Course Title: Advanced Physical Geology   
Course Number:  GEOL 261 section 001
Instructor:    Jim Durbin                             
Meets (lect): M, F  2:00-3:50 PM Ocassional Saturday lab meetings too
Office:  Science Center Room 2218  (inside room SC2219)             
Office Hours: posted on door  
E-mail: jdurbin@usi.edu                              
Phone (office):  (812) 465-1208
Textbook &Lab Manual:     Physical Geology, 6th edition, bu  R.D. Dallmeyer, Kendall Hunt Publ. 2000, 705 p.  

Objectives of the course:  This course is designed to give students a more advanced understanding of Earth’s physical makeup and the timeframe within which earth formed, Topics include: recognition of mineral and major rock types; identification and interpretation of sedimentary rocks; collection and interpretation of data; reading and interpretation of aerial photos; use of topographic and geologic maps; taking field notes; literature research and synthesis; oral and written communication skills.  

Structure of the Course:  The course has a laboratory that is required and which will constitute 50% of the total grade for the course.  You must pass the lab in order to be considered for a passing grade for the course.  Part of the class will be a lecture format with regular exams covering the material discussed in class that is also worth 50% of the course grade.  I tend to use a multimedia format, including computer driven slide presentations, Quicktime movies, animation, and anything I else I can find to try and get a particular point across.  In most cases, the material shown using the computer will be posted on a classroom web page, which can be reviewed at your convenience.  The material on the web page will be posted shortly after the day it was discussed, and in some cases prior to the class period.  In some cases, information may not be available right away, or it may not be available at all.  Don’t become dependent on the web page for all of your notes   The lab will focus on applying some of the information we discuss in lecture with specific exercises designed to let you understand what the Earth is made of, how it is formed, and how we can interpret what is observed in a logical and scientific way. The grading scale is based on percentages as listed in the table below.

 

Course %   Lecture grading % of 50 Lab Grading % of 50
Lecture 50   Exams 100 Quizzes 30
Lab 50       Lab Exercises 30
          Talks & Abstracts 20
          Field notes, conduct 20
         

 

The class has several field trips, the dates of which are listed on the calendar page.  Field trips are mandatory, and require that you keep a field notebook.  In addition, there is always an assignment that goes with each field trip.  Notes are to taken while in the field, in addition to adding relelvant information on analysis of data from the field notes in the notebook. 

 

Oral presentations: There are to be 2 presentations given by students over topics decided upon at the beginning of the semester.  I have a list from which students will choose their topics.  The dates for the scheduled talks are shown on the attached calendar.  Each talk will require you to turn in annotated bibliographies with summaries of three research papers related to your topic.  The annotated bibliographies are due the class period before the talks are scheduled.  No internet references will be allowed, although you can use them to research your general topic.  The point behind the talks is to introduce you with the broad range of topical information in the geosciences, to familiarize yourself with standard research techniques and develop your oral presentation skills. 

Failure to participate in the any aspect of the course will constitute failure of the course.

GEOL261- Fall 2009 Calendar of topics and events
Week Date Day    Lecture Topic  Lab Topic Text readings
1 August 22, 2011 Mon   Intro & Earth Materials   Manual Ex. 1, 2 & 3
  August 26, 2011 Fri   Earth Materials Chap 2 & 4;  Mineral and Igneous Rock ID Manual Ex. 1, 2, 3 & 4
             
2 August 29, 2011 Mon   Earth Materials   Manual Ex 4,  6 & 7
  September 2, 2011 Fri   Earth Materials Chap 6 & 7; Sedimentary and Metamorphic rock ID Manual Ex 4,  6 & 7
             
3 September 5, 2011 Mon   No Class- Labor Day Holiday   Manual Ex 5 & 8
  September 9, 2011 Fri   Topographic maps & Aerial photographs Manual Ex 8
             
4 September 12, 2011 Mon   Topographic maps & Aerial photographs  
  September 16, 2011 Fri   Topographic maps & Aerial photographs Chap 8; Topographic Maps & Aerial Photos Manual Ex. 8
  Saturday 9/17/2011     Geological  column field trip   Field trip I- 9/17/2011
             
5 September 19, 2011 Mon   Orals I - unlimited blackboard or overheads Talks - (10 minutes each) Talks over assigned topics
  September 23, 2011 Fri   Orals I - unlimited blackboard or overheads Talks - (10 minutes each) Talks over assigned topics
             
6
September 26, 2011
 Mon   Fluvial systems Chap - 9 & 10; Rivers Manual Ex. 8 & 9
 
September 30, 2011
 Fri   Fluvial systems Chap - 9 & 10; Rivers Manual Ex. 8 & 9
             
7 October 3, 2011 Mon   Fluvial systems  Data Analyses-Graphing Manual Ex. 9 & 10
  October 7, 2011 Fri   Lecture Exam 1 Brief lab- Prep for Field trip and study for next weeks ID lab quiz  
             
8 October 10, 2011 Mon   No classes- Fall break
  October 14, 2011 Fri    Quiz 1- Rock and mineral ID
  Saturday 10/15/2011     Wabash. River field trip   Field-10/15/2011
             
9 October 17, 2011 Mon   GSA- work on data analysis   Chap 11, 12 & 13
  October 21, 2011 Fri   Lansdscape development analyze field trip data Chap 11, 12 & 13
             
10 October 24, 2011 Mon   Lansdscape development   Chap 11, 12 & 13
  October 28, 2011 Fri   Volcanic landforms Chap 11, 12 & 13; landscape development  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
11 October 31, 2011 Mon   Volcanic landforms    
  November 4, 2011 Fri   Volcanic landforms Chap 17; volcanic landscapes  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
12 November 7, 2011 Mon   Geological Maps   Chap 18, 19
  November 11, 2011 Fri   Exam 2    
             
13 November 14, 2011 Mon   Structures and Geological Maps Quiz 2- maps, photos & landscapes Manual Ex 18, 19
  November 18, 2011 Fri   Structurs and Geological Maps Chap 18, 19; Geological maps Manual Ex 18, 19
  Saturday 11/19/2011     KY-Rough Creek Graben Field Trip   Field-11/19/2011
             
14 November 21, 2011 Mon   Brief clas- turn in biblios for second talk Work on presentations!  
  November 25, 2011 Fri   Thanksgiving Recess No class  No Class
             
15 November 28, 2011 Mon   Orals II -12 slide powerpoint or unlimited blackboard/overheads Talks - (12 minutes each) Talks over assigned topics
  December 2, 2011 Fri   Orals II -12 slide powerpoint or unlimited blackboard/overheads;
Rough Creek Graaben Assignment due 		Talks - (12 minutes each) Talks over assigned topics
             
16 December 5, 2011 Mon   Lab Final- comprehensive
  December 9, 2011 Fri   Final exams week 12/8 through 12/14/2011  
             
17 December 12, 2011 Mon   Final Exam- Monday Dec 12, 2011