Geology (GEO)

Geology is the scientific study of the earth, including its composition, the processes that act on and within the earth, and the particular history of rock, events, and life forms that have occurred here. Geology is an important field of study in that it can help us locate, understand, and conserve our natural resources, understand and avoid natural hazards, and, most importantly, provide insight into the workings of the planet in order that we may better understand the context of human culture and activity.

The geology program emphasizes field experience and research at all levels of the major. First-year courses provide an overview of the principles of geology and an outline of the history of the earth, while students gain basic skills in addressing geologic problems. Second-year courses are designed to deepen understanding of earth processes upon and within the earth, and to sharpen field, laboratory, and research skills. Third-year courses emphasize the mineral composition of the earth and the processes that result in earth’s igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. In the fourth year, students use their accumulated skills and knowledge to conduct a senior research project under the direction of the faculty.

The Department of Geology welcomes and encourages students to take advantage of study-abroad opportunities available at Gustavus. Courses taken abroad can count towards the Geology major, if approved in consultation with the department. International sites that offer geology courses recognized by the department include the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), Lancaster University (England), Murdoch (Western Australia), and the University of Otego (New Zealand).

Major:

12 courses, including: GEO-111, GEO-112, GEO-246, GEO-250, GEO-271, GEO-372, GEO-392, and GEO-393; CHE-107 and MCS-121; and three additional courses chosen from GEO-237, GEO-241, GEO-259, GEO-350, GEO-374, GEG-343, MCS-122, MCS-142, MCS-177, CHE-141 or CHE-258, PHY-122 or PHY-200, PHY-172 or PHY-220, and an approved field camp.

These are minimal requirements. Students planning graduate study should also take a second semester of calculus, a second semester of chemistry, a year of physics, and field camp. Many graduate schools also require paleontology.

Earth/Space Science Teaching Major:

This major is only for students who have been admitted into the Minnesota licensure program to teach all areas of science in grades 5–8 and earth/space science in grades 9–12. It requires the core science and education courses for Secondary Education and also the requirements for the Geology major. In addition to the Geology major, the following core courses are also required: BIO-101, BIO-102, CHE-107, CHE-141, GEG-108, MCS-121, PHY-102, PHY-120 or PHY-122, PHY-170 or PHY-172, and EDU-248. Please see the Education Department section of this bulletin for a listing of the education courses required.

Minor:

Five courses in geology, including GEO-111, GEO-112, and three other regular semester or January Interim geology courses, two of which must be at Level II or III.

Courses

111 Principles of Geology (1 course) Geology is the scientific study of the earth. This is an introductory course in physical geology and emphasizes earth systems, those processes that operate and have operated upon and within the earth to give it its present character. The course emphasizes plate tectonics as a unifying theory to explain earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, continents, ocean basins, and crustal composition. In addition, the course examines the role of surface processes such as erosion and deposition by water, ice, and wind in the sculpting of the earth’s surface. In both lab and field work the course emphasizes problem solving in geology and familiarizes the student with minerals, rocks, topographic maps, and geologic maps. NASP, Fall and Spring semesters.

112 Evolution of the Earth (1 course) This course is a second course in geology covering the geological evolution of the earth and the history of life. This course examines the theories, the types of information, and the methods that earth scientists use to approach complicated histories and unrepeated events. Topics include the origin and age of the earth and the adequacy of plate tectonics as an explanation of the nature of the seafloor, continents, and mountain chains. The fossil record will be used as data for an outline of the major events in the history of life. The diversification of life in the seas, the transition onto land, and the radiation of vertebrates will be examined in light of Darwinian and competing theories. Prerequisite: GEO-111 or permission of the instructor. Spring semester.

237 Global Climate Change (1 course) This course explores the mass and energy exchanges among the oceans, atmosphere, and cryosphere in the context of Earth-surface processes. The focus is on chemical and biological signatures of past climates in the geologic record, the likely causes of major climate-change events throughout Earth’s history, and geologic responses to historical climate change. Laboratory exercises involve characterizing surface processes, data-rich studies of climate-change records, and quantitative analysis of modern climate data. Prerequisite: one course from ENV-110, GEG-105, GEG-108, GEO-111. Spring semester, odd years.

241 Paleontology (1 course) The life of the geologic past, including the application of the study of fossils to evolution processes, paleoecology, and biostratigraphy. Laboratories will emphasize invertebrates including specimens collected on field trips to southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa. Fall semester, odd years.

246 Geomorphology (1 course) The study of the earth’s surface and the processes that shape it. Processes discussed include those associated with weathering, streams, glaciers, ground ice, ground water, wind, oceans, tectonism, and volcanism. The laboratory is research oriented and consists of learning basic tools (maps and photos) and applying these to several field research problems. Prerequisite: GEO-111or GEG-105. Fall semester.

250 Structural Geology (1 course) Introduction to the analysis of folds, faults, joints, and other structures. Laboratory involves various structural problems, geologic map interpretation, and field work. Prerequisite: GEO-111. Spring semester.

259 Earth Resources (1 course) An introduction to the geology of mineral and energy resources. Focus will be on the geological processes that form these deposits. Economic considerations involved in the development and exploitation of these deposits as well as the environmental concerns associated with the extraction of these deposits will also be addressed. Prerequisites: GEO-111 and high school chemistry. Fall semester, odd years.

268, 368 Career Exploration, Internship (Course value to be determined) Off-campus employment experience related to the student’s major. See description of the Internship Program. Prerequisite: junior or senior status. Fall and Spring semesters.

271 Mineralogy (1 course) Elementary crystallography and crystal chemistry; physical and chemical properties of minerals; elementary phase diagrams. Emphasis is on the common rock-forming minerals. Two 2-hour laboratories per week. Prerequisite: High school or college chemistry, or concurrent enrollment. Spring semester.

350 Hydrogeology (1 course) Hydrogeology is the study of ground water movement through and interaction with earth materials. This course focuses on mathematical methods in characterizing ground water flow, aquifer properties, and chemical exchanges between water and rock, with emphasis on local aquifers and watersheds. Laboratories and problem sets involve characterizing aquifer properties, understanding basic principles of ground water movement, application problems, and field-based studies in well hydraulics and subsurface contaminants. Prerequisites: GEO-111 and MCS-121. Spring semester, even years.

372 Petrology (1 course) Petrology is the study of rocks. This course will examine the origin and occurrence of the igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, with emphasis on igneous and metamorphic processes. (Sedimentary processes are studied in GEO-374.) Laboratory sessions will emphasize hand specimen description and identification, and the microscopic examination and interpretation of rocks in thin section. Prerequisite: GEO-271. Fall semester.

374 Sedimentology/Stratigraphy (1 course) An introduction to the study of sediments and stratigraphy. Topics include sediment sources, weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition. The course will also include a thorough look at global depositional environments. Traditional concepts of lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, aqueous geochemistry, diagenesis, and radiometric dating will be studied, as well as the newer fields of basin analysis and sequence stratigraphy. Prerequisites: GEO-111, GEO-112, or GEO-246. Fall semester, even years.

291, 391 Independent Study (Course value to be determined) Study of a selected problem or area of earth science. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Fall and Spring semesters.

392, 393 Research in Geology I, II (.5 course, .5 course) The geology major is completed with this two-course sequence in research in geology. In GEO-392, research methods, field exercises, laboratory techniques, seminars, and literature review in weekly meetings will allow students to explore a research topic of their choosing and to draft and present a research prospectus. Field work will be carried out independently of the course during the summer or early fall. Prerequisite: Geology major. In GEO-393, initial reports of field or lab results will be evaluated by course participants and instructors. Further field and lab work, seminars, drafting techniques, and literature review in weekly meetings will allow students to complete their research project and produce and present a research paper. Prerequisite: GEO-392. WRITD, Spring semester.