GEOLOGY 1100 - Earth's Interior I

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

This course provides a global perspective of Planet Earth and the dynamic processes that have modified it over its 4 billion-year history. We explore Earth's place in space and time and examine the operation of its internal chemical and physical processes. Fundamental concepts are developed: the formation and structure of the Earth; the driving forces of plate tectonics and continental drift; earthquakes and volcanoes, the formation and identification of geological materials, mountain building and rock deformation; the development of the geologic timescale. Emphasis is given to the geological evolution of Australia.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEOLOGY 1100
    Course Earth's Interior I
    Coordinating Unit School of Physical Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week, plus field work
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible GEOLOGY 1104,
    Course Description This course provides a global perspective of Planet Earth and the dynamic processes that have modified it over its 4 billion-year history. We explore Earth's place in space and time and examine the operation of its internal chemical and physical processes. Fundamental concepts are developed: the formation and structure of the Earth; the driving forces of plate tectonics and continental drift; earthquakes and volcanoes, the formation and identification of geological materials, mountain building and rock deformation; the development of the geologic timescale. Emphasis is given to the geological evolution of Australia.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Karin Barovich

    Course Coordinator: Professor Karin Barovich
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    A successful student should be able to:
    1 describe the earth's interior, including the structure, composition, and magnetic field;
    2 explain the internal processes acting on the Earth;
    3 describe the theory of plate tectonics and relate this theory to geologic processes and structures such as volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain chains, continents and ocean floors;
    4 understand and describe the formation and physical properties of minerals and rocks and use that knowledge to identify them;
    5 describe rock processes in terms of plate tectonics;
    6 explain earth structures and be able to distinguish three-dimensional rock structures and faults from geologic maps;
    7 use information learned in class and develop observation skills to be able to recognize the various geological features and materials the earth is constructed from in the field.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-7
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 4-7
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 4-7
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 4, 7
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 4, 7
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 3, 7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    We will use the free, on-line text book called Earth‟s Dynamic Systems, by W. Kenneth Hamblin, Eric H. Christiansen from the Department of Geological Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602. You can access all parts of the book online at http://earthds.info/
    We‟ve also downloaded the chapters as pdfs and will put them up on MyUni for you to download and have on your iPads, PCs or other devices. It‟s a remarkably generous resource by the authors, and by the previous publishers Pearsons who returned copyright to the authors.
    Because this book is freely available, we will be using materials from it regularly and will prescribe readings at times.
    Recommended Resources
    The reading list for the course on a week by week basis is supplied in the syllabus.
    Online Learning
    Course-related material is available through MyUni
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is delivered by the following means:
    • 3 X 1-hour lectures per week (some weeks will have 2 lectures only)
    • 1 X 3-hour practical per week


    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
      Lectures Practicals
    Week 1 How the earth works No practicals
    Week 2 The dance of the lithosphere Plate tectonics exercises
    Week 3 Global rock scale to atomic bond scale Start Mineral and Rock properties and identification exercises
    Week 4 Lecture Test 1
    Minerals and their structures
    Rock properties and identification exercises
    Week 5 Magmas and igneous rocks Rock ID (Igneous)
    Week 6 Volcano! When the
    Earth burps
    Igneous rocks and plate tectonics
    Rock ID (Igneous, continued)
    Week 7 Beds and the sands of time. Sedimentary rocks and plate tectonics Rock ID (Sedimentary continued)
    Week 8 Metamorphism: it’s gneiss to be a schist Rock ID (Metamorphic continued)
    Week 9 Lecture Test 2
    Question and Answer and Lecture test
    No practical
    Week  10 Deforming the Earth. Building its mountains Structure exercises or map exercises Part I
    Week 11 Deforming the Earth. Building its mountains Structure exercises or map exercises Part II
    Week 12 Deforming the Earth. Building its mountains Rock ID tests.
    Lecture Test 3
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Hurdle Weighting Learning Outcome
    Lecture Tests Formative & Summative

    Weeks 2-13

    No 60% 1-7
    Practical tests and practical work  Formative & Summative Weeks 2-13 No 40% 1-7



    Assessment Detail
    Lecture Tests 60%
    Test material comes primarily from lecture materials and assigned readings. The tests will consist of a mixture of multiple choice and short/longer answer questions. Feedback on the first in–class test will be provided by end of week 6.

    Practical Tests 40%
    Practical tests will be administered during the semester to assess the learning through this part of the course.
    Submission
    Late Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

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