University of Nevada, Las Vegas  


Department of Geoscience
GEOL 462: PRINCIPLES OF STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTATION
Spring, 2009


Course Section: 001 Classroom Location: LFG 105
Instructor: Dr. Ganqing Jiang Office Location: LFG 206
Email: jiangg@unlv.nevada.edu Lectures: T-Th: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Class website: http://faculty.unlv.edu/ganqing/GEOL462 Office hours: Thursday 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

T.A.: Steven Forrester Office Location: TEC 114
Email: forres22@unlv.nevada.edu Labs: Friday: 11:30 AM - 2:20 PM, LFG 105



Class Description:

    The purpose of this course is to provide an integrated overview of the sciences of sedimentology and stratigraphy. We will learn the following components: (1) Earth’s surficial processes that control and produce sediments and sedimentary rocks, (2) quantitative description and classification of sedimentary rocks, (3) spatial and temporal models for reconstructing depositional environments, (4) sedimentary sequences and their forming mechanisms, and (5) techniques (e.g., stable isotopes) useful for studying sedimentary rocks and exploring ancient seawater history. We will learn how to answer questions such as "What is the paleoenvironmental origin of sedimentary rocks? What controls their lateral and temporal variations? What information can we obtain from sedimentary rocks to reveal the ancient Earth history??/I>
    Class Background ?This class is designed for senior undergraduates majoring in geology and will integrate materials that you have learned in previous classes. You will demonstrate that you have acquired the requisite skills related to sedimentary geology and acquisition of appropriate writing skills by completing field-based reports, and other assignments and exams. Concurrent enrollment in the lab section is required.
    Textbooks:
    1. Required: Gary Nichols, 2004, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Blackwell Publishing Company, 355pp. ISBN: 0-632-03578-1
    2. Recommended: Boggs, S., Jr., 2006, Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy, 4th edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 662pp. ISBN: 0-13-154728-3 (a copy is reserved in Lied Library)
    Grading:
    Class Attendance and Discussions……?....10%
    Midterm Exam……………………?.……30%
    Final Exam…………………………?.......30%
    Lab + research project..................................30%
    Final grades are assigned on a percentage basis: A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C = 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = 59% or lower; +/- designations are used. Although I encourage you to study and work on projects together, you must turn in original work.

Class Schedule

Download the class syllabus here

Week
Day
Date
Lecture Notes
Lecture slides
Reading
1
T
Jan-13
Class Intro, Intro to Sedimentary Processes and Sedimentary Rocks
Lecture 1
Nicholas, p. 1-9
1
Th
Jan-15
Terrigenous Clastic Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks
Lecture 2
Nicholas, p. 10-24
2
T
Jan-20
Biogenic, chemical, and Volcanogenic sediments and rocks
Lecture 3
Nicholas, p. 25-36
2
Th
Jan-22
Sediments: from Sources to Destination
Lecture 4
Nicholas, p. 37-61, 76-89
3
T
Jan-27
Sedimentary Structures
Lecture 5
Nicholas, p. 43-61.
See reading assignment here
3
Th
Jan-29
Sedimentary structures
Lecture 6
Nicholas, p. 43-61
4
T
Feb-3
Environments and Facies
Lecture 7
Nicholas, p. 62-75.
4
Th
Feb-5
Siliciclastic depositional systems: Alluvial and Glacial
Lecture 8
Nicholas, p. 76-89, 101-116
5
T
Feb-10
Siliciclastic depositional systems: Fluvial and Lakes
Lecture 9
Nicholas, p. 116-134.
5
Th
Feb-12
No class; EXXON-MOBIL short course
No lecture
   
6
T
Feb-17
Siliciclastic depositional systems: Delta and Estuaries
Lecture 10
Nicholas, p. 135-149.
Rainbow Garden Field Trip, This Friday
6
Th
Feb-19
Siliciclastic depositional systems: Coastal Environments
Lecture 11
Nicholas, p. 167-180.
7
T
Feb-24
Siliciclastic depositional systems: Shelf to Basinal Environments
Lecture 12
Nicholas, p. 180-206.
7
Th
Feb-26
Carbonate Depositional System: An overview
Lecture 13
Nicholas, p. 187-191.
Arrow Canyon Field Trip, This Friday
8
T
Mar-03
Midterm Exam Review
Midterm Exam Review
   
8
Th
Mar-05
Midterm Exam
Midterm Exam
   
9
T
Mar-10
Carbonate Depositional System: Peritidal Carbonates and Cycles
Lecture 14
Reading assignment for discussion, Tuesday, March 17
9
Th
Mar-12
Carbonate Depositional System: Ramp and Rimmed Shelves
Lecture 15
Nicholas, p. 187-188 and Reading assignment
10
T
Mar-17
Peritidal Carbonates and Cycles: Discussion
No New Slides
   
10
Th
Mar-19
Peritidal Carbonates and Cycles: Discussion
Lecture 16
   
11
T
Mar-24
Carbonate Depositional System: Reefs, Mounds, and Carbonate Slopes
Lecture 17
   
11
Th
Mar-26
Microbially Induced Sedimentary Structures (MISS)
Lecture 18
References
12
T
Mar-31
Basics on stable isotopes and applications
Lecture 19-21
Exercise for lecture 19
Reference for Exercise
12
Th
Apr-2
Basics on stable isotopes and applications
Lecture 19-21, No new slides
  
14
T
Apr-14
Basics on stable isotopes and applications
Lecture 19-21, No new slides
Exercise for lecture 21
Reference for Exercise
14
Th
Apr-16
Carbonate Diagenesis - an introduction
Lecture 22
Reading assignment for discussion
15
T
Apr-21
Carbonate diagenesis and student discussion
Lecture 22 slides and Discussion
   
15
Th
Apr-23
Sequence stratigraphy and sea-level changes
Lecture 23
   
16
T
Apr-28
Final Exam Review
Review Notes
   
16
Th
Apr-30
In class Presentation