Dynamic Planet - 2021 entry

This module provides a concise overview of what geology involves, including its practical applications (mineral and hydrocarbon resources, rock engineering, volcanic and seismic risk). In lectures you will learn about minerals and the principal rock types and how they form as well as the internal structure of the Earth and how plate tectonics controls many processes and large-scale geomorphological features. In practicals you will have hands-on experience of different minerals and rocks and an introduction to geological maps.
 

What prior knowledge skills or experience including pre-requisite and co-requisite modules does a student need to have in order to be able to take this module? None

Is this module suitable/ unsuitable for specialist/ non-specialist students? Suitable for both categories
 

Is this module recommended for interdisciplinary pathways? Yes.

The module provides an overview of the origin and internal structure of the Earth, plate tectonics, and the formation, classification and applied significance of minerals, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and geological structures.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Earths internal structure, plate tectonics and the internal and surface processes that control geological evolution;

2 describe and classify common minerals and igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and demonstrate an understanding of how they form;

3 describe and classify geological structures and demonstrate an understanding of how they are formed;

4 demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic stratigraphical principles and geological histories and methods for determining the relative and absolute ages of rock successions;

5 recognise the outcrop patterns produced on geological maps by horizontal and inclined strata and simple examples of folds and faults.  
 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

6 synthesize data from different scales (microscopic to planetary) and disciplines into simple, but coherent, models of the geological processes and evolution;

7 demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the applied significance of geology in relation to the occurrence of natural resources and natural hazards, the engineering behaviour of rock masses and the environmental impact of mineral extraction.
 

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge:

8 work within an appropriate ethos and use and access a range of learning resources;

9 apply given methods accurately and carefully to a well defined problem and begin to appreciate the complexity of the issues in the discipline.

- overview of module, Earth structure and plate tectonics, internal structure of Earth, introduction to minerals/rock groups and stratigraphy; 

- continental drift, sea-floor spreading and plate tectonics; 

- sedimentology and surface processes: the description and classification of sedimentary rocks, physical properties of fluid flows resulting in sediment transport and deposition, major depositional environments, introduction to palaeontology and further examples of stratigraphy; 

- igneous and metamorphic petrology: igneous activity at the present day, classification of igneous rocks, major processes responsible for common igneous phenomena, contact and regional metamorphism, processes and products; 

- structural geology: the nature, classification and applied significance of structures formed during deformation of the lithosphere, controls on the rheology of geological materials, outcrop patterns of simple structures on geological maps.

As above 1 piece of CW 40% and/or 1 Exam 60%

Basic reading:

Marshak, S. 2008. Earth: portrait of a planet (third edition). W.W. Norton, London.

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=493

Web based and electronic resources:

Full range of lecture PowerPoints available on ELE, together with links to other learning resources, including flash animations and self-assessment questions available at support webpages for recommended module text: 

http://wwnorton.com/college/geo/earth4/

https://wwnorton.com/college/geo/earth5/see-for-yourself.aspx

Reading list for this module: