GEOL 1150 - Historical Geology: The Study of the Geologic History of Planet Earth

Credit Hours: 4.00

Objectives:

1. Recognize Geologic principles important to interpreting stratigraphic systems.
2. Recognize elements of the Geologic Time Scale and its historic development.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of radiometric dating techniques.

Objectives:

1. Describe different forms of radioactive decay of elements.
2. Describe radiometric dating of rocks and illustrate the limitations of this technique.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to decipher the depositional and tectonic history of a geographic area.

Objectives:

1. Classify common sedimentary structures and describe their formations.
2. Correlate rock units related to tectonic settings, depositional history, and paleogeography.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to identify global geologic processes and their impact on shaping the Earth.

Objectives:

1. Explain the theory and development of Plate Tectonics.
2. Illustrate Crustal development by Continental Accretion and Sea-floor Spreading.

Outcome 5: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to determine the sedimentary environment in which a rock is formed based on its composition, texture, presence of sedimentary structures, and fossil content.

Objectives:

1. Interpret Depositional Environments based on characteristics of Sedimentary Rocks.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the Fossil Record by preservation type and biologic relationship to age and depositional environments.

Outcome 6: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to describe the basic geological history of Earth with an emphasis on North America.

Objectives:

1. Explain global Geologic events by time periods.
2. Explain the Geologic development of North America.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. Lecture Core:
   1. Minerals & Rocks
      1. Sedimentary Processes - Geologic Principles
         1. Environments of Deposition
         2. Primary Sedimentary Structures
   2. Geologic Time - Development of the Time Scale
      1. Correlation & Relative Time
      2. Absolute Age Dating Techniques
   3. The Fossil Record: Organic Evolution in the Geologic Record
      1. Uniformitarianism: in reality
      2. Elements of Evolution
      3. Fossilization: what is preserved & how
   4. Earth’s Physical Processes
      1. Planetary development to the development of Atmosphere
      2. Plate Tectonics
      3. Geologic Structures
      4. Mountain Building & Continental Accretion
2. The Story in Time
   1. Precambrian
      1. To the Archeozoic Eon
      2. Proterozoic Eon
   2. Paleozoic Eon - the age of Seas / Life explodes
      1. By Period
   3. Middle Life - the Mesozoic - the transition of life forms
      1. By Period
   4. Recent Life - the Cenozoic - mammals & flowers
      1. The Paleogene
      2. The Neogene & Glaciers to the Holocene