GEOLOGY 1 - FALL, 2006


COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructors: Professor David Leveson, Adjunct Matthew Garb

Office Hours:

  • Leveson: Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10 to 11 AM, in 4153N; or by appt. Telephone: 718-951-5000 ext 2879 Email: dleveson@brooklyn.cuny.edu
  • Garb: Mondays, 5 to 6 PM, in 4151N; Email: mpgarb@hotmail.com
Meeting Times:
  • LECTURE: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 12:15 to 1:30 PM in 4153 N.
  • LAB: Wednesdays, from 2:00 to 4:30 PM in 4116N and 4153N.
Materials For The Course:
  • LECTURE TEXT: How Does Earth Work?, latest edition, by Smith & Pun
  • LAB MANUALS:
    • General Geology 1 Laboratory Manual, by Leveson, Nehru & Wallace
    • Earth in Space & Maps Supplement, by Leveson
  • EQUIPMENT (Order from http://www.kooters.com/):
    • Required: Brunton Eclipse 8099P Pro Compass ($90)
    • Optional: (Economy 10X triplet magnifier ($22)
YOUR GRADE:
  • Lecture Midterm (covers approximately first 10 topics): 20%;
  • Lecture Final (takes place during finals week. The exam covers the entire term’s work but concentrates on the lectures and readings not covered on the midterm): 30%;
  • Rocks and minerals exam: 20%;
  • Maps and earth in space exam (takes place during finals week at a time TBA): 20%;
  • Required Field Trips (two one-day field trips, dates and places TBA) plus quizzes and assignments: 10%

  • Extra credit (maximum 6%): attendance at Geology Department or Geology Society Seminars and Lectures (2% each) listed on Events Page of the Geology Department Website. http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/events/events.htm
MISCELLANEOUS:
  • Please consult the Brooklyn College Bulletin to review the College Academic Integrity Policy regarding plagiarism and cheating.
  • Attendance Policy:
    • There is no penalty for absence from lecture, but you are responsible for all information imparted.
    • If you are absent from lab, it is your responsibility to make up the lab on your own time.
    • If you absent from a field trip, you must make special arrangements with the instructor to take a substitute field trip.
    • If you are absent from an exam, you must take the formal makeup exam. Only one makeup will be offered for each exam. If you are absent from the makeup exam, your grade for the exam will be zero.
    • If you are absent from unannounced quizzes, your grade will be zero.
  • Grades are not curved.
LECTURE TOPICS AND TEXT READINGS
(Subject to Revision)
The Solar System - Description, Origin
  • Chapter 9 (read from start through section 9.1)
Major Earth Materials, Structures and Processes
  • Chapter 1 (all)
  • Chapter 2 (all. However, for ‘Internal Structure of Minerals (p. 33-35) and sections 2.6 and 2.7, just understand the principles, don’t memorize the details)
  • Chapter 3 (all)
  • Chapter 13 (read sections 13.1-13.4)
Igneous Rocks and Processes (Volcanism, Plutonism)
  • Chapter 4 (all)
Sedimentary Rocks and Processes
  • Chapter 5 (read p. 102 through second paragraph p. 108; read from ‘Putting it together’ on p. 111 through ‘Putting it together’ on p. 112; read Section 5.4).
Geologic Time
  • Chapter 7 (7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 7.4 (don’t memorize time scale, understand principles); 7.5; 7.6; 7.7)
Deformation of Solids
  • Chapter 11 (11.1 – 11.5)
Metamorphic rocks and Processes
  • Chapter 6 (read all, but don’t memorize reactions, index minerals, mineral content of rocks, or sequences of rock changes except as given in lecture)
Earthquakes; The Earth’s Interior
  • Chapter 8 (all)
  • Chapter 9 (read sections 9.2, 9.3).
  • Chapter 11 (11.6 – 11.9)
Earth Magnetism; Ocean floors and Sea-Floor Spreading; Plate Tectonics; Mantle Plumes; Hot Spots
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13 (sections 13.5-13.6)
Weathering
  • Chapter 5 (section 5.1)
Mass Wasting
  • Chapter 15
Groundwater
  • Chapter 16
Streams
  • Chapter 15
Glaciers; Ice Ages
  • Chapter 18
Shorelines
  • Chapter 19
The Geology of the NYC Region
  • No text readings
LABORATORY
INVESTIGATION 1: The World of Minerals
INVESTIGATION 2: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic Rocks
INVESTIGATION 3: Maps
INVESTIGATION 4: The Earth in Space
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: The student will be able to:
  • Describe and discuss major earth features, materials, structures and processes.
  • Define and employ common geologic terminology.
  • Articulate and employ geologic modes of reasoning.
  • Discuss geologic materials and processes as systems.
  • Describe and discuss local and regional geology.
  • Describe and discuss the consequences of earth-people interactions.
  • Describe and explain basic earth-moon-planet-sun relationships.
  • Demonstrate mastery of basic lab skills: identifying minerals and rocks; inferring rock origin from examination of specimens; reading, drawing and interpreting contour maps and profiles; using terrestrial coordinates
  • Demonstrate mastery of basic field skills: determining location on a base map; making and recording field observations and measurements.
  • Develop and test hypotheses.

©2004
David J. Leveson