Spring, 2010

(Weekly assignments and presentations are available on the class Moodle site at http://moodle.colgate.edu/)

Instructor: Bruce Selleck (333 Ho Center; x7949; bselleck@mail.colgate.edu). 

Meetings: Class - MWF - 10:20-11:10 - 239 Ho Center; Lab – Monday or Tuesday, 1:20-4:00 - 239 Ho Center

Textbook: Boggs (2006) Principles of Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (4th edition)

Grading of the Course:

Lab - 20% (note that you will receive a separate grade for Geology 302L on your transcript)

Exercises and other in-class work - 15%

First Hour Exam - 20%

Second Hour Exam - 20%

Final Exam - 25%

If you have a learning or physical disability that might affect your performance in this class, please inform Lynn Waldman, Director of Academic Program Support and Disability Services, x7225, to verify your status and provide you with appropriate assistance, and then Bruce with accommodations determined by that office.

Class Schedule - Topics/Readings in Boggs (4th Edition)

Jan. 18 - Introduction

Jan. 20 - Types of sedimentary materials - text pages xvii-xix (introduction)

Jan. 22 - Weathering and origin of sedimentary particles - text pages 2-20

Jan. 25 – no class

Jan. 27 - Fluid flow  - text pages 21-27

Jan. 29 - Sediment transport - text pages 27-47

Feb. 1 - Grain size - text pages 50-64

Feb. 3 - Shape, roundness and fabric - text pages 65-73

Feb. 5 - Stratification and bedforms - text pages 73-93

Feb. 8 - Bedding plane, deformational and biogenic structures - text pages 94-115

Feb. 10 - Siliciclastic sediment composition - text pages 117-135

Feb. 12 - Conglomerates and mudstones - text pages 135-145

Feb. 15 - Diagenesis of sandstones - text pages 145-154

Feb. 17 - Stable isotopes in sediments - text pages 535-549

Feb. 19 - First hour exam  

Feb. 22 - Introduction to biochemical sediments

Feb. 24 -  Carbonate geochemistry, particles and rock classification - text pages 170-200

Feb. 26 - Carbonate environments - text pages 159-182

March 1 - Carbonate diagenesis - text pages 182-196

March 3 - Chemical sediments – text pages 197-229

March 5 - Organic sediments – text pages 229-239

March 8 - Depositional environments text pages 242-243

March 10 – Glacial systems  text pages 276-287

March 12 - Alluvial and fluvial systems  text pages 245-258

March 15-19 – Mid-term break.  NEGSA meetings; optional field trip

March 22- Aeolian systems text pages 258-268

March 24 -Deltaic Systems - text pages 289-306

March 26 - Beach/barrier systems - text pages 306-316

March 29 - Second Hour Exam

March 31 – Tidal-flat systems - text pages 326-332

April 2 -  Shelf systems  - text pages 334-349

April 5 - Deep marine systems - text pages 349-365

April 7 - Stratigraphy and basin analysis – text pages 398-413

April 9- Stratigraphy and basin analysis – text pages 413-432

April 14 – Seismic and sequence stratigraphy – text pages 432-462

April 16 – Other stratigraphic approaches – text pages 462-512

April 19 - Geologic time and absolute dating of sedimentary rocks – text pages 513-538

April 21 – Plate tectonics and origin of sedimentary basins – text pages 550-568

April 23 – Sedimentary basin analysis – text pages 568-581

April 26 – Appalachian Basin hydrocarbon systems I

April 28 – Appalachian Basin hydrocarbon systems II

April 30 - Carbon sequestration in sedimentary rocks

Geology 302 – Laboratory Schedule – Spring, 2010

Note that unless otherwise announced, completed lab reports are to be handed in at the beginning of the subsequent week’s lab.  Late labs will be marked down 20% per day late.  Labs handed in later than 5 day after the due date will not be graded.  Labs are graded on a 10-point scale.  Neatness, quality of presentation of data, appropriateness of graphics and images, and writing clarity, including spelling and grammar are all part of lab evaluation. Be sure you understand all the terminology used in your reports, and that you have directly answered discussion questions. This is a 300-level course; sloppy lab reports are not acceptable.  Please refer to the “Lab Report Format” instructions on the course Moodle site for additional suggestions about lab reports.

Date                 Topic

Jan. 25, 26       Introduction to sedimentary materials

Feb. 1, 2          Sediment textures and aquifer properties

Feb. 8, 9          Primary sedimentary structures and facies sequences

Feb. 15, 16      Sandstones and shales – provenance and diagenesis

Feb. 22, 23      Carbonate sediments – composition, texture and geochemistry

March 1, 2       Carbonate rocks and chemical sediments

March 8, 9       Organic-rich sediments – coal, source rocks, geochemistry

March 15, 16   Spring break

March 22, 23   Fluvial and alluvial facies – structures, sequences, and accumulation patterns

March 29, 30   Shallow marine facies – cratonic tidal flat and shoreline sequences

April 5, 6          Shelf-to-basin marine facies

April 12, 13      Basin analysis I – foreland basin sequences; tectonic and eustatic controls

April 19, 20      Basin analysis II – extensional basin sequences and active orogenesis

April 26, 27      Field trip – local stratigraphy