Interpreting the Stratigraphic Record: From Surface to Subsurface

EART23202 Interpreting the Stratigraphic Record: From Surface to Subsurface 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 5 Stefan Schroeder Unit coordinator Ian Kane Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 <div>The stratigraphic record contains some 3.9 billion years of Earth history. The diverse and complex processes that create strata occur all around us, and we can easily see and study them. How we relate these surface processes to what is preserved in the rock record is our grand challenge because the recording is imperfect and develops over long time scales, and some processes that are important geologically have not been observed on human time scales. Therefore, we need to think about the familiar in new ways and this course will help you gain the theoretical and practical skills to do that.In this course we will approach the interpretation of sedimentary rocks through the application of basic physical and chemical principles over a variety of temporal and spatial scales, ranging from deposits produced by a single flow event to the cyclic development of basin fills. We will study how sediment is transported and accumulated in modern clastic and carbonate depositional environments as a result of the interactions between physical, chemical and biological processes, and relate this to the preserved stratigraphic record. In the practical classes, emphasis is placed on integrating different types of field and laboratory data to make quantitative, process-based interpretations of ancient depositional environments and basin fills through time. We will consider the implications of temporal changes in sedimentological, chemical and biological processes for the stratigraphic record.</div> <div>The stratigraphic record contains some 3.9 billion years of Earth history. The diverse and complex processes that create strata occur all around us, and we can easily see and study them. How we relate these surface processes to what is preserved in the rock record is our grand challenge because the recording is imperfect and develops over long time scales, and some processes that are important geologically have not been observed on human time scales. Therefore, we need to think about the familiar in new ways and this course will help you gain the theoretical and practical skills to do that.In this course we will approach the interpretation of sedimentary rocks through the application of basic physical and chemical principles over a variety of temporal and spatial scales, ranging from deposits produced by a single flow event to the cyclic development of basin fills. We will study how sediment is transported and accumulated in modern clastic and carbonate depositional environments as a result of the interactions between physical, chemical and biological processes, and relate this to the preserved stratigraphic record. In the practical classes, emphasis is placed on integrating different types of field and laboratory data to make quantitative, process-based interpretations of ancient depositional environments and basin fills through time. We will consider the implications of temporal changes in sedimentological, chemical and biological processes for the stratigraphic record.</div> <div> The aim of this course is to learn to 'read' features observed in the stratigraphic record. This unit develops the skills needed to describe and interpret the stratigraphic record in both space and time, emphasising processes associated with sediment transport and deposition in clastic and carbonate systems.</div>  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="width:496px;"> On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: </td> <td style="width:71px;"> Developed</td> <td style="width:66px;"> Assessed</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:59px;"> ILO 1</td> <td style="width:431px;height:59px;"> describe underlying sedimentological and stratigraphic concepts and principles, and apply these to the analysis and interpretation of the stratigraphic record</td> <td style="width:71px;height:59px;"> Y</td> <td style="width:66px;height:59px;"> Y</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:96px;"> ILO 2</td> <td style="width:431px;height:96px;"> manipulate and integrate sedimentological, geochemical and biological field and laboratory data from a range of observational scales, to make quantitative, process-based interpretations of the environmental conditions under which the sediments were deposited</td> <td style="width:71px;height:96px;"> Y</td> <td style="width:66px;height:96px;"> Y</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:74px;"> ILO 3</td> <td style="width:431px;height:74px;"> compare and contrast the processes operating in different depositional environments and relate these to published 'facies models' for the preserved stratigraphy</td> <td style="width:71px;height:74px;"> Y</td> <td style="width:66px;height:74px;"> Y</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> ILO 4</td> <td style="width:431px;height:66px;"> explain how sedimentary, biological and geochemical processes have changed through geological time, and predict their impact on the resulting stratigraphic record</td> <td style="width:71px;height:66px;"> Y</td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> Y</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:56px;"> ILO 5</td> <td style="width:431px;height:56px;"> identify cycles and hiatuses in the sedimentary fill of a basin over a range of temporal and spatial scales, and relate these to external and internal drivers of appropriate magnitude</td> <td style="width:71px;height:56px;"> Y</td> <td style="width:66px;height:56px;"> Y</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  1. Stratigraphic Principles and Techniques2. Facies analysis, Walthers Law3. Continental clastic environments4. Shallow marine clastic environments5. Deep marine clastic environments6. Deep marine clastic processes7. Carbonate processes, carbonate factory and platforms8. Nearshore and continental carbonate environments9. Shallow subtidal carbonate environments10. Carbonates through time11. Field synthesis - Derbyshire The narrative for the course is provided through the analysis and interpretation of the stratigraphic fill of a virtual basin that has undergone changes in depositional environment during a period of active tectonics and sea level change. Each week a one hour lecture provides the background knowledge based on real world examples, and skills in data manipulation and interpretation are developed through the hands-on exercise completed during the 2 hour practical class.<div> A key component of this unit is the emphasis on the integration of different types of sedimentological, geochemical and biological field and laboratory data of the type students could make for their third year projects, based on data they have collected in the field and the lab.A one-day field excursion will provide the opportunity to apply and extend our knowledge to real rocks in the field.To gain maximum benefit from this unit, students should read around the subject and utilise the wide variety of learning resources that are available in this subject area. Additional optional lectures, directed reading, videos and short assignments are available on the Blackboard site.</div>  0 Other 50% 2 Written assignment (inc essay) 30% 8 Practical skills assessment 20% <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:139px;height:68px;">Assessment type</td> <td style="width:85px;height:68px;">% Weighting within unit</td> <td style="width:75px;height:68px;">Hand out and hand in dates</td> <td style="width:75px;height:68px;">Length </td> <td style="width:160px;height:68px;">How, when and what feedback is provided</td> <td style="width:104px;height:68px;">ILO tested</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:139px;height:39px;">Examination</td> <td style="width:85px;height:39px;">50</td> <td style="width:75px;height:39px;"> </td> <td style="width:75px;height:39px;"> </td> <td style="width:160px;height:39px;"> </td> <td style="width:104px;height:39px;">2, 3, 4</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:139px;height:101px;">Coursework: interpretation/write-up of part of synthetic strat column</td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;">30</td> <td style="width:75px;height:101px;"> </td> <td style="width:75px;height:101px;"> </td> <td style="width:160px;height:101px;"> </td> <td style="width:104px;height:101px;">3, 4, 5</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:139px;height:101px;">Practical hand-in: rock description/ interpretation, analysis of a data set</td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;">20</td> <td style="width:75px;height:101px;"> </td> <td style="width:75px;height:101px;"> </td> <td style="width:160px;height:101px;"> </td> <td style="width:104px;height:101px;">1, 2</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  EART27201 Sedimentary Rocks and Fossils Pre-Requisite Compulsory 1st year Earth & Planetary Science or Environmental Science BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geology) Second Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Planet Sci) Second Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geochemistr) Second Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Resources) Second Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc(Hons)Earth&Plan Sci-Palaeo Second Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Eart and Plan (GPG) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geolo) Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Plane) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geoch) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Resou) Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Palae) Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci(Hons)Ea&Pl Sci(G&PG) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS w IE (GeoChem) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS Yr Industry (ER) Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarth Sci (Hons) EPS IE (GPG) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (PS) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS w YA (Geochem) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (ER) Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Yr Abroad (Pala) Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEaSci (Hons) EPSwYA (GPG) Second Year Optional BSc (Hons) Environmental Sci BSc (Hons) Env Science (EECB) Second Year Optional MEnvSci Environmental Science MEnvSci Environ Science (EECB) Second Year Optional MEnvSci Env Sci with Ind Exp MEnvSci Env Sci with IE (EECB) Second Year Optional MEnvSci Env Sci with Int Study MEnvSci Env Sci with IS (EECB) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEarthSci (H) EPS (ER) with Re Second Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS w R (GeoChem) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS w Res (GPG) Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Plan Sci) w Res Second Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Paleo) with Res Second Year Mandatory MEnvSci (Hons) Env Sci w Resea MEnSc (H) En Sc (EECB) with RP Second Year Optional The most basic general text that is suitable for the course is: Nichols, G., 2009, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, 2nd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell An intermediate level general text that is suitable for the course is:Tucker, M. E. Sedimentary Petrology. Blackwells The most challenging general texts suitable for the course are:Leeder, M.R., 1999, Sedimentology and Sedimentary Basins: From Turbulence to Tectonics.  BlackwellsTucker, M. E. and Wright, V. P., 2009. Carbonate sedimentology. Wiley  Fieldwork 8 Lectures 10 Practical classes & workshops 20 0 62 <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"><tbody><tr><td style="height:68px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:68px;width:85px;">Type</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:169.5pt;" width="226">Example student activity</td><td style="height:68px;width:75px;">Total Hours</td><td style="height:68px;width:160px;">New material</td><td style="height:68px;width:104px;">Consolidation and Practice</td></tr><tr><td style="height:39px;width:139px;">Contact time (students are in front of staff)</td><td style="height:39px;width:85px;">Lecture (new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">Mostly listening & taking notes (mostly new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">8</td><td style="height:39px;width:160px;">8</td><td style="height:39px;width:104px;"> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Lecture (revision/examples)</td><td>Mostly listening & taking notes (no new material- revision of course)</td><td>2</td><td> </td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Practical (new material and practice. Typically 25-50% of practical time is spent on new material)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive individual or group work (problem solving, experiments, watching demonstrations, describing and interpreting samples, paper-based exercises, computer-based exercises)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">20</td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;">5</td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;">15</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Tutorial</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive small group work</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">0</td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;"> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Seminar/examples class</td><td>Working on and discussing questions (here: field seminar)</td><td>6</td><td> </td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Independent study time</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:131.5pt;" width="175">Pre/post lecture work</td><td>Reading own notes, re-solving examples, prep work, revisit podcast</td><td>15</td><td>15</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Pre/post practical work/write up</td><td>Complete practical work, prep work, reading feedback</td><td>10</td><td> </td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Studio/workshop time</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>