EA11810 - THE EARTH IN SPACE AND TIME

Module Identifier	EA11810
Module Title	THE EARTH IN SPACE AND TIME
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Professor Alex Maltman
Semester	Semester 2
Other staff	Dr Neil Glasser
Course delivery	Lecture	20 x 1 hour lectures
	Practical	5 x 2 hour practicals
Assessment	Continuous assessment	Geological Maps - 40%	40%
	Exam	1.5 Hours Short answer/multiple choice examination paper. Comprising Evolution of Britain - 50%, Earth Structures - 10%.	60%
	Resit assessment	Continuous assessment mark carried forward (40%). Short answer multiple choice examination (60%).	100%

Module outline

The spatial distribution and arrangement of earth materials, through the geological past and as they are now, form the core of this module. The development of ideas concerning the evolution of geology as a science are outlined with references to key personalities of the 17th-19th centuries. The concept and measurement of geological time and time-scales are next introduced. We trace the progressive evolution of the surface of our planet, focusing on Britain and its place in the global context. We also look at:
(i) earth structures - how deformation in the earth has modified the arrangement of materials;
(ii) the present-day distribution of earth resources, including energy sources and mineral deposits in
Britain. An important part of the module is that on geological maps. In lectures and in practicals, the nature and uses of geological maps will be introduced.

Maps form a convenient way of summarising and recording geological information, and help bring together the different themes of the course. The basic principles are covered in both the 1st edition (Blue cover) and the 2nd edition (Green cover) of the recommended text book by Maltman, but the 2nd Edition includes sections on environmental matters and physical geography.

The lecture topics are grouped under "geological maps" and "evolution of Britain from a global perspective"; the lectures on these topics will be interspersed with each other.

1. GEOLOGICAL MAPS

Geological maps: an introduction

(Practical 1. An introduction to Geological maps)

(Practical 2. Visual assessment of maps)

Geological maps: visual assessment

(Practical 3. Measurements on maps)

Geological maps: structures on maps

(Practical 4. Structures and surficial deposits on maps)

Geological maps: resources and landscape

(Practical 5. Maps for environmental planning)

2. EVOLUTION OF BRITAIN

Evolution of geological concepts (including key personalities in the 17th to 19th centuries)

Geological time (development of ideas, the geological time-scale, methods of dating and
correlating rocks)

Tectonic framework of the British Isles

Early crustal evolution (Archaean - middle Proterozoic)

Early sedimentary basins (late Proterozoic cover rocks)

Late Proterozoic basin development, orogeny and magmatism

Cambrian - Silurian sedimentary basin development and volcanism

The Caledonian orogeny - compressional tectonics

The Old Sandstone continent and Devonian seas; Carboniferous coal-forming swamps and warm
tropical seas

Late Palaeozoic - Cenozoic extensional tectonics

Permian - Triassic tropical deserts

Jurassic - Cretaceous warm shallow seas and early Cenozoic rift-basin deposits

The Palaeogene (Early Tertiary) igneous record

The Quaternary Period: glacial/interglacial cycles

Earth Structures: rock deformation; folding; fracturing/ faults; other structures.

Module Aims

The module provides a basic introduction to the spatial distribution and arrangement of earth materials, through the geological past and as they are now.

Module objectives / Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, students should have :-

an awareness of the fundamental principles of stratigraphy and the key personalities responsible for formulating them

knowledge of the magnitude of geological time and the problems of dealing with it

a basic knowledge of the way the present day distribution of geological materials came about, including resources which underpin much of today's political and social patterns, and in particular the physical and cultural landscape of the British Isles

a basic working knowledge of geological maps and an appreciation for their breadth of application

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Alex Maltman. (1998) Geological maps: an introduction. 2nd. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Peter Toghill. (2000) The Geology of Britain - an Introduction. Swan Hill Press, Shrewsbury.
** Supplementary Text
Doyle, P., Bennett, M.R. & Baxter, A.N.. (1994) Stratigraphy, The Key to Earth History. Wiley & Sons Ltd