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Stratigraphy

Code: 101064 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500254 Geology OB 2

Contact

Name:
Josep Oriol Oms Llobet
Email:
joseporiol.oms@uab.cat

Teachers

Josep Oriol Oms Llobet
(External) Miquel Poyatos
(External) Ramon Mercedes
(External) Sara Tomas

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites


Although there is no official prerequisite, students are advised to have good knowledge of the subjects that were taken during the first year of degree, particularly: Fundamentals of Geology (Fonaments de Geologia) and field work of Regional Geology (Treball de camp de Geologia Regional).


Objectives and Contextualisation

 

Training objectives of the subject:
										
											
										
											Acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge about the descriptive and analytical techniques of the stratigraphic record that allow to identify and characterize strata and also establish a local stratigraphic succession.
										
											 
										
											
										
											Objectives of the practices:
  • Recognize rocks and sedimentary structures in the laboratory and in the field
  • Representation of stratigraphic sections
  • Establish simple stratigraphic correlations

Competences

  • Describe stratigraphic successions and their temporal dimension and use correlation and interpretation techniques.
  • Display understanding of the size of the space and time dimensions of Earth processes, on different scales.
  • Draw up and interpret geological maps and other means of depicting geological information (columns, correlation frames, geological cross-sections, etc.)
  • Learn and apply the knowledge acquired, and use it to solve problems.
  • Process, interpret and present field data using qualitative and quantitative techniques, and suitable computer programmes.
  • Work in teams, developing the social skills needed for this.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Draw up stratigraphic columns and correlation frames.
  2. Interpret the spatial and temporal significance of stratigraphic successions and the different types of lithostratigraphic units with chronostratigraphic value.
  3. Learn and apply the knowledge acquired, and use it to solve problems.
  4. Make stratigraphic columns and correlation frames and geological maps based on lithostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic units.
  5. Process stratigraphic and sedimentological data from the field in order to produce new synthesis data and documents.
  6. Work in teams, developing the social skills needed for this.

Content

PROGRAM OF THEORETICAL CLASSES

1-Introduction to Stratigraphy: definition, principles and objectives

2-Transport and sediment structures: introduction, selective transport, mass transport

3- Sedimentary structures (depositional and non-depositional).

4-Formation of sedimentary rocks: meteorization and its products and diagenesis.

5-Clastic sedimentary rocks: components and classification.

6-Carbonate sedimentary rocks: components and classification.

7-Transgressions, regressions, cyclicity and sequence stratigraphy

8-Stratigraphic exploration of georesourses.

 

PROGRAM OF LABORATORY PRACTICES

Origin and type of sediment grains (carbonates)

Origin and type of sediment grains (terrhenes)

Sedimentary structures I and paleocurrent measurement

Sedimentary structures II

Preparation of stratigraphic seccions and use of the Jacob staff. Creation of stratigraphic columns

 

PROGRAM OF CAMPING PRACTICES

a) Regional geological context.

b) Recognition of formation and sedimentary rocks in space and time

c) Recognition of sedimentary structures and paleocurrent measures

d) Raise a local stratigraphic series. Use of the granulimeter, metric tape and stick of Jacob


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Field work 14 0.56 1, 3, 4, 6
Laboratory practices 19 0.76 3, 4, 5, 6
Theoretical lessons 18 0.72 2, 5
Type: Supervised      
Elaboration of works derived from laboratory or field practices 14 0.56 1, 4
Group or individual mentoring 3 0.12 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Type: Autonomous      
Study, consut of references, report performance 75 3

1.- Managed activities

Theory lessons:

The program contents will be taught mainly by the teacher in the form of theoretical classes. The student acquires the scientific-technical knowledge of the course by attending the classes and complementing them with the personal study of the explained topics. These sessions can be complemented with questions and simple exercises that are interrelated with the explanations.

Part of the material used in class by the teacher will be available on the Virtual Campus of the subject. It is recommended that students regularly consult the books and recommended web links in order to consolidate, clarify and extend the contents explained in class.

 

Laboratory practices:

Both field and laboratory practices will facilitate to understand and consolidate the contents of the theory program. They also familiarize the student  to the data obtaining proceure, treatment and application to create stratigraphic columns.

The student will have downloaded the practice script for the virtual campus, which will be developed during that group session of two or three people. This practical work involves the prior knowledge of the theory and the application of it in a practical example. Students must complete the document that the teacher of the subject can request at the end of the session (individually or by group).

Eventually, each student will release to the teacher the compilation of all practical, duly corrected and expanded practises.

Field practices

These consist of two field trips where several types of materials and structures will identified. It will work with granulimeter, magnifying glass, compass to measure paleocurrents, measuring tape and Jacob's staff. This information will be discussed later in laboratory practices.

Special emphasis will be placed on the student collecting all the data in the field book, which can be evaluated.

 

2.- Supervised activities

Two types of supervised activities are proposed:

a) Elaboration of works derived from laboratory and field practices by groups

b) Group and individual tutorials in order to support the training activities indicated above.

 

3.- Autonomous activities

Includes study, work preparation and reading of bibliography

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Contents of the practices in the partial and final exams. 20 0.5 0.02 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Final recovery test 0 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Score of the laboratory practices 0 0.5 0.02 1, 4
Theoretical contents of the partial anf final tests 80 6 0.24 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The overall grade of the subject will assess the knowledge acquired by the student in the different activities:
										
											
										
											theoretical classes, laboratory practices, field practices
										
											
										
											The evaluation of the subject will be individual and continued through the following tests:
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											 1.- Theoretical contents of the exam (80%)
										
											
										
											 During the semester there will be two compulsory partial written tests on the theoretical contents of the subject, which students will have to answer individually. These tests will consist of a series of questions about the corresponding topics of the theory program.
										
											Students can bring their own handwritten notes to the exam. It is expressly foridden to have them printed fromm digital files (i.e., computer written).

2.- Practical contents of the exam (20%) This part of the final and partial examinations will be based on the contents of the practices. Practices will be of a mandatory nature and at the most it will be possible to justify the absence in one of them.
Students can bring their own handwritten practises to the exam. It is expressly foridden to have them printed fromm digital files (i.e., computer written).

 3.-Field practices The evaluation of field work (which is absolutely compulsory even, for students repeating the subject) will be based on individual tests on the work carried out in the field It may also include: a) the evaluation of an exercise that can be proposed during the field day to assess the progressof the work. b) the evaluation of the field notebooks c) In the event that a dossier is delivered at the beginning of the excursion, it will also be necessary to take care of it as it may be requested at the end of the excursion. The delivery of the well-structured and complete report can be requested within the established term or in its case elaboration of a report of the field work. d) the student's attitude at the exit will also be taken into account IMPORTANT: The field score will be used to improve the qualification of the students who have passed the subject.   4.- Recovery test at the end Suspended partial theoretical tests (note less than 5) may be recovered in a final test on the date indicated in the generalprogram of the course


ON THE SINGLE EVALUATION

The single evaluation will consist on a teorethical exam plus the practical work release, except for those that heve to be fulfilled during the development of the practise.

The score wiill be calculated in the same way as in the continuous evaluation.

Attendance at field trips and practises will be mandatory.

Eventual field-trip exercises that are carried out during the excursionis will be released before the trip finishes.

Studens can bring their own handwritten notes and practises.



 

 


Bibliography

• Boggs, S. (2006).- Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, 4th ed., Pearson-Prentice Hall 

• Brookfield M.E. (2004). Principles of Stratigraphy. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 340 or

•James, N.P. & Dalrymple, R.W. (2010). Facies models, 4. Geotext. 6. Geological association of Canada. 

• NIichols, G. (2009) Sedimentology & Stratigraphy. Blackwell Science.

• Vera, J. (1994) Estratigrafia (principios y métodos). Madrid: Rueda.

 

Enllaços web 

http://cit.iec.cat

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/

http://www.stratigraphy.org/

http://strata.geol.sc.edu/exerices/ExercisePrintOuts.html

http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/historical_lab/contents.php

http://www.bib.ub.edu/recursos-informacio/guies-tematiques/geologia/#c4820


Software

Inkscape


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PCAM) Field practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed