Sedimentology and Stratigraphy: Spring 2014
Kent State University Department of Geology

Catalog Numbers:	Undergrad Geol 44070 (Sections 1&2) Graduate   Geol 54070 (Sections 1&2)	Registrar's Call Numbers	Undergrad Section 1: 13549                     Section 2: 13550 Graduate   Section 1:  13557                    Section 2:  13558
Lecture: (Sections 1&2 combined )	MW 9:15 – 10:30 am McGilvrey Hall 234 (Unless otherwise noted)	Lab:	Section 1: T: 11:00 - 12:40 pm Section 2: T: 2:15 - 3:55 pm McGilvrey 116 (Unless otherwise noted)
Instructor:	Dr. Joseph D. Ortiz	Graduate TAs:	Mr. Kevin Engle Mr. Chenjian “Bruce” Fu
Office:	McGilvrey Hall Room 334/336	Offices:	Engle: McGilvrey 208 Fu: McGilvrey 137
Phone: FAX: Email:	330-672-2225 330-672-7949 jortiz	Emails:	kengle1 cfu3
Mailbox:	Dept. of Geology McGilvrey 221	Mailboxes:	Dept. of Geology McGilvrey 221
Web:	http://www.personal.kent.edu/~jortiz/	TA Office Hours:	Engle: Wed. 10-2 pm; Fri 10-12 pm Fu: Wed. and Thurs. 12:30 - 3:30 pm
Instructor's Office Hours	M: 1:30-2:15 pm; W: 10:00-12:00 am, R: 1:30-3:30 pm; F: 10:30-12:00; or by appointment.	Geology Tutoring Lab McGilvrey Hall Room 303	(Begins third week of term)

Text:

• Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, (Fifth Edition), by Sam Boggs, Jr., Prentice Hall, 2012,

         ISBN-13 978-0-321-64318-6.
         (Note: You may find a third or fourth edition of the text, but there are considerable differences as described here.)

• Handouts and selected readings as assigned during the term.

Course Rationale and Learning Outcomes: The record of Earth's history is writ large in its sedimentary strata. Unraveling the contents of this great book requires specific geological skills and a considerable amount of detective work. Students in this upper level course will be introduced to the systematics of sedimentary rocks and the processes by which they form, erode, and are transformed by early diagenesis. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the underlying principles of sedimentation and their controls on various temporal and spatial scales. A variety of environments will be studied so that the results of these processes can be recognized in the field. In addition to classical approaches, special note will be made of new techniques used in high-resolution sedimentological research, particularly non-invasive sediment logging methods (e.g. Diffuse Spectral Reflectance) and geochemical stratigraphy (e.g. δ¹⁸O of biogenic calcite). These techniques are employed by the instructor as part of his active research. Lectures will be integrated with weekly labs and at least two required field trips.

Topics to be covered:
•    Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks – genesis, types, distribution, and alteration
•    Siliciclastic versus biogenic sedimentation
•    Clastic transport and fluid flow
•    Lithostratigraphy and facies relationships
•    Sedimentary environments: Terrestrial, coastal, marine
•    Geochronology and Chronostratigraphy
•    High resolution stratigraphic methods (e.g. core and well logging, chemostratigraphy)
•    Sequence Stratigraphy

Prerequisites and Suggested Courses: Earth Materials II (GEOL 31070), and Invertebrate Paleontology (GEOL 34061), or permission of the instructor. Completion of Geomorphology (GEO32066) before enrolling in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy is highly encouraged. Students are also expected to be familiar with Excel spreadsheet functions and quantitative analysis of data using cell formulas. Training in the use of Excel is provided Scientific Methods in Geology (GEOL 42035),through the Geology tutoring lab (see above) or the KSU library 60-minute seminar series. While this class provides excellent preparation Geology Summer Field Camp (GEOL 4/5092), many students complete Field Camp prior to talking Sedimentology and Stratigraphy due to various scheduling constraints.

Academic Counseling Resources for Students

Accommodations for Students with Special Needs

Class Related Links
Class Schedule, Reading Assignments, and Online Notes	Grading Policy
Course KSU Dropbox Site:  https://dropbox.kent.edu/login.cfm?id=2956	Exam Study Questions
Academic Calendar (Spring term)
Download PDF of Class Syllabus	Turbidity Current Lab Videos
Just for Fun
Careers in Geology	Sedimentology and Stratigraphy related Weblinks

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