Kursöversikt

Welcome to:

Worldwide field locations shaping geological concepts, 7,5 hp, octile 2

GVN75A  Advanced Earth Science Project Work  7,5 hp, fall 2020

On the left-hand menu there are links to course materials. To log in you use the same ID information as for the studentportal. 

The first Zoom meeting will be at 10:00 am on October 1st. Here is the link:

https://gu-se.zoom.us/j/68794700846?pwd=eURxbjV6ZWo0ZEw1VTBNUGN3RWxTUT09

(Important!! This is your best chance to influence the structure of the course)

For the last 4.5 billion years, Earth has been an astonishingly active planet. However, there is –to say it mildy- an incomplete record of Earth’s history and the changing geodynamic processes. In many cases, we are left with extraordinary and fascinating geologic field locations scattered around the world, which strongly influence our geological thinking. Locations like Bushveld, Oman, Yellowstone and Jack Hills are found in many geology textbooks. On the one hand, studying those places offers excellent examples and a deeper understanding of the geodynamic forces operating. On the other hand, it can be critically questioned to what extent often unique geologic features can be used to formulate general concepts.

As we are forced to stay at our computers in times of corona, we can make the best of it by travelling the world digitally and attempt to comprehensively study some of the most influential field sites. This would be close to impossible physically, as they are often placed in remote places on several continents. Here is a list of some of the most relevant places on Earth (as a participant, you are free to suggest alternative field sites):

• Bushveld Complex (South Africa)- largest layered igneous intrusion; home of some of the richest mineral deposits
• Jack Hills (Australia)- contains conglomerate layer hosting oldest minerals (4.4 billion year old zircons)
• Isua Complex (Greenland)- oldest rock formations (3.9 billion years old)
• Ghawar province (Saudi Arabia)- largest oil field
• Semail (Oman)- largest and most complete ophiolite
• Meteor Crater (Arizona, USA)- best preserved meteorite impact
• Big Island (Hawaii, USA)- iconic hot spot
• Iceland- mid oceanic spreading center on land
• Yellowstone (Colorado, USA)- most famous example of a super volcano
• Deccan trap (India)- best example of a flood basalt
• Stevens Klint (Denmark)- Cretaceous- Tertiary boundary where the largest Iridium anomaly gives strong evidence for a meteorite impact as the cause of dinosaur extinction

These field locations will be approached on several levels. For examples, how were they discovered and studied?  How would a field trip to those locations be conducted, physically and digitally? How do those field sites compare to other examples world-wide? Beyond geoscience, what is the social and or economic impact of those sites?

Thomas Zack

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Schema

The first Zoom meeting will be at 10:00 am on October 1st. Here is the link:

https://gu-se.zoom.us/j/68794700846?pwd=eURxbjV6ZWo0ZEw1VTBNUGN3RWxTUT09

Further itinerary to follow after this meeting.

Course Syllabus

Literature: 

dependent upon your geological setting location and the selection will be part of the course itself. 

Contact/E-post:

Course Manager: Thomas Zack

 Study Counsellor: Emily Whitehurst Zack

Study Administrator:  Eugenia Andersson

Study rector: Johan Hogmalm  

More Information

Information for you as a student, for example taking digital exams, pedagogical support, student health etc. is available at the student portal (you can click for the international page) Studentportalen.