Geology and the Environment ERSC 1F90 Summer 2009

Instructor: Rick Cheel Department of Earth Sciences Office:Mackenzie Chown D418 Phone: Ext rcheel brocku.ca

All course material will be located at:

ERSC 1F90 aims to provide: A basic understanding of Earth materials (rocks, minerals, etc.). An introduction to plate tectonics and its implications (earthquakes and volcanoes). Examples of extreme events of various scales of magnitude and frequency.

Grade Distribution Assignments36%4 assignments of equal value (9% each) 2 Midterm tests15% eachIn-class, Thursday, July 23 and Wednesday, August 5 Last names beginning A to K, h. Last names beginning L to Z, h. Final Exam34%Friday, August 21, h Location TBA

IMPORTANT NOTES The last day for withdrawal without academic penalty and last day to change from credit to audit status for duration 1 courses is Friday, August 7, Students will have received notification of at least 15% of their final grade by Thursday, August 6, Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ERSC 1F01, 1F95, 1P92 and 1P93.

Schedule for assignments July 16 Economic Minerals July 22 Relative age of rocks and geological events July 30 Locating earthquake epicentres August 6 Identifying tectonic plate boundaries Each assignment is due by 1300h on the Thursday of the week following its introduction.

Earth Science Workshop Mackenzie Chown D319. Every Tuesday from 1200 to 1500h. Teaching Assistants will be available to help with assignments.

Lectures: Outline and schedule Monday July 13 Introduction, grade distribution, outline Tuesday July 14 Scientific Ideas, Geology 101, the History of Geology Wednesday July 15 Atoms, elements and minerals.

Outline and schedule Thursday July 16 Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Tuesday July 21 Geologic Time Tuesday July 20 Fossils and fossilization; mass extinctions Wednesday July 22 Geologic Time, continued. Assignment 2 tutorial.

Tuesday July 28 Impacts with the Earth, effect and risk. Outline and schedule Monday July 27 The origin of the solar system and the formation of Earth. July 23 Midterm Test #1 Last names beginning A to K (10:00am – 11:00am) Last names beginning L to Z (11:00am – 12:00pm)

Thursday July 30 Continental Drift; Geomagnetism; Assignment 3 tutorial. Outline and schedule Wednesday July 28 Impacts with the Earth, effect and risk, continued. Monday August 3 No Lecture Civic Holiday

Outline and schedule Tuesday August 4 Modern Plate Tectonics Wednesday, August 5 Midterm Test #2 Last names beginning A to K (10:00am – 11:00am) Last names beginning L to Z (11:00am – 12:00pm)

Thursday August 6 Earthquakes: Faults, seismic waves and their effects; the distribution of Earthquakes Monday August 10 Earthquake prediction and the Great Canadian Earthquake. Outline and schedule Tuesday August 11 The Earth’s climate and its history (Snowball Earth)

Thursday August 13 Volcanoes: classification, deposits, and their distribution. Monday August 17 Predicting volcanic eruptions; scales of eruptions, major eruptions and Supervolcanoes Outline and schedule Wednesday August 12 Climate, continued

Tuesday August 18 The history of the Earth Wednesday August 19 Wrap-up, a quick review and final exam information. Outline and schedule Thursday August 20 No Lecture (Check schedule for changes) (a good time to study) Friday August 21 Final Exam, 1400 – 1600h, location TBA

The usual disclaimer…. The schedule is tentative. Check the web-based schedule for changes and updates.

In the event of a significant asteroid impact: class will be cancelled!