CEG1603 : Introduction to the Sedimentary Record
- Offered for Year: 2019/20
- Module Leader(s): Dr Cees van der Land
- Lecturer: Dr Sanem Acikalin Cartigny
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
Rocks record time and processes: the structure of different rock units and their composition provide you with an archive about the conditions that prevailed when the rocks were formed and about the events that happened after the formation of these rocks. In ISR, we will focus on how to decipher this information from the sedimentary record. To make such interpretations, you will use information collected at the surface of the Earth, in particular using geological maps and outcrop material. Students will be introduced to the physical, chemical, and biological processes typical of modern sedimentary depositional environments and be able to identify the geological products of these processes in terms of the textures, structures, and mineral composition in ancient sedimentary strata. Students will be able to interpret and predict the complex material, time, and space relationships of sedimentary strata as revealed by lithologic, fossil, relative time, radiometric, and geometric features preserved in the sedimentary record.
Outline Of Syllabus
This course introduces the concepts that are employed in the interpretation of the depositional environments of ancient sedimentary rocks. To give you the skills and knowledge necessary to use surface information to image the subsurface and reconstruct the geological history of an area, ISR builds on a combination of lectures, practical and field work, building on skills developed in the “Geological structures and mapping” and “Residential field course” modules. Lectures will introduce you to the basic principles of reconstructing ancient depositional environments, stratigraphy and structure. The lectures will be complemented with practicals using rock samples, maps and case studies which will illustrate the topics addressed during the lectures.
Lectures and tutorials (1 hour each).
Examples of subjects: Introduction to stratigraphy and mapping interpretation techniques, sediment textures (microscopic to outcrop to satellite scale), sediment transport – Physics of sedimentation, introduction to fluid dynamics, siliciclastic and carbonate rocks – modern and ancient environments, paleontology – significance of the fossil record, depositional environments (and sea level change), facies associations and sequence stratigraphy, sedimentary basins and fossil fuels
Practicals (2 hours each).
Classification and interpretation of modern and ancient sedimentary rocks (microscopy), sedimentary structures, case study integrating core observations (recognition of textures, interpretation of depositional environment, etc.) across a typical sedimentary basin.
2 one day field trips visiting key sedimentary sequences in the NE of England.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 17 | 0:30 | 8:30 | Revision for exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Thin section descriptions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 17 | 1:00 | 17:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Fluid dynamics |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Stratigraphy exercise |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:15 | 1:15 | Unseen written exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Tutorial |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 2 | 6:00 | 12:00 | Field Notebook completed over two days fieldwork. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 38:15 | 38:15 | Includes background reading and reading lecture notes for a full understanding of material |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The field classes are used in the first week of the course to introduce students to observation and description of the characteristics of rocks and soils in the field.
Lectures are used to provide factual information and a guide to the syllabus and reading. This is reinforced by the use of case studies and problem solving in practical classes.
Practical classes are the primary opportunity to practice skills needed for the
use of the microscope and rock identification, and geological mapping, reinforcing material delivered in lectures through direct personal observation, and developing 4-dimensional thought.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 60 | 2 | A | 50 | Unseen written exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 35 | Field notebook containing observations & interpretations from 2 fieldwork days. Approx 8 pages |
| Written exercise | 2 | M | 15 | Thin section descriptions. Clastic and carbonate thin sections. Approx 400 words. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The practical report enables the students to use their practical skills to inform ideas taught in the practical's and lectures.
The written exercises enable the students to use the knowledge from the lectures, field trips and practicals to study a specific area in detail.
The exam tests the students understanding of knowledge delivered in the lectures.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CEG1603's Timetable