Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences

Field Excursions for Stratigraphy
Geo 231Z               2 credits                Fall 2007

Class meetings: ES 309 F 1.40-3.40pm (labs - only on days preceeding trips); Sat, Sun 8.30-5.30 (field excursions)
     September 8 and 9; September 29 and 30; October 13 and 14
[or October 20 and 21 if rained out on earlier dates]

Instructor: W. Kidd    ES 315     442-4477
TA’s:   J. Gillen (ES339C); Antonios Marsellos (ES 339B)

Objectives: This class provides the first significant encounter for Geology and Earth Science majors with real geological exposures. The emphasis is on students developing their observational and logical skills on the outcrop in the subject areas covered in GEO 230, stratigraphy, sedimentology, paleontology, and introductory geological mapping. Students are required to take full notes in the field, and to write extended illustrated reports on these observations, and thus the development of professional writing skills is also a primary goal of this course.

Course topics:     Stratigraphic section construction and correlation
                           Sedimentology of carbonate and clastic strata
                           Invertebrate paleotology; including environmental interpretation, and geological time significance
                           Geological field mapping techniques
                           Interpretation of maps and aerial photographs
                           Writing and illustration of geological reports
                           Geological field observation and methods
                           Regional geology and tectonics of E. New York-W. New England

Reading/study materials: No text  required. The Geological Highway Map of New York State is recommended. A small number of readings from journal articles and/or short extracts from books may be assigned.

Grading:        Four written, illustrated reports on observations from weekend day field trips    90%
                     Field notebook made during the trips/mapping                                                  10%

Attendance Policy: Attendance on field trips and in labs is required.

Field Trip photos

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