GLY 5558C –Sedimentology Spring 2008

Syllabus Ver. 1.0

Instructor: Dr. John Jaeger

Time : MF 11:15-12:35; LAB –To be discussed

Office Hours - Open

Click Here to go to readings list

Purpose of course- To explore the sedimentary processes active along a Source-to-Sink transect of the continental margin and relate these processes to the types of sedimentary deposits that develop in each environment. The course will be a mix of lecture, seminar, homeworks, and field trips.

Grading- Grades will be based on participation in discussions, homeworks+reading questions, a presentation on a topic/facies model related to continental margin sedimentary processes, and a final research proposal. Students are required to submit a weekly reading/research log of papers pertaining to the topic of the week. The papers are to focus on how that particular process has been quantitatively modeled.

Homeworks+reading logs = 50%

Topic reports = 20 %

Final Proposal & Presentation = 20 %

Participation = 10 %

Week 1: Introduction to course and discussion of the future trends in sedimentary geology

Week 2- Modeling Sedimentary Environments-Conceptual to Numerical

Week 3 – Source –to-Sink Processes and Environments; Introduction to Weathering and Sediment Production; Homework #1 Sediment Yield Model

Week 4 – Sediment Transport; Homework #2 Sediment Transport and Discharge

Week 5 – Sediment deposition and accumulation; Homework #3 Sediment accumulation problem

Week 6 – Mixing of the sediment surface - animal/sediment interactions and benthic ecology

Week 7 - Bioturbation continued – modification/alteration of sediments by organisms

Late Feb. One-day weekend field trip – salt marsh/tidal flat

Week 8 – Introduction to early diagenesis- geochemical processes in sediments Homework #4 Diagenesis and modeling problem – Proposal Topic due Mar. 3

Week 9 –Early Diagenesis (Con’t)

Week 10 – Spring Break

Week 11 – Sedimentary environments – rivers (coastal plain/meandering)

Week 12 – Sedimentary environments– estuaries & lagoons- Proposal Introduction due Mar. 22

Late March -field trip

Week 13 - –Sedimentary environments – salt marshes and mangroves

Week 14 – Sedimentary environments- Beaches/Barrier Islands

Week 15 - Sedimentary environments- Continental Shelves

Field Trip Late April

Week 16 - Student presentations on proposal topics (Monday and Wednesday)

Proposals will be standard NSF type format: Project Summary; Project Description (15 page limit); References; Budget.