Physical Geology 

Geology 1001.2 

Spring 2016

Dr. Juan M. Lorenzo
Department of Geology and Geophysics

 

Lecture times

Monday, Wednesday, Friday
2.30 p.m. -3.20 p.m. 
Old Howe-Russell Building Room 130

Office hours

Room 215 (Old Howe-Russell Building) 

Any day by appointment

For appointments and all correspondence

e-mail: gllore@lsu.edu

Subject:  GEOL1001.2

T.A.: Peng Zhou Office hours

Office :  Howe-Russell Building Room 339
Hours:    Monday 3:30 -4:30 (after Monday class), or by appointment

 

Phone: 985-956-4099

               

For appointments: pzhou3@lsu.edu
Subject:  GEOL1001.2

 

 

Required lecture textbook:

Understanding Earth by
Grotzinger, Jordan, Press, Siever, 5th edition, Freeman Publisher (shown above) or any later edition e.g.,  7th edition, by Grotzinger and Jordan from the Macmillan book publishing company.
Free Supplemental Instruction TBA
Academic Integrity, Accountability and Advocacy
 What is LSU Commitment to Community?  What is Plagiarism?  What is Academic Misconduct?

Notes:

Dates and times for exams, review sessions and quizzes
may change but are not generally subject to change.


 


January

 

Wed 13

Introduction to the Course

* Geology minor available
Fri 15

What is Science? An article by H. Quinn

How Geoscientists Think and Learn. An article by K. Kastens

Ch. 1 Earth System : Modern Theory and Practice of Geology

Notes (*.pptx)

Mon 18

NO CLASS
 Martin Luther King Holiday
Wed 20

Ch. 1 Earth System : Modern Theory and Practice of Geology

Notes (*.pptx)
Fri 22

Ch. 2 Plate Tectonics: Unifying Theory

Fri 31
Ch. 2 Plate Tectonics: Unifying Theory
Distribution of the Learning Version of Course Project ( 5 BONUS POINTS) DUE on Feb. 12

 

February

Lectures

Mon 1

 
Plate Tectonics: Unifying Theory
 

Wed 3


Plate Tectonics: Unifying Theory
Fri 5

Ch. 3 Earth materials: Minerals and Rocks

Mon 8


Mardi Gras Holiday

Wed 10

Ch. 3 Earth materials: Minerals and Rocks

Fri 12



Learning Version of Course Project ( 5 BONUS POINTS) DUE TODAY

Special Presentation on How to Complete the Course Project


 

Mon 15

Ch. 4 Igneous Rocks: Solids from Melts

Not all "granite" counter-tops are made of granite

Wed 17

Ch. 4 Igneous Rocks: Solids from Melts

Fri 19
Ch. 4 Igneous Rocks: Solids from Melts
Mon 22 Midsemester  Exam 1 Review
Wed 24 Midsemester exam 1
Fri 26

Ch. 5  Sedimentation: Rocks Formed by Surface Processes

 
Mon 29
Ch. 5  Sedimentation: Rocks Formed by Surface Processes

March

Lectures


  Ch. 5  Sedimentation: Rocks Formed by Surface Processes

Wed  2

 

Ch. 6 Metamorphism: Alteration of Rocks by Temperature and Pressure  Class notes .ppt

Fri 4

 

Ch. 6 Metamorphism: Alteration of Rocks by Temperature and Pressure

Mon 7

Ch. 7 Deformation: Modification of Rocks by Folding and Fracturing

Class notes .ppt

Baton Rouge Fault Image

 

Wed 9

 

Ch. 7 Deformation: Modification of Rocks by Folding and Fracturing

Class notes .ppt

Baton Rouge Fault Image

 
Fri 11

Ch. 7 Deformation: Modification of Rocks by Folding and Fracturing

Class notes .ppt

Baton Rouge Fault Image
Tue 15 Midterm grades due

Wed  16

 
Ch. 8 Clocks in Rocks: Timing the Geologic Record  Class notes

Fri 18

Ch 13 Earthquakes

Class notes .ppt
Mon 21- Fri 25
spring break
Mon 28
Midsemester  Exam 2 Review
 

Wed 30
Midsemester exam 2

April

Lectures

Fri 1


 

Ch 13 Earthquakes

Mon 4

 

 Due date for Course Project (NO EXTENSIONS)
Ch. 9 Early History of the Terrestrial Planets

Wed 6

Evidence for water on mars    Just the picture
Ch. 9 Early History of the Terrestrial Planets

Martian rocks (image)

Opportunity landing

Hubble

Titan

Pluto

Stardust Comet Mission (NASA)

Particles of the early solar system

Fri 8


 

Mon 11




Wed 13

 

Fri 15

 

Ch 15 The Climate System

Mon 18
Ch.17 The Hydrologic Cycle and Groundwater
Wed 20   Ch. 18 Stream Transport: From Mountains to Oceans 
Fri 22  
Mon 25

Ch. 18 Stream Transport: From Mountains to Oceans
Wed 27

Fri 29 Review for final exam Chs. 1-9, 12, 13, 15, 17,18

May

Lectures
Mon 2

 NO CLASS

Exam week

Friday 6

*Final Exam 5.30 p.m. - 7.30 p.m.

Room 130 OLD Howe-Russell Building
May 10 Final grades due

Geology is a wondrous and rigorous science that requires the same effort in study as any other basic science such as physics, chemistry or biology.  As such, I expect students to attend class, pay attention and participate in all class discussions.  I recommend strongly that students study independently 2 hours for every hour of material covered in class.  Excellent grades require excellent preparation.    

I expect students to read the book chapters covered in class and in advance of the class itself as well as readings I assign.  I expect students to study my online course notes (Powerpoint 2007: *.pptx and Powerpoint 2003 *.ppt) and to supplement their study.  It is a student's responsibility to come to class and stay informed on the material covered therein.  All material covered in class may be used for examinations.

Socially acceptable courteous behavior between students and with the instructor is expected at all times.  Activities that distract from learning are considered rude and strongly discouraged (cell phones ringing, texting, snoring, personal conversations, etc.)

University policy requires that all cheating be reported and that there be NO SMOKING or EATING in classrooms. I will respond to student e-mails if the subject  matter CAN NOT be dealt with during class or is NOT ALREADY explained in this syllabus.  Your e-mails MUST have the following Subject Line:  GEOL1001.2 or they may be filtered as spam by my e-mail client.

Exams: There are two (2) required mid-term exams and one (1) required final exam.  If you foresee a university-sanctioned absence and you provide me with the correct documentation in advance of the exams in question, I will give you a make-up exam.

This year, for the first time, I am introducing a REQUIRED short Google-Earth-based subsurface geology project.  This project is worth up to 10% of the final grade.  I will provide more information on this project as the semester progresses.  Data and detailed instructions will be available in early February and sent directly to each of you. Normally, this project can be completed within 3 workdays.

It is a student's responsibility to meet the university deadlines and requirements (e.g., Student Rights and Responsibilities) for seeking permission to request make-up exams.   I do not provide make-up projects for extra credit in order to improve letter grades.

Students are required to bring the following to all exams:  

* One large "scantron" sheet (NOT the skinny, 50-question scantron sheet), 

* one soft-lead pencil, one eraser, one sharpener, 

* one LSU ID.   (NOT SSN#)

Course Grades: Final letter grades are calculated using the results of one midterm exam plus one final exam.  

A-: 90.00-93.33, A: > 93.33-96.66, A+: > 93.66 -100%

B-: 80.00-83.33, B: > 83.33-86.66, B+: > 86.66 - 90.00%

C-: 60.00-66.66, C: >66.66-73.33, C+: > 73.33 - 80.00%

D-: 50.00-53.33%, D: >53.33-56.66, D+: > 56.66 - 60.00%

F (less than 50%)

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:  Best Midterm Grade (40%) + Final Exam Grade (50%) + Project (10%)

Only the better of the two midterm exam results will be used to calculate the final grade.  

The midterm exams contains 50 multiple choice or True/False questions.  In the final exam, there are at least 100 multiple choice or TRUE/FALSE questions.  Every exam can have questions from any of the material previously covered in class, with special emphasis on the most recent new material covered.  The final exam will cover all subject matter covered in class.

Remember that the final exam questions cover ALL course materials with emphasis on the latest unexamined sections.

Quizzes

There will be quizzes with answers given during class as examples of the type of exam questions you can expect.


Grade Calculation

Example grade calculation: Midterm exam = 60; Final exam  = 60   Course Project = 8

Final grade calculation = (60 x 0.4 + 60 x 0.5) + 8  = 54 + 8 = 62  (C-)

Curving is used when deemed necessary by the instructor.

Numeric grades will be posted on Moodle as soon as all students have completed their exams and 

all the exams are graded.