Advanced General
Geology
W4001
Fall 2004
Mark H.
Anders
213
Seismology, Lamont
(845)
365-8361
manders@ldeo.columbia.edu
Advanced General Geology is an
introductory class in geology designed for students who have some science
background. A laboratory run in conjunction with the lecture is designed to
introduce students to rocks and rock forming minerals. There are at least two
required day-long field trips. The required text is The Inaccessible Earth
by Brown and Mussett (this text is out of print, so copies can be obtained from
the DEES office in Schermerhorn).
There will also be a large number of supplemental readings and
handouts given at the beginning of lectures. A copy of Earth by Press
and Siever is on reserve in the library as a general reference.
September 9th - Origin of the Earth.
Includes discussions of nuclear
synthesis, meteorites and the theories of formation of the Earth and solar
system.
Read chapters 4 & 5 in Brown
& Mussett.
"Supernova explosions in the Universe" Burrows (Nature, 2000,
v.403, p. 727-733).
"The Origin of the Earth"
Ahrens
(Physics Today, 1994, p. 38-45).
"New Hubble camera finds many
protoplanetary disks in Orion Nebula" Schwartzschild (Physics Today, 1994, p.
20-21).
"The Age of the Universe"
Sneden
(Nature, v. 409, p. 673-675).
"Measurement of stellar age
from
uranium decay" (Nature, v. 409, p. 691-692).
"A distance space thermometer"
Meyers (Nature, 1994, p.13).
"Measurement of the microwave
background temperature at a redshift of 1.776" Songalla et al. (Nature, 1994,
p.
43-45).
"Light from tungsten on core
construction" Stevenson (Nature, v. 378, p. 763-764).
"Hafnium-tungsten chronometry and
the timing of terrestrial core formation" Lee & Halliday (Nature, vol 378,
p. 771-774).
"Birth of the Solar System"
A.G.W. Cameron (Nature, 2002, v. 418, p, 924-925).
"A short timescale for
terrestrial planet formation from Hf-W chronometry of meteorites" Yin et al.
(Nature, 2002, v. 418, p. 949-951).
"Rapid accretion and early
core
formation on asteroids and the terrestrial planets from Hf-W chronometry"
Kleine et al. (Nature, 2002, v. 418, p. 952-955).
Also read the Book of Genesis 1:1
through 1:9.
September 14th, 16th,
and 21st - Structure of the Earth.
An overview of the evidence for
the chemical, phase, and rheological properties of the Earth. Includes
discussion of the core, mantle, and crust.
Read chapters 6 through 10 in
B&M and chapter 19 in P&S
"What is in the Earth's core
besides iron?" Bassett (Science, 1994, v. 266, p. 1662-1663)
"In situ determination of
the
NiAs phase of FeO at high pressure and temperature" Fei & Mao (Science,
1994, v. 266. p. 1678-1680).
"Catching the inner core in a
spin" Whaler & Holme (Nature, 1996, v. 382, p. 205).
"Seismological evidence for
differential rotation of the Earth's inner core" Song and Richards (Nature,
1996, v. 382, p. 221-224).
"A magnetic reversal record"
Merrill (Nature, 1997, v. 389, p. 678-679)
"The last two geomagnetic
polarity reversals recorded in high-deposition-rate sediment drifts" Channell
& Lehman (Nature, 1997, v. 389, p. 712-715)
"Model suggests deep-mantle
topography goes with the flow" Ladbury (Physics Today, August 1999
"Evidence for deep mantle
circulation from global tomography" van der
Hilst et al. ( Nature, 1997,
"Hot heads and cold tails" Arndt
(Nature, 2000,
"Transient high temperatures
in mantle plume heads inferred from magnesian olivines in Phanerozoic picrites" Thompson & Gibson
(Nature,
2000,
September 23rd, 28th
and 30th - Plate Tectonics.
A historical overview of the
development of the plate tectonic theory.
Read chapters 20 and 21 in
P&S.
October 5th and 7th
- Geologic Time.
Discussion of the basic assumptions used to assess
geologic time. Detailed examination of U/Pb, Rb/Sr, 14C K/Ar and Ar/Ar
techniques. Other non-radiometric techniques will be discussed.
Read "notes" 5, 6 &
7, pages 213 to 215 in B&M, and pages 41 through 48 in P&S.
Handouts including a problem set
to be returned on the 28th.
October 12th, 14th,
and 19th - Construction of the Geologic
Time Scale.
A discussion of both the present
techniques used to assign ages to divisions of time as well as a historical
perspective on the development of the time scale.
Read chapter 2 in P&S and memorize time scale on page 39 P&S
October 21st and 26th
- The Rock Cycle.
Discussion of the formation of sedimentary, igneous and
metamorphic rocks.
October 28th - Structural Geology.
Includes brief discussion of the
faulting process in the upper crust— e.g., strike-slip, normal and thrust
faulting.
Read chapter 4 in P&S.
November 2nd - Election Day - no class
November 9th - Mid-Term
November 12th and
14th - The Earth's Solid Surface (lecture into lab period).
An overview of the role of wind, water, and ice as agents
in sculpting the surface of the Earth.
Read chapters 8, 9 & 10 and
Mountain Building and Climate.
A look at newly developed theories of the role of climate
in mountain building or, if you like, the role of mountain building on climate.
Read Molnar & England 1992
(Science) Ruddirman et al. 1989 and chapter 6 in P&S.
November 19th & 21st - The Great K/T Boundary
Debate.
Read Alvarez et al. 1980 (Science); 1986 (EOS), Officer and Drake 1985 (Science), and Cortillot et al. 1987 (Science)
November 26th and
December 3rd - Philosophy
of Science.
Discussion of readings from
Popper, Kuhn, Lakatose, and Feyerabend.
Extensive handout readings from
these four authors plus other readings.
November 28th - Eat Turkey Day (vegetarians are
excused from this assignment).
December 5th - Evolution.
Discussion of the theories of
evolution and how the geologic record may alter our perception of the tempo and
mode of evolution.
Final Exam Times posted on door
of Schermerhorn main office.
Grade is based on:
25%
for lab grade (meets in room 417 Schermerhorn)
25%
mid-term
50%
final
Field trip attendance is required
- questions on exams may include
subject material covered on field trips.
There is a field trip fee - see Robbie in 560 or Mia at
Lamont about costs.