Earth History and Palaeontology - 2021 entry

Every geologist should know about Earth’s history, and in this module you will learn why an understanding of stratigraphical and palaeontological principles is central to achieving this goal. You will start by examining the stratigraphic toolbox available to geologists and how you can apply it to understand geological events in the past, including the origins of life on Earth and its evolution through time. You will then be introduced to the key fossil groups and how we can use their co-occurrence in rocks to date the geological record, to determine past environmental conditions and to improve our understanding of a range of fascinating subject matters including Snowball Earth, mass extinctions and the palaeoecology of ancient animal communities.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to Earth history, the evolution of life on Earth and the principles of stratigraphy, and the application of both stratigraphy and palaeontology in geoscience.

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

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. to gain an understanding of the principles of (a) lithostratigraphy, (b) biostratigraphy, (c) chronostratigraphy, (d) geochronology, (e) isotope-stratigraphy, (f) magnetostratigraphy, (g) event stratigraphy and (h) cyclostratigraphy using relevant case studies from the rock record.

2. to be able to describe and identify a range of both body and trace fossils, and their preservation, in hand specimens/outcrop

3. describe and explain of the evolution of life on Earth, and Earth history, using stratigraphic evidence from the rock record.

4. estimate the relative and absolute age of a stratigraphic section using lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, geochronology.

5. determine environment of deposition using a rock’s fossil assemblage.

6. generate a spliced record and define mappable formations using the principles of lithostratigraphy.

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

7. with guidance, begin to develop the skills for independent study.

8. with guidance, select and properly manage information drawn from lectures, books, journals and the internet.

9. with guidance, communicate ideas effectively by written, oral and visual means.

10. demonstrate observational skills.

11. evaluate data.

12. synthesize a range of data.

13. demonstrate an ability to solve problems.

14. demonstrate time-management skills.

15. research literature on a topic.

16. work collaboratively with members of peer group.

17. make a simple presentation using MS PowerPoint.

The two strands (stratigraphy and palaeontology) of this module run concurrently. Stratigraphic principles are taught during Lectures 1-2 (week 1). Relevant case studies from the rock record (and in particular, from UK sections) based on the application of these stratigraphic techniques, are then used during Lectures 3-16 to provide the students with an introduction to Earth history and the history of life. Concurrently, the practical sessions are used to teach palaeontology from the perspective of its useful application in the geosciences: fossil preservation, taphonomy, palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, biostratigraphy, splice generation and major Phanerozoic macrofossils, microfossils, and tracefossils in the context of the history of life and environments of deposition. Each practical begins with an introductory lecture, followed by a series of practical tasks, and finished by a half hour ‘sum-up’ for formative feedback.

If a student is referred or deferred, the failed / non-completed component(s) will be re-assessed at the same weighting as the original assessment.

Basic reading:

Web based and electronic resources:

ELE CSM1044 (http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=491), with extensive notes for lectures, extra resources, links to further web-based resources and textbook reading, in addition to recommended key text books (as listed below)         

Reading list for this module: