DECIPHERING EARTH HISTORY

Robert A. Gastaldo

Whipple Coddington Professor of Geology

213A Mudd

TEXT

Levin, H.L., 2003, The Earth Through Time. 7th Edition: J.W. Wiley Publishing, New York, 563+ p.

Textbook Website

LABORATORY MANUAL

Gastaldo, R.A., Savrda, C.E. and Lewis, R.D., 2006, Deciphering Earth History: Exercises in Historical Geology: 3rd Edition: Contemporary Publishing Company of Raleigh, Raleigh, NC. 240 p.

LECTURE M/W/F 11:00-12:00 Mudd 218

Laboratory WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY 1:00-4:00 Mudd 218

Laboratory Schedule

Laboratory Instructor: Dr. Bruce Rueger

TERM PROJECT

WEEK 1 : 6-10 February 2006

6 February: Science, Religion, & Time LECTURE NOTES

Readings

Levin Chapter 1
8 February: Science, Religion, & Time &

Class Discussion of

The Ionian Enchantment

 Readings

One of the following (your choice) articles on Scientific Method

  • An Introduction to the Scientific Method - University of Rochester
  • The Scientific Method - University of California: Riverside
  • The Scientific Method - Okanagan University College

    • and EVERYONE reads

  • E.O. Wilson's The Ionian Enchantment
10 February: Deep Time & Earth History LECTURE NOTES Readings

One of the following (your choice) articles on Deep Time Dating

WEEK 2 : 13-17 February 2006

13 February:

DISCUSSION OF Wien's ARTICLE

The Sedimentary Rock Archive

 LECTURE NOTES

Readings

Chapter 3

15 February: Sediments & Climate Proxies LECTURE NOTES

Web Content
17 February: Rocks, Fossils, and Time

LECTURE NOTES

Readings

Chapter 4

WEEK 3 : 20-24 February 2006
20 February: Fossils as Proxies of the Past LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 4
22 February: Rocks, Fossils, and Evolution LECTURE NOTES

Readings

The University of California's Museum of Paleontology Evolution Exhibit

24 February: Rocks, Fossils, and Evolution

Readings for Discussion

WEEK 4 : 27 February - 3 March 2006

February 27: DISCUSSION

on

Evolution:Intelligent Design

Readings for Discussion
  • Chapter 6
  • Wallis, C., 2005, The Evolution Wars: Time Magazine, 15 August, p. 27-25
  • Orr, H.A., 2005, Devolution: The New Yorker, 30 May, p. 40-52
March 1: Non-Analog Worlds - The Archean LECTURE NOTES

Readings

Chapter 6
March 3: Non-Analog Worlds - The Archean LECTURE NOTES

WEEK 5: 6-10 March 2006
March 6 : Non-Analog Worlds - The PaleoProterozoic LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 7

March 8:

EXAMINATION #1

(Lecture Material & Readings:

Weeks 1-4)

Consult

How To Study

STUDY GUIDE
March 10: Non-Analog Worlds - The NeoProterozoic LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 7

Student Groups will be responsible for one of the following:

  • Paul Hoffman & Daniels Shrag Snow Ball Earth: Scientific American
  • Paul Hoffman & Daniel Shrag Snowball Earth
  • Robert Kopp, Joseph Kirschvink, Isaac Hilburn, and Cody Nash's recent hypothesis on causation of Snowball Earth

WEEK 6 : 13-17 March 2006

13 March: Glaciation, Snowball Earth, and the Proterozoic

GROUP PRESENTATION and DISCUSSION OF SNOWBALL EARTH HYPOTHESIS

 LECTURE NOTES Readings
  • Paul Hoffman & Daniels Shrag Snow Ball Earth: Scientific American
  • Paul Hoffman & Daniel Shrag Snowball Earth
  • Robert Kopp, Joseph Kirschvink, Isaac Hilburn, and Cody Nash's recent hypothesis on causation of Snowball Earth
15 March: Evolution of Metaphytes & Metazoans LECTURE NOTES Readings
17 March: Rodinia, Wilson Cycles & North America LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 8

WEEK 7: 20-24 March 2006

20 March: North American Paleozoic Tectonics LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapters 8, 9
22 March: North American Paleozoic Tectonics & the Assembly of Pangea LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapters 8, 9
24 March: GEOLOGY of NATIONAL PARKS SYMPOSIUM 1

25 March - 2 April

SPRING BREAK

WEEK 9 : 3-7 April 2006

3 April: Metazoan Radiations and the Consequences of Global Climate: Cambro-Ordovician LECTURE NOTES Readings

Readings: Levin Chapter 10 and
5 April: Post-Glacial Middle Paleozoic Marine Recovery LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 10
7 April: Late Paleozoic Devonian Greenhouse LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 10

WEEK 10 : 10-14 April 2006

10 April: Late Paleozoic Greenhouse and Icehouse LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 9
April 12:

EXAMINATION #2

(Lecture Material & Readings:

Weeks 5-9 - See Study Guide for Details)

Consult

How To Study

STUDY GUIDE
14 April: Evolution and Diversification of Kingdom Animalia: Vertebrates LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 10

WEEK 11 : 17-22 April 2006

17 April: Evolution and Diversification of Kingdom Animalia: Vertebrates LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 10
19 April: End Permian Mass Extinction LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 10
21 April: Rise and Diversification of Reptiles LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 12

WEEK 12 : 24-28 April 2006

24 April: Diversification and Innovations of Reptiles LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 12
26 April: K/T Mass Extinction Event LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 12
28 April: GEOLOGY of NATIONAL PARKS SYMPOSIUM 2

29 - 30 April : REQUIRED FIELD TRIP

WEEK 13 : 1-5 May 2006

1 May: Geology of the Mesozoic - The Rifting of Pangea LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 11
3 May: Geology of the Mesozoic - Sea Level Rise, Cordillera, and Coastal Plain Development LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 11
5 May: The Assembly of the Western United States LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 13

WEEK 14 : 8-12 May 2006

8 May: Return of the Greenhouse - The Paleogene LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 13
10 May: GEOLOGY of NATIONAL PARKS SYMPOSIUM 3
12 May: Return to the Icehouse - The Neogene LECTURE NOTES Readings

Chapter 13

FINAL EXAMINATION

THURSDAY

18 May 2006

Exam Schedule 10 - 3:30 pm

STUDY GUIDE

TERM PROJECT : GEOLOGY OF A NATIONAL PARK

ATTENDANCE POLICY

GRADING POLICY

LABORATORY POLICY

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© Copyright 1998-2006 by Robert A. Gastaldo. All Rights Reserved. No part of these lecture notes may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.