Graduate Courses for Geology (GEOL)
Schedule of Classes:
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer
(Only current and next semester available)
GEOL 410 Industrial Rocks and Minerals (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL322.
The origin; occurrence; mineralogy; extraction and treatment
technology; production and deposit-evaluation of rocks and minerals
used in the construction, ceramic, chemical and allied industries.
Restricted to non-fuels, non-metallic, non-gem materials. Field trips
to industrial locations are required.
GEOL 423 Optical Mineralogy (3 credits)
One hour of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL100 or GEOL120, GEOL110, GEOL322, and one of the
following: {CHEM131 and CHEM132}, {CHEM135 and CHEM136}, or CHEM103.
The optical behavior of crystals with emphasis on the theory and
application of the petrographic microscope.
GEOL 436 Principles of Biogeochemistry (3 credits)
Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: MATH140 or MATH220,
GEOL100 or GEOL120, GEOL322, and one of the following: {CHEM131 and
CHEM132}, {CHEM135 and CHEM136}, or CHEM103.
An introduction to the basic principles of biogeochemistry including
aspects of organic geochemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, global
geochemical cycles, the origin of life and paleoenvironmental evolution.
GEOL 437 Global Climate Change: Past and Present (3 credits)
Prerequisite: MATH115 or MATH140; GEOL100 or GEOL120, and one of the
following: {CHEM131 and CHEM132}, {CHEM135 and CHEM136}, or CHEM103.
The goal of the course is to highlight the fact that global climate
change is part of the Earth's past as well as of its present and future.
Changes in climate that have occurred in the geologic past can be viewed
as the Earth's natural climate variability. These changes are different
from, though could be linked with, historical and present
anthropogenically-induced climate change. We will discuss the modern
climate system, the factors capable of forcing climate change on various
time scales, the geologic proxies of past climate change and what these
proxies tell us. Finally, we will compare and contrast past climate
change with what is understood (and not understood) about modern climate
change.
GEOL 443 Petrology (4 credits)
Prerequisites: GEOL100 or GEOL120, GEOL110, and GEOL322, and one of the
following: {CHEM131 and CHEM132}, {CHEM135 and CHEM136}, or CHEM103.
Corequisite: GEOL423 or permission of department.
Study of igneous and metamorphic rocks: petrogenesis, distributions,
chemical and mineralogical relations, macroscopic and microscopic
descriptions, geologic significance.
GEOL 444 Low Temperature Geochemistry (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: MATH115; GEOL100; GEOL322; and one of the following:
CHEM103, {CHEM131 and CHEM132}, or {CHEM135 and CHEM136}.
Basic chemical principles, thermodynamics, and kinetics of
low-temperature inorganic and organic geochemical reactions in a wide
range of surface environments. These geochemical tools will be used to
provide a context for understanding elemental cycling and climate
change. Laboratories will include problem sets as well as wet chemical
and mass spectrometric techniques used in low temperature geochemistry.
GEOL 445 High Temperature Geochemistry (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: MATH115; GEOL100; GEOL322; and one of the following:
CHEM103, {CHEM131 and CHEM132}, or {CHEM135 and CHEM136}.
Review of chemical principles and their use in understanding processes
of Earth, and solar system formation and differentiation. Topics include
nucleosynthesis and cosmochemical abundances of elements, bonding and
element partitioning, equilibrium thermodynamics and phase stabilities,
radiogenic isotopes and geochronology, kinetics, and diffusion.
GEOL 446 Geophysics (3 credits)
Prerequisite: MATH140, MATH141, and PHYS141.
Introduction to solid earth geophysics, heat transfer, fluid flow,
gravity, geomagnetism, rock and mineral physics, seismology, exploration
geophysics. Basic knowledge of integral and differential calculus is
required.
GEOL 451 Groundwater (3 credits)
Prerequisites: MATH140, GEOL100 or GEOL120, GEOL110 and one of the
following: {CHEM131 and CHEM132}, {CHEM135 and CHEM136}, or CHEM103; or
permission of department. Junior standing.
An introduction to the basic geologic parameters associated with the
hydrologic cycle. Problems in the accumulation, distribution, and
movement of groundwater will be analyzed.
GEOL 452 Watershed and Wetland Hydrology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Junior standing.
Physical processes by which water moves in watershed and wetland
systems. Topics include: precipitation, infiltration, flow in the
unsaturated zone, streamflow generation processes, and groundwater flow.
GEOL 455 Marine Geophysics (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL100 or GEOL120, MATH140, MATH141; or permission of
department. Credit will be granted for only one of the following:
GEOL455 or GEOL489E. Formerly GEOL489E.
Plate tectonics, earthquakes and faulting, isostasy and gravity, heat
and mantle dynamics, ocean ridges and transform faults, hydrothermal
vents, trenches and oceanic islands, subduction zones, accretionary and
erosion wedges, sedimentary basins and continental rifts. Exploration
of the oceans using geophysical methods.
GEOL 457 Seismology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL100 or GEOL120, GEOL110, MATH140, MATH141; or
permission of department. Recommended: PHYS141, PHYS161, or PHYS171.
Credit will be granted for only one of the following: GEOL457 or
GEOL489A. Formerly GEOL489A.
General overview of the basics of seismology, starting with wave
propagation, seismic reflection and refraction. Applications to the
determination of the seismic velocity and anisotropy structure of the
Earth. Earthquake generation, postseismic deformation and creep events,
relation to faulting and plate tectonics.
GEOL 462 Geological Remote Sensing (3 credits)
Prerequisite: One of the following: GEOL100/110; GEOL120/110; or
GEOL103.
An introduction to geologic remote sensing including applications of
aerial photographic interpretation to problems in regional geology,
engineering geology, structural geology, and stratigraphy. Films,
filters, and criteria used in selecting imagery are also discussed.
Laboratory exercises include measurements of geologic parameters and
compilation and transference of data to base maps.
GEOL 471 Geochemical Methods of Analysis (3 credits)
Prerequisite: One of the following: {CHEM131 and CHEM132}, {CHEM135 and
CHEM136}, or CHEM103; and CHEM113.
Principles and application of geochemical analysis as applied to a
variety of geological problems. X-ray and optical spectroscopy, X-ray
diffraction, atomic absorption, electron microprobe, and electron
microscopy.
GEOL 472 Tectonics (3 credits)
Prerequisites: GEOL100 or GEOL120, GEOL110, GEOL102, and GEOL341; or
permission of department.
Study of the development of the lithosphere on Earth and other rocky
planets and moons. Emphasis on student-led discussions. Improvement of
scientific writing.
GEOL 489 Special Topics (3 credits)
Prerequisites: For GEOL majors only; minimum of Junior standing and a
least 2 Upper Level GEOL courses with at least a third GEOL course and
GEOL393 concurrent.
Recent advances in geology.
GEOL 490 Geology Field Camp (6 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL341 and GEOL443.
Intense field geology course taught off campus during the summer.
Students describe and compile maps of formations and structures from
outcrops, subsurface, and remotely sensed data. Special fees required.
GEOL 491 Environmental Geology Field Camp (3-6 credits)
Prerequisites: GEOL341 and GEOL342 and GEOL451 or permission of
department. Credit will be granted for only one of the following:
GEOL490 or GEOL491.
Intensive field course designed for students of environmental geology.
Students will learn to make maps, to describe soil profiles and site
characteristics, to monitor hydrologic and groundwater conditions, and
to measure geologic structures and stratigraphic sections.
GEOL 499 Special Problems in Geology (1-3 credits)
Prerequisites: GEOL100 or GEO120, GEOL110, GEOL102; or equivalent; and
permission of department.
Intensive study of a special geologic subject or technique selected
after consultation with instructor. Intended to provide training or
instruction not available in other courses which will aid the student's
development in his or her field of major interest.
GEOL 614 Thermodynamics of Geological Processes (3 credits)
Prerequisites: MATH 141; and CHEM 113; and GEOL 322; and PHYS 142.
Thermodynamics and its application to problems in mineralogy, petrology
and geochemistry. Systematic development of the laws of thermodynamics
and the principles of chemical equilibrium as applied to geological
problems.
GEOL 621 Mineralogy of Ore-Forming Sulfides (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 322 or equivalent.
A systematic study of chemical compositions, crystal structures, and
paragenetic relations of major ore-forming sulfides.
GEOL 622 Minerology of the Rock-Forming Silicates (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 422 and CHEM 481 or equivalent.
A systematic study of the structure, polymorphic relations, composition
and phase transformations of the major rock forming silicates.
GEOL 623 Ore Microscopy (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 423. Pre- or corequisite: GEOL 653.
A systematic study of general principles of reflected light optics and
their application to the reflected light polarizing microscope as well
as techniques for identifying common ore mineral in polished section.
GEOL 641 Advanced Structural Geology (3 credits)
A detailed treatment of stress, strain, deformation of rocks, and
resulting structures on microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic
scales; consideration of world examples of structural variation;
concept and problems of plate tectonics; all designed as a complete
study of structural geology.
GEOL 643 Igneous Petrology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 443, CHEM 481.
Analysis of the genesis of the igneous rocks using chemical,
mineralogic, petrographic and field data. Estimation of intensive
parameters, such as temperature and pressure on the basis of these
data. Interpretation of chemical variation in related rock suites in
terms of fractional and equilibrium crystallization and melting
processes.
GEOL 644 Metamorphic Petrology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 443 and CHEM 481.
Analysis of the physical and chemical aspects of metamorphic processes.
Suites of metamorphic rocks by the use of chemical, mineralogic,
petrographic, and field data.
GEOL 646 Crustal Petrology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 643 or GEOL 644 or permission of instructor.
Recommended: GEOL 641.
An integrated approach to the detailed understanding of the petrology of
the earth's continental crust and the processes which act upon it and
within it.
GEOL 650 Isotope and Trace Element Geochemistry (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 443 or permission of department.
Trace elements and isotopes in geology, including modern applications
in geochronology and petrogenesis.
GEOL 652 Advanced Watershed and Wetland Hydrology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 452 or permission of department.
Physical and chemical processes in watershed and wetland systems: with
an emphasis on redox reactions.
GEOL 653 Advanced Problems in Economic Geology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 453.
A systematic study of particular ore deposit types or areas of
mineralization, primarily involving major economically important
metals. Geologic setting, mineralogy and form and character of the ore
bodies, chemical and physical factors affecting source, transport and
deposition of ore forming fluids.
GEOL 656 Engineering and Environmental Geology (3 credits)
The relationship of humans to the planet earth; their increasing
colonization based upon available food, materials, and energy;
environmental consequences of resource extraction; and the desirability
of planetary management policy as a long-term goal.
GEOL 660 Glacial and Quaternary Geology (3 credits)
The dynamics, form and thermal characteristics of ice as related to
glacial structures. Quaternary deposition and strata in relation to
older strata as well as modern day sediments. The general lithology,
morphology, and classification of till. Specific emphasis on the
classical Wisconsin stage of glaciation of North America.
GEOL 662 Clay Minerals and Clay Diagenesis (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 322 or GEOL 342.
Characterization of clay minerals on the basis of their crystal
structures, chemical compositions, and physical properties.
Examination of diagenetic reactions of each of the clay mineral
groups in modern sediments, shales, and sandstones.
GEOL 670 Physical Oceanography (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Also offered as AOSC670. Credit
will be granted for only one of the following: GEOL670 or AOSC670.
Ocean observations. Water masses, sources of deep water. Mass, heat, and
salt transport, geochemical tracers. Western boundary currents,
maintenance of the termocline. Coastal and estuarine processes. Surface
waves and tides. Ocean climate.
GEOL 671 Analytical Methods in Minerology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: GEOL 422; and CHEM 471.
An intensive study in the operation and application of instrumentation
in mineralogical problems. Emphasis on designing and testing methods of
analysis for use in the student's research problems in geology.
GEOL 789 Recent Advances in Geology (2-4 credits)
Recent advances in geology research.
GEOL 798 Seminar in Geology (1-3 credits)
Repeatable to 9 credits if content differs.
Discussion of special topics in current literature in all phases of
geology.
GEOL 799 Master's Thesis Research (1-6 credits)
GEOL 898 Pre-Candidacy Research (1-8 credits)
GEOL 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-8 credits)
