GEOL 4540 - Sedimentation-Stratigraphy

(4 credits)

Prerequisites: GEOL 3001 or permission of instructor. The first part of the semester is devoted to the origin, classification, and interpretation of sediments and modern sedimentary environments. The second part is devoted to the recognition of these environments in the geologic record through stratigraphic analysis. The latter includes principles of correlation, stratigraphic paleontology, compilation of stratigraphic maps, and interpretation of the geologic column. Three lecture, two laboratory sessions per week. (fall, even years; spring, odd years) Honors students will be expected to choose a rock section in the region and measure and describe it in detail. The choice of section must be mutually agreed upon by the student and the instructor. The student will submit a detailed description and stratigraphic column of the section as a final report. The student may also choose to carry out a sedimentary analysis on an exposed rock section, a stream deposit, or soil horizon to be mutually agreed upon by the instructor and the student. Analyses will include petrographic description of sediments and grain size analysis of representative sediment/soil samples all to be presented in an end-of-semester report.

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