GEOL 102: Earth and Life Through Time

GEOL 102: EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME

Course Section: 001

Classroom Location: HOS 210 Check Location

Instructor: Dr. Ganqing Jiang

Office Location: SEB 3241 Check Location

Email: Ganqing.Jiang@unlv.edu

Lectures: T-Th: 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM

Class Website: http://faculty.unlv.edu/ganqing/GEOL102

Office hours: T-Th 10:00 - 11:30 AM or by appointment

Lab Sections: 002, 003, 004

Lab Location: LFG 105 Check Location

TAs: Audrey Warren; Deborah Morales

TA Office Location: SEB 3244 Check Location

Course Description:
Concepts and major techniques used by geologists to understand the evolution of Earth and life through time. Topics include the stratigraphic principles, rock cycles, dating methods, plate tectonics, the fossil record, evolutionary theory, mass extinctions, tectonic evolution and paleogeographic interpretation. Laboratory work includes identification of minerals, rocks and major groups of fossils, interpretation of depositional environments, stratigraphic sequence analysis, and geological maps and cross sections.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the class, every student should be able to:
• Use relative and absolute dating principles to interpret the geological history of rock units.
• Identify the major types of sedimentary rocks and their depositional environments.
• Explain the tectonic theory and apply it to the tectonic cycles in Earth history.
• Understand the major events in the history of the Earth and life and their interrelationships.
• Identify and classify the major groups of fossils and apply them for stratigraphic correlation
• Correctly interpret geological maps and geological cross sections

Textbook: Harold L. Levin and King Jr., David T., 2016, The Earth Through Time, 11th Edition, Wiley & Sons, 600 pp. ISBN: 978-1-119-22834-9 (or any 9th to 10th Edition)

Grading: Final grades will be assigned according to the following schedule:

(a) Attendance, participation, and quizzes: 20%
(b) Midterm Exam: 20%
(c) Final Exam: 30%
(d) Lab/Field work: 30%

Your final score will be calculated as follows:

Final score = (a) * 20% + (b) * 20% + (c) * 30% + (d) * 30%

Your final grade will be assigned on the following scale:

A: 90-100; B: 80-89; C: 70-79; D: 60-69; F: < 60 [A plus/minus system may be employed at the instructor's discretion].

Notes: No make-up exams, make-up quizzes, or make-up exercises will be given unless you provide a written medical, military, or university excuse. So plan to attend class.

Class Schedule

Lecture Syllabus Lab schedule UNLV Webcampus login

Week	Day	Date	Lecture topic	Lecture Notes
1	T	Aug-27	Introduction on Historical Geology	Lecture 1
1	Th	Aug-29	Historical View on the Formation of the Earth and Rock Record	Lecture 2
2	T	Sep-03	Relative and Absolute Ages and the Geological Time Table	Lecture 3
2	Th	Sep-05	Rocks and Minerals (a review)	Lecture 4
3	T	Sep-10	Sedimentary Environments and Facies	Lecture 5
3	Th	Sep-12	Sedimentary Record: Interpreting the Earth history	Lecture 6
4	T	Sep-17	Fossils in Sedimentary Record: A Major Tool for Telling Time	Lecture 7
4	Th	Sep-19	Fossils in Sedimentary Record: Information about Earth System change	Lecture 8
5	Th	Sep-26	Plate Tectonics and Rock Cycles	Lecture 9
6	T	Oct-1	Tectonic Cycles in Earth history	Lecture 10
6	Th	Oct-3	Major Chemical Cycles I	Lecture 11
7	T	Oct-8	Major Chemical Cycles II	Lecture 12
7	Th	Oct-10	Midterm Review	Midterm Review
8	T	Oct-15	Midterm Exam	Midterm Exam
8	Th	Oct-17	The Earth Through Time: The early days	Lecture 14
9	T	Oct-22	The Earth Through Time: The rise of oxygen	Lecture 15
9	Th	Oct-24	The Earth Through Time: The Proterozoic Eon	Lecture 16
10	T	Oct-29	The Earth Through Time: The snowball Earth	Lecture 17
10	Th	Oct-31	The Earth Through Time: The Paleozoic biosphere	Lecture 18
11	T	Nov-5	The Earth Through Time: The Paleozoic biosphere	Lecture 18
11	Th	Nov-7	The Paleozoic Tectonic History of North America	Lecture 19
12	T	Nov-12	The end-Permian mass extinction	Lecture 20
12	Th	Nov-14	What’s new in the Mesozoic?	Lecture 21
13	T	Nov-19	The Mesozoic Biosphere and the Dinosaur World	Lecture 22
13	Th	Nov-21	The Cenozoic Tectonics and Climates	Lecture 23
14	T	Nov-26	Cenozoic – The Age of Mammals	Lecture 24
15	T	Dec-3	Fina Exam Review	Final Exam Review
16	Th	Dec-12	Fina Exam [6:00-8:00 pm]	Final Exam [6:00-8:00 pm]