Carbonates (U03579)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : GEO-4-CARBON

The course will consist of lectures, suggested reading and discussion sessions. The following topics will be covered:

a) Controls on carbonate depositional processes; the roles of chemistry and biology.
b) Cool-water, tropical, and pelagic carbonate systems; diversity of depositional geometries.
c) Carbonate sequence stratigraphy; uses and abuses.
d) Diagenesis and the evolution of porosity and permeability; reconstructing subsurface processes in carbonates; dolomitization.
e) The evolution of carbonate systems over the last 4 billion years.
f) The role of carbonates in the carbon cycle.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Sedimentology B.

? Costs : None.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Earth Science, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Other subject areas

Environmental Courses, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) 30 minutes per week for 5 weeks

? Additional Class Information : 5 half-day sessions in Semester 2. This will include individual background reading and preparation for the presentation of seminars on industrial case studies and practical laboratory sessions.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

After completion of this course, students will have a strong background in the sedimentology and evolution of carbonate systems, as well as the dynamics of flow and diagenesis. They will be able to evaluate the role of carbonates within earth surface systems, as well as interactions with the atmosphere and biosphere. They will be able to assess the virtues of conflicting models of carbonate production.