00 pm
2/15
HOLIDAY
2/22
Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks
6/7
OC4529, 2:00 pm
3/1
Geologic Time & Geologic Dating
8
OC4529, 2:00 pm
3/8
*Igneous Rocks Field Trip
-
3/15
LAB EXAM 1
3,5,6,7,8
Calavera Hill,
2:15 pm
OC4529, 2:00 pm
3/22
Dinosaur Tracks
-
3/29
SPRING BREAK
Oceanside Pier
2:15 pm
4/5
Topographic Maps
9
OC4529, 2:00 pm
4/12
Geologic Structures & Maps
10
OC4529, 2:00 pm
4/19
Geologic Hazards Field Trip
-
OC4529, 2:00 pm
4/26
*Beach Profile and Processes Field Trip
-
5/3
Stream Processes
11
Grandview
2:15 pm
OC4529, 2:00 pm
5/10
*Coastal Erosion Field Trip
-
5/17
Earthquakes & Plate Tectonics
16
Stonesteps
2:15 pm
OC4529, 2:00 pm
5/24
LAB EXAM 2 / Lab Notebooks DUE
9,10,11,16
OC4529, 2:30 pm
Required preparation before each lab: read worksheets and lab chapter (if applicable).
*Pre-Lab due