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Sedimentary Geology 186-455. Introduction. Professor. Bruce Hart Earth and Planetary Sciences, FDA 332, Telephone: 398-3677 e-mail: hart@eps.mcgill.ca Office Hours : By appointment. T.A.s. Tim McCullagh (timothy.mccullagh@mcgill.ca) Dirk Schumann (schumann@eps.mcgill.ca). Time.
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Sedimentary Geology186-455 Introduction
Professor • Bruce Hart • Earth and Planetary Sciences, FDA 332, Telephone: 398-3677 • e-mail: hart@eps.mcgill.ca • Office Hours: By appointment
T.A.s • Tim McCullagh • (timothy.mccullagh@mcgill.ca) • Dirk Schumann • (schumann@eps.mcgill.ca)
Time • Classes: Monday and Wednesday, 11:30am-12:30pm, FDA 348-49 • Laboratories: Wednesday, 2:30-5:30pm, FDA 348-49 • N.B. Two field trips will be held during term, requiring extended time periods on these days (to be discussed in class).
Grading • 30 % laboratory exercises/field reports • 10 % term projects/presentations • 0-20 % mid-term examination • 40-60 % final examination
Academic Integrity McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see http://www.mcgill.ca/integrity for more information).
Text • Boggs, S. Jr., Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice Hall, 4th edition
Why Sedimentary Geology? • Resources • Most of the world’s energy supply comes from fossil fuels derived from sedimentary rocks • Mineral deposits (e.g., stratabound ores, MVT deposits) • Water in aquifers • Construction materials
The Hydrocarbon Society • In 2001, about 39% of Canada's primary energy production was from natural gas, followed by oil (25%), hydropower (20%), coal (11%), and nuclear power (5%) • ~3/4 from sedimentary rocks • Oil is the world’s most important energy source (~36% of total consumption)
Why Sedimentary Geology? • Employment
Why Sedimentary Geology? • Earth and Life History • Sedimentary record contains information about past tectonic movements, sea-level change, climates, etc. • Sedimentary record hosts the history of life on Earth
Marine cement Sponge Encrusting algae
Why Sedimentary Geology? • Environment • Sedimentary record contains most of what we know about global change on geologic timeframes • Modern sediments can record recent physical/chemical/biological environmental changes • Geosphere<->biosphere interactions • Contaminants in aquifers
Why Sedimentary Geology? • Hazards/Engineering • Sediment transport/erosion affect engineering works (e.g., harbours, navigation routes) • Sediment transport/erosion affect structural stability • Sediment texture (e.g., grain size) affects mechanical properties • Slope instability
It was predicted: • "When we get the big hurricane and there are 10,000 people dead, the city government's been relocated to the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain, refugee camps have been set up and there $10 billion plus in losses, what then?" Shea Penland, Geologist, Dec. 2000
100 msec One km Posamentier, 2005
Course Objectives • Teach basic concepts of sedimentary geology • Stuff all geologists should know • Sediment transport • Sedimentary structures • Rock types • Diagenesis • Depositional environments • Etc.
Course Objectives • Introduce advanced topics in sedimentary geology • Get you interested in other courses • Field camp(s) • Sequence stratigraphy/basin analysis • Subsurface mapping