GEOL 310 - ŌSedimentary Rocks in Thin SectionĶ
SYLLABUS - Spring 2008
Instructor: BRUCE SIMONSON
Office/hours: Carnegie 401 - TUES, WED 1:30-3:30 or by appt.
e-mail: bruce.simonson@oberlin.edu
voice: x58347
Class times: MON, WED, and/or FRI 11-11:50 in CARNEGIE 412
Sediments are the main archive of earth history and contain the lionÕs share of EarthÕs reserves of energy, mineral, and water resources. In this course, IÕll introduce you to how a petrographic (or polarizing) microscope can be used to learn about how sediments are created, transported, deposited, and turned into rocks. A tentative schedule of topics is given below.
|
Day |
Date |
Topic |
|
M |
2/4 |
Preview of coming attractions |
|
W |
2/6 |
The crystals and light show – optical effects we use to identify minerals |
|
F |
2/8 |
Exercise 1: Modern sands – how they look w/ and w/out polarized light |
|
|
|
|
|
M |
2/11 |
Sediment grains and pores – the architecture of a detrital framework |
|
W |
2/13 |
Textures in geodes and other void fillings – the art of geometic selection |
|
F |
2/15 |
Exercise 2: Cements filling pores in well-sorted sands |
|
|
|
|
|
M |
2/18 |
Cementation – how, why, and where it takes place |
|
W |
2/20 |
Compaction – how, why and where things get squished |
|
F |
2/22 |
Exercise 3: Textures formed by physical and chemical compaction |
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|
|
|
|
M |
2/25 |
Post-depositional changes in silicate composition – itÕs pretty pervasive! |
|
W |
2/27 |
Post-depositional changes in other sed types + our friends the concretions |
|
F |
2/29 |
Exercise 4: Textures indicating replacement has taken place |
|
|
|
|
|
M |
3/3 |
Weathering and silicate clay formation – the constraints of provenance |
|
W |
3/5 |
Evaporites and other chemical sediments – like siliciclastics only better! |
|
F |
3/7 |
Exercise 5: Textures of fine-grained rocks and chemical sediments |
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|
|
|
|
M |
3/10 |
NO CLASS MEETING TODAY |
|
W |
3/12 |
HELP SESSION W/ FINAL ASSIGNMENT |
|
F |
3/14 |
HELP SESSION W/ FINAL ASSIGNMENT |
|
|
|
|
|
M |
3/17 |
HELP SESSION W/ FINAL ASSIGNMENT |
|
W |
3/19 |
FINAL ASSIGNMENT DUE TODAY |
|
F |
3/21 |
NO CLASS MEETING TODAY |
[CONTINUED ON BACK]
There are NO LETTER GRADES in this course and there will be no exams. It will be graded P/NP on the basis of ca. 1 hand-in exercise per week + a Final Assignment consisting of a work-up of 2 unique samples assigned to each student. For the final assignment, youÕll use a set form to describe and interpret the following aspects of both samples:
A) what type(s) of sediment the sample consists of, including an assessment of the composition and other characteristics of the sedimentary grains at the time of deposition; and
B) a summary of the most important diagenetic modifications that have happened to these samples since they were deposited.
Also, there is NO REQUIRED TEXTBOOK for in this course, but I will make a number of books with good information available in the Geoseminar Room (Carnegie 415) and will assign some relevant readings along the way.