HISTORICAL GEOLOGY GEOL 2C

Spring 2001

LECTURE: T,Th 11:10-12:05

LAB: T 12:30-2:20, Th 12:30-2:20

Instructor: J Bret Bennington

Office: Gittleson 138 Email: Geojbb@hofstra.edu

http://people.hofstra.edu/faculty/J_B_Bennington/

Texts: Dott and Prothero, Evolution of the Earth, 5^th ed.

Weiner, J. The Beak of the Finch

New York State Geological Highway Map

Geol. 2C Lecture Topics

Topic Chapter

Introduction. Rocks and Deep Time 1

A Brief History of Historical Geology 2

Charles Darwin and On the Origin of Species 3

Evolution 3

Radiometric Dating of the Rock Record 5

Plate Tectonics 7

Orogeny (Mountain Building) 7

Paleogeography and Paleomagnetism

Exam 1

The Hadean Origin of the Earth 6

The Archean World 8, 9

The Proterozoic World 8, 9

The Early Paleozoic World 10, 11

Life Conquers the Land 12

The Middle Paleozoic World 12

The Rise of Vertebrates 13

Exam 2

The Late Paleozoic World 13

The Early Mesozoic World 14

The Reign of the Dinosaurs 14

The Cretaceous World 14

Mass Extinctions

The Paleogene World 15

The Radiation of Mammals 15

The Neogene World 16

The Evolution of Humans 16

Final Exam

Scheduled by the Registrar during Final Exam Week

Geol. 2C Laboratory Schedule

Week Topic

1 Geologic Time Scale

2 Rock and Time Correlations (ch. 4)

3 Correlation of the Atlantic Coastal Plain Stratigraphic Sequence

4 Correlation and Geologic Time Scale Practicum (Lab Exam 1)

5 Clastic Sedimentary Rocks and Depositional Environments (ch. 2)

6 Carbonate Sedimentary Rocks and Depositional Environments (ch. 2)

7 Paleontology I - Diversity of Life

8 Paleontology II

9 Rock and Paleontology Practicum (Lab Exam 2)

10 Regional Geology of New York

11 Geologic Structures

12 Interpreting Geologic Maps

13 Regional Geology and Structure Practicum (Lab Exam 3)

Course Objective: Historical Geology is the study of how the Earth has evolved and changed over its 4.6 billion year history. In this class we will examine both the physical and biological evolution of the planet through time. We will also study and learn to apply the concepts, theories, and tools that enable geologists to reconstruct events that happened in the deep past and to unravel the epic story of the Earth.

Labs: Supplimenting the lecture is a weekly session of laboratory. Lab attendence is mandatory and missed labs cannot be made up. Graded assignments in lab will include five lab reports (mostly done in lab) and two lab quizzes.

Written Reports: Three short papers will be assigned throughout the semester. These papers will be based on readings assigned in lecture from The Beak of the Finch.

Course Grade: Your grade for the semester will be based 35% on your lab work, 35% on the three written reports and 30% on the lecture exams.

Field Trips and Extra credit: Two optional field trips will be offered. The first will be to the American Museum of Natural History to view the incredible vertebrate fossil collections on display. We will arrange to meet at the museum early in the semester. Near the end of the semester (when the weather begins to warm) we will have a field trip by bus to examine sedimentary strata and fossils in the field. Details regarding both trips will be discussed in class. Attendence on the museum trip will earn ten extra points applied toward any lecture exam. You will also have the option of preparing a photo essay based on the late semester field trip which can be handed in to replace your lowest exam grade.