STRATIGRAPHY

STRATIGRAPHY

Course Code: GL 3025
Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr M J Hole

Pre-requisites

GL 2013; GL 2509; GL 2510

Co-requisites

GL 3017

Notes

Only available to students in level 3 of a Geoscience, Geology-Petroleum Geology or Geoscience-Geography Programme

Overview

The course would be based on lectures and associated practical material. Case studies would be drawn mainly from the North Sea and North Atlantic, using the same material where possible to illustrate different aspects of stratigraphic analysis. Case studies from other parts of the world would be used where appropriate (eg Tethyan carbonates to illustrate certain aspects of sequence stratigraphy). Detailed content as follows:

an overview of the stratigraphic principles outlined in first year (eg geologic time scale, stratigraphic sequence and unconformities);

review of the main stratigraphically useful groups of macrofossils (eg graptolites, echinolds, ammonites etc) and microfossils (eg archritarchs, foraminifera, spores, pollen etc) excluding trace fossils which will be included in Level 3 sedimentology;

geochronology (including how some systems may interact with the biological system) and introduce isotopic stratigraphy (carbon, oxygen and strontium) and correlation in barren sequences using chemical fingerprinting;

introduction to sequence stratigraphy, the terms used, how analysis and facies distribution relates to absolute or relative SL variation and the major differences between clastic and carbonate systems and

identification, description, correlation and documentation of stratigraphical sequences on local (relative to logging, geological mapping and map analysis), regional and global scales (eg correlation of major extinction events, SL changes, volcanic activity).

Structure

2 hours lectures and 2 hour practical per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (75%) and continuous assessment (25%). Must achieve at least CAS 9 for all in-course assessments.

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).