625-102 Geology

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

None. Earth sciences 625-101 is recommended.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject examines three topics. Mineralogy and petrology covers the properties, structure and chemistry of rock-forming minerals; the mineralogical make-up of rocks; how igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks form and evolve; and rocks in a plate tectonic context. Structural geology covers origin of mountain ranges; folding and faulting; introduction to the subdivision and correlation of stratigraphical sequences; relationships between rock series in space and time; and dating of rocks in absolute and relative terms. Palæontology covers the nature of fossils; the evolution of life as found in the geological record; survey of the principal groups of fossil invertebrates.

On completion of this subject, students should understand the basic principles of geology; comprehend the diversity of the rock-forming minerals, the processes by which rocks form and evolve; the use of structural geology in interpreting the relationships between rock units in time and space; and the contribution of palæontology to the study of evolution. Students will appreciate the contribution of mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, sedimentology and palæontology to the interpretation of the geological history of the Earth.

Assessment

A 3-hour written examination and a 2-hour practical examination at the end of the semester. Short tests may also be held during the practical sessions. A reading topic will be assessed in the examination.

Prescribed Texts

• B J Skinner and S C Porter, Physical Geology. Wiley.
  or
  I F Clark and B J Cook, Geological Science Perspectives of the Earth. AAS, 1983.