Introductory Geology I: Planet Earth

01:460:100 (3)

None; designed for non-science majors and minors; PARTIALLY FULFILLS SCIENCE REQUIREMENT FOR ALL COLLEGES

NOTE: Credit not given for both 460:100 and 460:101

Introductory geology for the non-science major, designed to give a broad, basic understanding of the planet on which we reside, its age and origin, composition and evolution, interrelationships of Earth’s major physical systems, scientific revolutions in Earth Science, and the role the physical Earth plays in global politics and economics.

Introductory Geology I: Physical

01:460:101 (3)

Co-requisite: 01:460:103; designed for science majors and minors

NOTE: Credit not given for both 460:100 and 460:101

NON-SCIENCE MAJORS/Minors SHOULD REGISTER FOR 01:460:100 Planet Earth and NOT 01:460:101 which requires a co-requisite of 01:460:103 Into. Geo. Lab.

 

Geological concepts, principles, processes, chemistry, and physics of the Earth and the interplay of Earth Systems. Course explores the Earth as a whole, its origin, structure, composition, history and the nature of the processes that resulted in its formation and its present state.

Introductory Geology II: Historical

01:460:102 (3)

Prerequisite: 01:460:101

Principles and concepts of plate tectonics and reconstructing past geography and environments; the history of Earth's climate, environments, biogeochemical cycles, and life through time.  Designed for majors and minors.

Prof. D. Kent
Prof. J. Wright

Introductory Geology Laboratory

01:460:103 (1)

Lab. 3 hrs. Pre- or corequisite: 01:460:101

Development of geologic concepts and principles through experiments and field observations.

Staff

Honors Introductory Geology Laboratory

Lab. 6 hrs. Pre- or corequisite: 01:460:101

Fundamentals of physical geology. Field observations and measurements of geologic processes and outcrops.

Earthquakes and Volcanos

01:460:201 (3)

Plate tectonics and the origin of earthquakes and volcanoes: causes, mechanisms, consequences, and effect on man.

Earthquakes and Volcanos

01:460:201 (3)

Plate tectonics and the origin of earthquakes and volcanoes: causes, mechanisms, consequences, and effect on man.

Environmental Geology

01:460:202 (3)

Analyses of issues and case studies related to cleaning of the environment, finding and using resources, predicting and mitigating natural disasters, and understanding global change.

Water Planet

01:460:204 (3)

Survey of the science, environmental impact, and resource allocation of water on the Earth. Characteristics of water; hydrologic cycle; runoff and erosion; river systems; past and present climates; water quality; political and economic aspects of water.

Prof. Y. Rosenthal

Dinosaurs

01:460:206 (3)

Survey of dinosaurian evolution and diversity. Discovery and collection; reconstruction of anatomy, behavior, physiology, and habitats; origin, evolutionary radiation, and extinction.

Earth’s Resources and the Global Economy

01:460:207 (3)

Geological occurrence, exploration, production, and distribution of oil/gas, mineral ores, and interrelationships to world politics and the global economy. World events during the course will be tracked and evaluated as to impact on the supply and demand of oil, gas and mineral commodities.
Prerreqs: 460:100 or 460:101 suggested

Prof. M. Withjack
Prof B. Turrin

The Last 11,000 Years

01:460:208 (3)

Geologic events since the last ice age. Sea-level changes, volcanism, earthquakes, climatic change, erosional and depositional effects. Ancient record of events, myths

Staff

Exploration of the Oceans

01:460:209 (3)

Geological and geophysical exploration techniques; deep sea drilling; continental shelves; deep ocean basins; plate tectonics; coral reefs; offshore petroleum exploration; marine archaeological discoveries; Monitor, Titanic.

Earth and Life Through Time

01:460:212 (3)

Relationship between the development of continents and oceans, changes in sedimentary environments, and the evolution of life through time.  Designed for non-majors.

Planet Mars
(Mars, The Next Frontier)

01:460:222 (3)

Prerequisite
Planet Earth 01:460:100
and
Intro Geology 01:460:101
recommended, but not required

Planet Mars is the next frontier. Cross-disciplinary evidence for the formation and evolution of the planet over 4.56 billion years and the Martian climate system will be explored. Interpretation of Mars' surface from current and future space missions will be used to search for likely landing sites on the planet.

Prof. J. Delaney
Prof. G. Ashley

Geology of the Moons and Planets

01:460:224 (3)

Origin, composition, and evolution of the solar system, meteorites, comets, asteroids, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Saturn and its satellites, Uranus, and Neptune.

Mineralogy

01:460:301 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisites: 01:160:161-162

Introduction to crystallography, optics and crystal chemistry, systematics of rock-forming minerals. Laboratory: crystal chemical calculations, minerals in hand specimen and thin section.

Petrology

01:460:302 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: 01:460:301.

Geological setting, and origin of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Laboratory: hand specimens and thin sections of igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Paleontology

01:460:303 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: 01:460:101.

The principles of paleontology. Classification, relationships, and evolutionary history of invertebrate fossils. Laboratory study of morphology of invertebrates

Evolution and Geologic Time

01:460:305 (3)

Prerequisite: 01:460:101

Major events in the evolution of life on earth; evolutionary pattern and process through geologic time; relationship of macro- and microevolutionary theory.

Prof. M. Aubry

Structural Geology

01:460:307 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisites: 01:460:101,103, 301 and CALC2; Corequisite: 01:460:341.

Investigation of how rocks deform on various scales using field examples, results of scaled experimental modeling, and seismic-reflection profiles. Topics include: geometry and origin of brittle and ductile structures; strain, stress, and rheology; deformation mechanisms; introduction to tectonics and regional structural geology.

Prof. R. Schlische & Prof. M. Withjack

Sedimentary Geology

01:460:330 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3hrs. Prerequisite: 01:460:101. Credit not given for both this course and 01:460:340 or 341.

Interpretation of sedimentary rocks; their relation to depositional environment and processes. Analysis of sedimentary sequrences in time and space. Principles of correlation. 

Fundamentals of Mineralogy and Petrology

01:460:331 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: 01:460:101. Credit not given for both this course and 01:460:301 or 302.

Systematics of rock-forming minerals. Description, geologic setting, and origin of igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Sedimentology

01:460:340 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: 01:460:101.

Interpretation of sediments and sedimentary rocks, with emphasis on processes in recent sedimentary environments and their ancient analogs.

Stratigraphy

01:460:341 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisite: 01:460:340.

Analysis of sedimentary rocks of earth's crust; their distribution in time and space; principles of correlation. Interpretation of seismic reflection records.

Geology Colloquium

01:460:355,356 (1)

Lec. and discussions 1 hr.

New research in geology presented by visiting speakers and Rutgers scientists. For Geology majors and minors only.

Introduction to Geochemistry

01:460:401 (4)

Prerequisite: 01:460:301

Application of chemical principles and techniques to geologic problems. Geochemical structure of the earth, element distribution, Eh-Ph diagrams, and phase-equilibrium diagrams.

Ore Deposits

01:460:402 (3)

Prerequisite: 01:460:302.

Geomorphology

01:460:408 (3)

Lec. 3 hrs., field trips. Prerequisite: 01:460:101 or equivalent.

The evolution and classification of landforms and the processes involved in their development.

Field Geology

01:460:410 (3)

Lec. 1hr., lab. 6 hrs. Prerequisites: Structural Geology AND Stratigraphy or Sedimentary Geology; OR permission of instructor.

Prof. R. Schlische & Prof. M. Withjack

Geologic Field Methods

01:460:411 (2)

Lec. 1 hr., lab. 6 hrs. Prerequisites: 01:460:302,307, and 341; or permission of instructor

Introduction to geological mapping and related field investigations in the Fundy rift basin, maritime Canada; construction of geological maps and cross sections; interpretation of seismic-reflection profiles.

Prof. R. Schlische & Prof. M. Withjack

Introduction to Geophysics

01:460:412 (4)

Lec. 3 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Pre- or corequisites: 01:460:101 and 01:750:204, or permission of instructor

Principles of seismic exploration, refraction, reflection, deep earth seismology, gravity, magnetics, electrical surveys, heat flow. Application of geophysical techiques to the study of the subsurface

Hydrologic
Processes

01:460:414 (3)

Lec. 3 hrs., Prerequisites: 01:640:CALC2 and 01:750:204, or permission of the instructor

Introduction to physical principles of water cycling through the Earth's atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere, with emphasis on water storage, flux, and flow pathways among the various reservoirs near the land surface.

Environmental Geochemistry

01:460:417 (3)

Pre- or corequisites: 01:460:101, 01:160:162.

Distribution of elements in the sedimentary environment; behavior of trace metals in sediments and waters.

Geological Modeling

01:460:418 (3)

Pre- or corequisites: 01:460:301, 307, 340, and 341.

Computer techniques for collection, processing, interpretation, and presentation of geological and geophysical data. Computer-based modeling exercises in geologic and geophysical exploration and environment assessment.

Hydrogeology

01:460:428 (3)

Prerequisites: 01:640:CALC2, 01:750:204, and 01:460:101, or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to physical and chemical principles of fluid flow and mass transport through geologic media, with emphasis on quantitative characterization of groundwater systems.

Tectonics and Regional Structural Geology

01:460:429 (3)

Prerequisite: 01:460:307

Theories of tectonics, regional tectonotratigraphic analysis, development of the earth's Phanerozoic orogens.

The Quaternary Period

01:460:434 (3)

Lec. 3 hrs., field trips. Prerequisite: 01:460:101 or equivalent.

The last 2 1/2 milllion years has been a time of climate change. The course includes methods used to determine time and extent of continental-scale ice sheets; history of sea level change and appearance of land bridges; animal migrations; peopling of the New World; and paleo indians of New Jersey.

Marine Geology

01:460:451 (3)

Prerequisite: 01:460:341

Structure and oceanographic setting, marine sediments, evolution of ocean basins and margins.

Paleoecology

01:460:453 (3)

Prerequisites: 01:460:303 and 341, or permission of instructor.

Evolution in an ecological context: analysis of ancient living systems; evolution of marine ecosystems in geologic time. 

History of the Earth System

01:460:476 (3)

Prerequisites:  Introductory Chemistry,  Biology and Physics (or by permission of the Instructor).

Integration of atmospheric,  oceanographic,  geological and biological concepts with an historical perspective to introduce the major processes that have shaped Earth's environment; climatic processes on geological time scales; the evolution of organisms; the cycling of elements; the feedbacks between these processes. 

Independent Studies in Geology

01:460:493,94 (3)

Prerequisites: Minimum 3.0 cumulative and geology grade-point averages. Adviser's approval required for registration

Topic of study chosen in consultation with a faculty adviser.

Honors in Geology

01:460:495,96 (3)

Both terms must be completed to receive credit. See Departmental Honors Program.

Research project chosen in consultation with a faculty adviser.

Economic Geology

16:460:501 (S)

Prerequisite: 01:460:401 or 402 or equivalent.

Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits, including studies of alteration, ore mineral solubility, fluid inclusions, mass transfer, and stable and radiogenic isotopes.

Studies in Paleontology

16:460:503 (F)

Prerequisites: 01:460:303, 341, or equivalent.

Topics include methods and case studies in systematics, evolution and extinction, paleogeography, paleoclimate, and other topics of current interest. Emphasis on the relationship between geological and biological processes.

Sedimentary Geology

16:460:505 (F)

Prerequisites: 01:460:340, 341.

Topics of current interdisciplinary research in sedimentary geology. Sequence stratigraphy, facies models, sea-level change, unconformities/hiatuses, tectonics, climate change, evolution, mass extinctions.

Prof. G. Ashley, Prof. K. Miller, Prof. G. McGhee

Structure and Formation of the Earth

16:460:506 (S)

Prerequisites: 01:460:302, 307, 401, or permission of instructor.

Prof. M. Feigenson, Prof. C. Herzberg, Prof. R. Hewins

Geodynamics

16:460:507 (S)

Prerequisites: 01:460:307, 312.

Topics of current research in structural geology, geophysics, and tectonics. Deformation of the crust and mantle; convection in the mantle and core; the gravity and magnetic field of the earth; plate tectonics and the origin of earthquakes and volcanoes.

Prof. P. Rona, and Prof. V. Levin

Mineral Phase Relations

16:460:508 (F)

Prerequisite: 01:460:302.

Free-energy diagrams and phase diagrams, equilibrium and kinetics, nucleation theory, undercooling, diffusion. Major groups of rock-forming minerals; comparison of laboratory data and theoretical models with assemblages, compositions, and morphologies actually observed in slowly cooled and rapidly cooled rocks.

Meteoritics

16:460:509 (F)

Prerequisite: 01:460:302

Petrology and geochemistry of meteorites, origin of solar system, thermal history of asteroids.

Petrology

16:460:511 (S)

Prerequisites: 01:460:301,302, or equivalent.

Basic principles of thermodynamics applied to solid-solid and solid-liquid equilibria in silicate systems; igneous and metamorphic processes that structured the petrology of the earth's crust and mantle through time.

Metamorphic Petrology

16:460:512 (S)

Prerequisites: 01:460:301,302, or equivalent.

Principles of thermodynamics applied to the stabilities of mineral assemblages in meta-igneous and meta-sedimentary rocks of the earth's crust; fluids in the crust; metamorphism and plate tectonics.

Volcanology

16:460:513 (S)

Prerequisite: 01:460:302 or equivalent.

Geologic settings of volcanos; geophysical and geochemical constraints on the origin of magmas; energetics and periodicity; volcanos and earthquakes; eruption mechanisms; volcanic hazards and prediction; geothermal power and volcanogenic ore deposits. 

Depositional Environments

16:460:514 (S)

Prerequisite: 01:460:340 or equivalent.

Examination of clastic depositional environments, with emphasis on sedimentary processes. Sediment sampling and analyzing; sedimentary structures; grain characteristics; facies models.

Advanced Tectonics

16:460:515 (F)

Prerequisite: Structural geology.

Examination of (1) the diversity of structural styles and tectonic settings worldwide using outcrop, well, and seismic data; (2) the results of geometric and experimental modeling; and (3) restoration techniques.

Advanced Structural Geology

16:460:516 (F)

Lec. 2 hrs., lab. 3 hrs. Prerequisites: Structural geology, two terms of calculus, linear algebra.

Advanced topics in structural geology including: extensional tectonics, fracture mechanics, fault-population systematics, and practical structural geology (seismic expression of structural styles, analogue modeling of geologic structures, and restoration of geologic structures).

Mesozoic-Cenozoic Stratigraphy

16:460:519 (F)

Prerequisite: 01:460:341

Study of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic stratigraphic sequences in different basinal settings and relationship to tectonic history.

Marine Sedimentology

16:460:525 (S)

Prerequisite: 01:460:340 or equivalent.

Examination of the physical processes of sedimentation on the continental shelf and continental slope environments. The interrelationship between organisms and sediment as well as environmental problems.

Paleoceanography

16:460:526 (F)

Prerequisite: Paleontology.

Paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and paleogeography of marine microfossils; study of major paleoceanographic events and their relationships to stratigraphy and sedimentary facies.

Prof. K. Miller, Prof. J. Wright

Groundwater Modeling

16:460:528 (F)

Prerequisite: 460:428 (Hydrogeology) or equivalent.

Procedures of setting up a numerical model of groundwater flow and transport using Visual Modflow and GMS Femwater.

Evolutionary Paleoecology

16:460:538 (S)

Prerequisite: 01:460:303 or equivalent.

Seminar on the evolution of ecological systems in geologic time; application of evolutionary theory to paleoecological patterns and processes.

Marine Geology

16:460:541 (F)

Prerequisite: 01:460:341.

Structure and evolution of ocean basins, continental margins, and marine sediments.

Prof. K. Miller, Prof. J. Wright

Isotope Geochemistry

16:460:551 (S)

Prerequisite: 01:460:401 or equivalent

Studies of stable and radiogenic isotopes in the earth's mantle and crust. The use of isotopes in age dating, source tracing, and geothermometry.

Geophysics I

16:460:555 (F)

Prerequisites: 01:460:307, 01:640:252, 01:750:204, or permission of instructor

Theory and application of seismic refraction, seismic reflection, deep earth seismology, surface waves, and heat flow. Collection and interpretation of seismic data.

Geophysics II

16:460:556 (F)

Prerequisites: 01:460:307, 01:640:252, 01:750:204, or permission of instructor

Theory and application of gravity, magnetics, paleomagnetics, and electrical prospecting. Measurement and interpretation of potential field anomalies.

Numerical Methods in Paleoecology

16:460:560 (S)

Prerequisite: Calculus and statistics, or permission of instructor

Digital computational methods for paleoecologists and paleontologists; measurement systems and data transformation; statistics; discrete association and gradient analytic techniques for paleoecological research. Emphasis on applied data analysis.

Studies in Micropaleontology

16:460:561 (F)

Prerequisites: 01:460:303, 341

Paleoecology and biostratigraphy of foraminifera; identification and interpretation of microscopic organic remains in rocks and sediments.

Advanced Studies in Geology (BA,BA)16:460:601,602

• SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY 
• EXTENSIONAL TECTONICS 
• FRACTURE MECHANICS 

Seminar in Geology (BA)

16:460:611

Research in Geology (BA,BA)

16:460:701,702

Quaternary Studies Seminar

16:841:501

A multidisciplinary (geology, geography, biology, meteorology, oceanography, paleontology and soils) course focused on specific questions or problems related to the Quaternary time period.