St. Francis Xavier University
Earth Sciences 216         EARTH HISTORY

 

Webpage last modified December, 2011

 

Lecture Schedule, _Presentations,  ___ & Web Resources	Mark Distribution
Laboratory Schedule,  Lab Powerpoint files and Handouts	Additional Resources

 

 

LECTURES
Department of Earth Sciences	B Block	Physical Sciences Room 2041
Monday 9:15 pm	Wednesday 8:15 am	Thursday 10:15 am
	LAB PERIOD
Monday	GH-HJ Block: 2:15 to 5:00pm	PS Room 2034

 

Textbook:__ Earth System History by Steven M. Stanley

Student Companion website: http://bcs.whfreeman.com/esh2e/

COURSE WEBPAGE: http://www.mystfx.ca/academic/earth-sciences/Content/AcademicP/welcome216

Required Readings:
Readings may be assigned in class and will be available on reserve in the main library. These readings will consist of general scientific articles, primarily from journals such as Scientific American.

Additional Resources:

Earth Sciences 171 Webpage

Excellent CD-Roms available -
Minerals & Rocks

The Theory of Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics and How the Earth Works

_ACCESS (only with TSG Campus Lab or TSG Library Computers using Windows Explore Browser):  S:\Menu\Library

Purpose of Lectures:

The purpose of the course is to understand the processes that have guided the history of the Earth throughout geologic time and to obtain a working knowledge and understanding of the crucial events that have shaped our past.

Lectures

Although the structure of the lectures in the course will be based upon the layout and material in the text, not all lecture material is covered in the text. Lectures will cover some sections of the text more closely than others. You are responsible for all lecture material.

Lecture Presentations
 NOTE: You will be prompted for your User name and password, (your St FX username and password), when you open the files below.

 

The following format is required for access:

In the box asking for your User name, type:__ webfx\___ followed by your user name

               For example:   webfx\x2008abc

_______________________ In the box for “Password”: type the St FX password you use to log on to the campus computer system

Remember, Use the symbol “\” and not “/”.

 

Introduction	1 Introduction Geologic Time Scale Introduction to Plate Tectonics lecture for ENGR 216
Review of Rocks and Minerals	2 Minerals  3 Igneous Rocks  4 Sedimentary Rocks 5 Metamorphic Rocks Word Document: Key Points & Concepts on Rocks & Minerals Website to visit:  http://csmres.jmu.edu/geollab/Fichter/IgnRx/Ighome.html _
_ Relative Geologic Time and the Basic Concepts of Stratigraphy	6 The fossil record and relative geologic time 7 Stratigraphic correlation and sequences 8 Chemostratigraphy and Magnetostratigraphy
Absolute Geologic Time	9 Isotopic Dating: Lecture 1 (2011);__ _Lecture 2 (2011) Updated 10 Rates of Geological Processes
The Precambrian (4.6 Ga to 545 Ma): The Archean	11 Earliest Archean 12 Earliest mineral 13 Archean Cratons 14 Archean Life Website:  On Planet Formation: http://astron.berkeley.edu/~gmarcy/sciam.html
The Precambrian (4.6 Ga to 545 Ma):  Proterozoic__ Evolution of Life The Precambrian in Nova Scotia	15 Early Proterozoic Tectonics and Sediments 16 Proterozoic Life 17 Mid-Late Proterozoic Tectonics 18 Precambrian of Nova Scotia Snowball Earth Website: The Snowball Earth Web Sites: http://www-eps.harvard.edu/people/faculty/hoffman/snowball_paper.html http://www.snowballearth.org/
The Paleozoic Era The Paleozoic in Nova Scotia	19 Cambrian Period 20 The Cambrian Explosion 21 The Burgess Shale 22 Ordovician Tectonics 23 Ordovician sea level, climate, life 24 The Formation of Pangea 25 Mid-Late Paleozoic Sedimentation, Sea level, and Climate 26 Mid-Late Paleozoic Life 27 The Permian Mass Extinction Web Link – Geology of North American Craton Key Evolutionary Events Check out Paleozoic Plate Reconstructions Appalachian Mountains
The Mesozoic Era	28 Tectonics of Western North America 29 Atlantic Continental Margin 30 Mesozoic Climate and Sea Level Web Link - Check out Mesozoic and Cenozoic Plate Reconstructions _Geology of Tibet
The Cenozoic Era	31 The Early Cenozoic 32 The Late Cenozoic 33 The Quaternary
Additional files	Stratigraphic Units and Contacts

Purpose of Laboratories:

Most of the Earth's history is recorded in its rocks, minerals, and fossils. The purpose of the labs is to become acquainted with geological techniques helpful in unraveling the Earth's history. The laboratories begin with rock type identification and rock associations with respect to geologic setting and plate tectonic regimes. This is followed by laboratories that investigate the spatial relationships between rocks, geological map reading and interpretation.

NOTE: You will be prompted for your User name and password, (your St FX username and password), when you open the files below.

The following format is required for access:

In the box asking for your User name, type:__ webfx\___ followed by your user name

               For example:   webfx\x2006abc

_______________________ In the box for “Password”: type the St FX password you use to log on to the campus computer system

 

Laboratory Schedule, Powerpoints, and Handouts

Jan. 10th LAB 1a: Minerals & Igneous rocks	Lab Powerpoint # 1 &2   _Lab 1a.doc   Mineral ID Chart	CD-ROMS’ accessed only with TSG Campus Lab or TSG Library Computers:  S:\Menu\Library The Study of Minerals  Wonders of Rocks & Minerals Excellent site to visit: Igneous Rocks: http://csmres.jmu.edu/geollab/Fichter/IgnRx/Ighome.html
Jan. 17th LAB 1b: Sedimentary rocks	Lab Powerpoint # 1 &2 Lab 1b.doc
Jan. 24th LAB 2: Relationship between rocks and divergent plate margins	Lab Powerpoint #1 & 2 _   Lab #2.doc	CD-ROMS’ accessed only with TSG Campus Lab or TSG Library Computers:  S:\Menu\Library Plate Tectonics and How the Earth Works (2003 version) The Theory of Plate Tectonics... (2003 version) Check out this site: http://www.le.ac.uk/geology/art/gl209/lecture3/mainlct3.html
Jan. 31st LAB 3: Introduction to Metamorphic rocks and Convergent Plate Boundaries	Lab ppt #3   _Lab 3	Access both of the CD-ROMS’ on Plate Tectonics on the topic of Convergent Margins:  S:\Menu\Library   Check out Convergent Margins: http://www.le.ac.uk/geology/art/gl209/lecture5/mainlct5.html_
Feb. 7th LAB 4: Introduction to Paleozoic Fossils and Geologic Maps QUIZ # 1 (5%), 4:30pm	Lab ppt # 4 Lab #4.doc –updated 2011	Geologic Mapping  Basic Structural Principles http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/structure/learnstructure/index.htm   http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform.html
Feb. 14th LAB 5: Mesozoic Fossils and Geology of Northwestern Nova Scotia	Lab # 5 Assignment: isotopic age dating   Lab ppt # 5   _Lab #5.doc	Please read the article “Measuring Geologic Time” located PS Rm 2034 Complete Lab assignment on Absolute Age Dating Check out Geologic Time: Isotopic Age Dating Geology of Nova Scotia__ Meguma Group_ Triassic in NS
Feb. 28th LAB 6: Growth of Continents	Lab ppt # 6    Lab 6.doc	Readings from the textbook: Stanley: Stanley: pp. 215-7; 262-5; 273-8; 282-3; 287-296
Mar. 7th LAB 7: Geologic Map -Quadrant #1  QUIZ # 2 (5%) , 4:30 pm	Lab ppt #7   Lab 7	Folds and Map Patterns (Go to Lecture videos - Structure)
Mar. 14th LAB 8: Geologic Map - Quadrant #2	Lab 8	Visit Website: http://earth.leeds.ac.uk/faults/index.htm
Mar. 21st LAB 9: Geologic Map -Quadrant #3	Lab 9	Complete Geologic Map Interpretation, Legend and Profiles for Labs 7 to 9
Mar. 28th Final Lab Test (30%) Geologic Map: Quadrant #4
Grades **(see note below)   Lecture material:  60%		Laboratory:  40% (Mark breakdown below)
Mid-term (20%)_ - Wed. Feb. 16		2 Lab Tests (10%) – Monday, February 7th, 4:30 pm (5%) _and March 7th , 4:30 pm (5%)
Final exam (40%)		Final lab exam (30%) – Monday, March 28th, 2:15 pm

** Readjustments of the relative weightings of the tests, both for lecture and lab quizzes will be done in your favour, if one of the tests was done poorly relative to the others. HOWEVER, this will be only done for full attendance of labs and satisfactory completion of lab material/assignments._ NOTE: Labs # 1 through 6 must be completed before commencement of Geologic Map Project (Lab # 7).