Undergraduate Course: Formation and Evolution of Continents (EASC10080)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The Formation and Evolution of Continents (FEC) course is multidisciplinary and integrative. The course integrates the magmatic, structural, metamorphic, sedimentary and geophysical features and concepts reflecting the operation of major physiochemical and tectonic processes in the Earth that have controlled its evolution since 4.5 billion years ago. FEC aims to foster a deep-Earth (solid Earth processes)/deep-time orientated view of the Earth and its differentiation, with a focus on the formation of the Earth¿s crust, culminating in the development and growth of continents. The geology of other planets are may be used to extend understanding.
The course consists of 18 thematic lectures, each supported by PowerPoint notes, and by short reference lists issued at key points during the course. Key references are deposited as pdfs on the LEARN site for the course, along with all lecture materials. The keynote references for each lecture or group of lectures are designed to complement and extend the lecture content. For each lecture students are expected to spend about 3-4 hours of reading and supplementary study, which should firstly focus on the papers detailed in the course reference list. The content of these papers will be examinable in the same way as the lectures will be. |
| Course description |
Replaces EASC10006
1. The crust-mantle System and key features of continents
2. Continental crust composition ¿ evidence and implications
3. Mantle melting principles and contributions to crust formation
4. Arcs, accretionary processes and accretionary orogens
5. Subduction Zones ¿ thermal evolution and metamorphic regimes
6. Collision and collisional orogenesis
7. Forming and growing the continents ¿ Reading the Record
8. The Archaean ¿ geological features and evidence for processes
9. Secular change ¿ processes, compositions and tectonics
10. Continental growth and Supercontinent Episodes
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Passing of courses equivalent in content and level to those listed in the UoE prerequisites for this course. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 60 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 1,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
70 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 100%, Course Work: 0 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
The FEC course is a pre-requisite for the award of a Geology Honours degree. GPG students are not required take FEC as part of their degree but may do so as an Option course provided they have the approapriate pre-requisites.
The course is examined by a two-hour, essay-based, examination held in the December Diet. Students select two essay-type questions to answer ¿ one from each of the two parts in the examination, Part A and Part B. The questions in Part A will be those developed from the first part of the FEC course ¿ focussed on the nature of the lithosphere, magmatism and its role in forming crust and accretionary and collisional mountain building processes that lead to continental growth or stabilisation. The questions in Part B will focus on the evidence from the geological record, from the Archaean through to early Phanerozoic, for tectonics and continental evolution and growth over time, as well as on the modelling of such key issues as the onset of subduction, and supercontinent cycles. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- The principal learning outcome of FEC will be a knowledge that integrates the magmatic, structural, metamorphic, sedimentary and geophysical features and concepts reflecting the operation of major physiochemical and tectonic processes in the Earth that have controlled its evolution since 4.5 billion years ago.
- Appreciation of the relative roles of periodic, cyclical and irreversible processes in shaping the Earth through time, as well as enhancement of transferable skills in written and oral format is anticipated.
- Students are actively encouraged to extensively read around the subject and will therefore be able to offer professional level insights as well as being able to critically review and consolidate knowledge.
- In the exam assessment students my be required to apply their knowledge in ways not directly addressed during the course, and to display an ability to solve professional level problems with originality and creativity.
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Reading List
Harmon, R.S. & Parker, A. (2011). Frontiers in Geochemistry. Wiley-Blackwell. (Chapters 1 and 2).
Johnson, M.R.W. & Harley, S.L. (2012). Orogenesis ¿ The Making of Mountains. Cambridge University Press. (Chapters 3, 5-7, 10, 12).
Rollinson, H. (2007). Early Earth Systems: A Geochemical Approach. Blackwell.
White, W.M. (2013). Geochemistry. Wiley-Blackwell. (see especially Chapter 11: Geochemistry of the Solid Earth).
Numerous primary papers are also recommended, with several available on the course's LEARN site. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Lectures on Thursdays at 14:10-18:00, Weeks 1-11. |
| Keywords | FEC |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Simon Harley
Tel: (0131 6)50 8547
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Ken O'Neill
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: |
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