Stratigraphy – Historical Geology

Posted in Fourth-Semester

School

Natural Sciences

Academic Unit

Geology Department

Level of Studies

Undergraduate

Course Code

GEO_301Α

Εξάμηνο σπουδών

4^ο

Course Title

Stratigraphy – Historical Geology

Independent Teaching Activities

Lectures and laboratory work, Fieldwork

Weekly Teaching Hours

2 (lect.), 2 (lab.)

Credits

Course Type

Basic and Skills Development

Prerequisite Courses

Typically, there are not prerequisite courses, however, for the better understanding of the course it would be considered appropriate students to have attended the following modules: Palaeontology, Planet Earth: Extrinsic Processes, Planet Earth: Intrinsic Processes Sedimentary Rocks and Structural Geology

Language of Instruction & Examinations

Greek

Is the Course offered to Erasmus Students

Υes, teaching may be however offered in English in case foreign students attend the course.

Course Web-Page (URL)

https://eclass.upatras.gr/courses/GEO325/ (in Greek)

Learning Outcomes

This is a basic module for the disciplines of Stratigraphy and Historical Geology, providing information on the use of the main stratigraphic methods and the evolution of earth through geological time.

Upon successful completion of this course the students will be able to:

Understand, implement and discuss the principles of Stratigraphy.
Apply the principles of stratigraphy in geological studies.
Apply stratigraphic methods such as lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy etc. for the solution of stratigraphic problems.
Become familiar with the main stratigraphic units, used in the main stratigraphic methods and mainly the chronostratigraphic and geochronologic ones.
Obtain basic knowledge of depositional environments, lithofacies and biofacies.
Obtain basic knowledge on the main geological events that occurred and stigmatised the history of the earth from the Precambrian until today.

General Competences

Generally, by the end of this course the student will, furthermore, have developed the following general abilities:

Search, analyze and synthesize data and information, using the necessary technologies.
Adapting to new situations.
Working in a multidisciplinary environment
Working in an international environment.
Independent work.
Group work.
Generating new research ideas.
Respecting the environment.
Criticism and self-criticism.
Promoting free and creative thinking.

Syllabus

Principles of Stratigraphy – Sedimentary rocks and bedding – Types of bedding – Discontinuities – Unconformities – Hiatuses – Stratigraphic sections
Stratigraphic methods – Lithostratigraphy – Biostratigraphy – Chronostratigraphy – Geochronology – Radiometric dating – Magnetostratigraphy – Chemostratigraphy
Facies Analyses – Depositional environments – Stratigraphic correlation
History of the earth from the Precambrian till the Quaternary - Stratigraphic distributions, rocks, organisms, extinctions, palaeogeography, palaeobiogeography, palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, orogenies, with special reference to the respective formations of the Greek Penninsula.

Delivery

Lectures and laboratory practice face to face. Solving Stratigraphical problems during laboratory practice

Use of Information & Communication Technology

Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) (powerpoint) in teaching. Supporting teaching and communication through e-class. The lectures content of the course for each chapter are uploaded on the e-class platform, in the form of a series of ppt files, from where the students can freely download them.

Teaching Methods

Activity	Semester workload
Lectures (2 conduct hours per week x 13 weeks)	2X13 = 26
Laboratory work (2 conduct hours per week x 13 weeks)	2X13 = 26
Hours for the preparation of laboratory work reports (3h per week x 13 weeks)	3Χ13= 39
Hours for private study of the student (3h per week x 13 weeks)	39
Fieldwork	8
Total number of hours for the Course	138

Student Performance Evaluation

Ι) Oral final examination. The mark consists 50% of the final grade.

The examination will include:

- Short answered questions.

- Short essays of combined approach.

ΙΙ. Written reports following the completion of each laboratory practical. The mean mark of the reports consists the other 50% of the final grade.

Minimum passing grade: 5.

Final Course Grade (FCG)

FCG = ( Oral exam + practical reports ) / 2

The language of assessment is in Greek. If foreign students attend the course, their assessment in English.

Attached Bibliography

Suggested bibliography:

Miall, A.D., 2015, Stratigraphy: A Modern Synthesis, Springer
Brookfield, M.E., 2004, Principles of Stratigraphy, Willey
Levin, H., 2013, The Earth through time, Wiley
Wicander, R., Monroe, J.,S., 2010, Historical geology: evolution of earth and life through time, Brooks/Cole
Notes of lecturers in English.