GEO 345 Geology of the Bahamas
Fall 2019
Instructor: Dr.
Diana Boyer
e-mail: boyerd@winthrop.edu
Office: 212B
Sims
Meeting times: W 2-3:15 In Sims 201
plus
12 day field component from Dec 30, 2019-Jan 10, 2020
Office Hours: Tues
9:0-11 and by appointment
Course Goals: This course will provide
you with a unique opportunity to explore modern carbonate deposition and
directly compare it with ancient carbonate rocks. The physical juxtaposition
allows detailed comparison and will provide a more complete understanding of
processes and how they are translated into the rock record. From this course,
you will be able to identify and describe a range of carbonate sediments and
relate them back to depositional environments. This course will also have a
service component in which you will explore the variety of anthropogenic waste
accumulated on the beaches of San Salvador and the impact of this on the ocean.
You will also leave this course with an understanding of the early settlement
of the island and the impact that the geology had on its inhabitants.
Text: Readings will be posted on Blackboard
Equipment: Detailed list of equipment for the field portion of the trip
will be provided and discussed in detail before travel.
Attendance: Being in class for every
class period is required. Attendance is also directly correlated with
performance in this class. If you do need to miss class for any reason, please
email me ahead of time with details of why you will miss class. I will do the
same.
Code of conduct: Because this course
requires international travel, you will not only be representing Winthrop
University, but also the United States, so I will expect everyone to act
accordingly. In the class room and
especially in the field we will treat each other with respect and stay engaged
in the required tasks.
Grading:This course is S/U. C- and greater earns an S
and D+ and lower a U.
In-class summary paper 25%
Participation 35%
Final field project 15%
Field notebook 25%
In-class summary paper-after some background
research in class, students will pick a research topic from the Gerace Research Station publications and complete a 3-5
paper summarizing and evaluating the research.
You will also give an in-class presentation on their findings at the end
of the semester.
Participation- Participation is essential
in this course both in the class and in the field. Students will be expected to participate in
discussions in class and this will contribute toward 15% of the final
grade. Once in the field students will
be expected to do more than show up for activities, but to be a real
contributor to real time research.
Demonstration of continued engagement and participation through careful
observations, asking relevant questions, contributing to discussions with other
students and faculty, complete assignments in the lab in the evenings, as well
as showing enthusiasm and collegiality will make up the other 20% of this
portion of the grade. Faculty will
provide continuous oral feed-back in the field towards these goals.
Final field project-From the numerous lines of
original data collected, students will be asked to complete a summary of
surface processes in the field. This short
written analysis will be the culmination of 12 day’s worth
of work and reflection and will demonstrate the students’ understanding of data
interpretation and the dynamics of the San Salvador system.
Field notebook-Students will be required to
keep a field notebook in the field. We
will learn how to take detailed and relevant notes and sketches in the
field. Students will be graded on the
quality and completeness of their observations and notes.
University Level Competencies: Students in Geol 345 will
fulfill Winthrop:
ULC
#1: Winthrop graduates think critically and solve problems. Winthrop University graduates reason
logically, evaluate and use evidence, and solve problems. They seek
out and assess relevant information from multiple viewpoints to form
well-reasoned conclusions. Winthrop graduates consider the full
context and consequences of their decisions and continually reexamine their own
critical thinking process, including the strengths and weaknesses of their
arguments.
Geol 345
students will have unique opportunities inside the classroom and in the field to
reason logically, evaluate and use evidence, and solve problems related to Geology
and surface processes. They will be assessed on their ability to reach
well-reasoned conclusions based on scientific evidence, often original data
collected by the students. Students will be able to access data from many sourses (primary data collection, popular media, primary
literature) and form well-reasoned conclusions based on detailed analysis of
these sources.
ULC #4: Winthrop graduates
Communicate effectively. Winthrop University graduates communicate in a manner
appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience. They create texts –
including but not limited to written, oral, and visual presentations – that
convey content effectively. Mindful of their voice and the impact of their
communication, Winthrop graduates successfully express and exchange ideas.
Geol 345students
will communicate in small group discussions, produce written summaries of arguments
(their own and others) in short and longer format, as well as using audio and
visual equipment. Students will also give oral presentations to report on previous
research in the Bahamas and prepare a video for a popular audience on trash in
the ocean.
Students with Disabilities/Need of
Accommodations for Access: Winthrop University is committed to providing access to education.
If you have a condition which may adversely impact your ability to access
academics and/or campus life, and you require specific accommodations to
complete this course, contact the Office of Accessibility (OA) at 803-323-3290,
or, accessibility@winthrop.edu. Please inform me as early
as possible, once you have your official notice of accommodations from the
Office of Accessibility.
The
below schedule is subject to change:
|
Lecture Topics |
Aug 21 |
Introduction
to the Bahamas, where are they and what are they made of? |
Aug 28 |
Introduction
to sedimentology |
Sept 4 |
Field
Geology and sedimentary structures |
Sept 11 |
Carbonate
environments |
Sept 18 |
Stratigraphy
, measuring a section, field notebooks |
Sept 25 |
Reefs
and reef organisms |
Oct 2 |
Discussion
of San Salvador research |
Oct 9 |
Grain
size and descriptions |
Oct 16 |
Ocean
Acidification |
Oct 23 |
Trash
in the oceans |
Oct 30 |
Plastic
in the waters |
Nov 6 |
San
Salvador research |
Nov 13 |
Presentations |
Nov 22 |
No Class Thanksgiving |
Dec 5 |
Final
prep for trip |
|
|
Tentative
schedule of activities on San Salvador-subject to change with weather and mood.
Morning |
Afternoon |
Night |
||
12/30 |
Day 1 |
|
Arrive |
Overview lecture |
12/31 |
Day 2 |
North point beach |
Dump Reef/East beach |
Grain size lecture |
1/1 |
Day 3 |
Monument Beach |
Sue Point |
Analyze data, project
brainstorm |
1/2 |
Day 4 |
East beach |
East Beach/ trash |
Reef zonation, Critters and guilds lecture |
1/3 |
Day 5 |
Boat trip to Gaulin
reef |
Rocky Point |
Abstract of shell project and what you
learned, predictions |
1/4 |
Day 6 |
Fossil reef |
walk in town |
Facies lecture, abstract comparing modern and
recent |
1/5 |
Day 7 |
Church |
Ruins-fountain Hill/Light house |
Blue planet |
1/6 |
Day 8 |
Grotto beach |
Grotto beach-stratigraphic sections |
Data processing |
1/7 |
Day 9 |
French Bay |
Return to East Beach |
Data processing |
1/8 |
Day 10 |
Telephone reef |
Sue Point/ trace fossils |
Combined beach profile and histograms of
means |
1/9 |
Day 11 |
Data synthesis |
North Point hike |
Out to dinner |
1/10 |
Day 12 |
Depart |
|
|