South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

GEOL 201L – Physical Geology Lab:  Section M051 (Spring 2008)

Catalog Description: (0-1) 1 credit. Prerequisite or corequisite: GEOL 201. Classification and identification of the important rocks and minerals.   Interpretation of topographic and geologic maps.  Field trips to view representative rocks of the Black Hills area.

 

Lab Time: Tuesday 8:00 to 10:50 am (MI 328)

 

Professor:  Dr. Colin Paterson (MI 314). Phone 394-5114, email cpaterso@taz.sdsmt.edu

                        Web page: http://speedy.sdsmt.edu/~cpaterso

                        Office hours:  M 1-1.50am, W 8-9 am, Tu, F 11-11-50 am; or by appointment

                        Department web page: http://geology.sdsmt.edu

 

Teaching Assistants:

            Jane Darbyshire, MI 331A, email jane.darbyshire@gmail.com

            Office Hours :  TBA, or by appointment

  

Laboratory Manual: Jones, N.W. and Jones, C.E., 2007, Laboratory Manual for Physical Geology, 5th. Ed.

 

GOAL #6:  Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world

 

Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking this course, students will:

  1. Demonstrate the scientific method in a laboratory experience

Assessment:  Students will:

  • Acquire data on rock outcrops, propose hypotheses for origin of the rocks, and test the hypotheses from observation of modern systems and literature search in class assignment

 

  1. Gather and critically evaluate data using the scientific method

Assessment:  Students will:

  • Record observations of geological materials in rock outcrops in field note books
  • Collect representative samples of rock formations during field trips
  • Organize the samples and formations for the Black Hills and interpret geological history in a poster board display
  • Acquire data on rock outcrops, propose hypotheses for origin of the rocks, and test the hypotheses from observation of modern systems and literature search in class assignment

 

  1. Identify and explain the basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected natural sciences

Assessment:  Students will:

  • Classify common minerals and rocks according to identification schemes in lab exercises, field trips, quizzes, and exams
  • Interpret landforms originating from surficial and internal geologic processes from topographic maps and aerial photographs in lab exercises, quizzes, and exams
  • Construct geologic cross sections from geologic maps, and interpret geological history using fundamental geological theories in lab exercises and exams

 

  1. Apply selected natural science concepts and theories to contemporary issues

Assessment:  Students will:

  • Apply knowledge of geologic processes and rock materials to interpreting potential for geologic hazards in field trip notebooks, lab assignments, and exams

Lab Expectations:

The best way to learn geology is to experience it first hand.  It is required that you attend each lab period and plan to stay for the entire period.  You should also be prepared to spend time studying minerals and rocks outside of the class period.

 

Equipment:

Lab manual, hand lens (recommend 10X), steel knife, acid bottle, magnet. The Museum of Geology has mineral identification kits that contain all of what you need (10% discount upon proof of class registration). Streak plates, glass plates and acid are provided by the department if you don’t have them. 

            Rock hammer and yellow, hard-bound field book is required for all Geology and Geological Engineering majors.

                  

Grading: 

                        Lab Exercises                          45

                        Quizzes                                   10         

                        Field Trips/Report                   10

                        Exams (2)                                20

                        Lab Final Exam                      15           

                        TOTAL                                   100

 

Please Note:  Students with special needs or requiring special accommodations should contact the instructor or professor, and/or the campus ADA coordinator, Dr. Jolie McCoy, at 394-1924 as soon as possible.

Freedom in learning.  Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

 

Tentative schedule – field trips subject to weather

Laboratory #

Date

Laboratory Topic

Chapter Reference

Quiz/Exam

1

1/22/07

Minerals – Properties

1 & 2

 

2

1/29/07

Minerals – Identification

1 & 2

 

3

2/5/07

Rocks – Igneous

 

 

4

2/12/07

Rocks – Sedimentary

Rocks – Metamorphic

3

Mineral Exam

5

2/19/07

Field Trip – Keystone

4 & 5

 

6

2/26/07

Field Trip – Hwy 44 West

 

 

7

3/4/07

Field Trip – Rapid City

 

 

8

3/11/07

Topographic Maps, Aerial Photos, Satellite Images

6 & 7

Rock Exam

9

3/25/07

Streams & Groundwater

8 & 9

 

10

4/1/07

Glaciation

10

 

11

4/8/07

Geologic Time & Structural Geology

13 & 14

 

12

4/15/07

Geologic Maps  & Cross-sections

15

 

13

4/22/07

Geologic Maps  & Cross-sections

15

 

 14

4/29/07

 Lab Final Exam

 

Final Exam