2013-2014 Graduate Catalog

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

GEOL 510 Groundwater Geology

Groundwater in the geologic setting. Hydrology of groundwater basins. Well hydraulics. Principles of flow in saturated and unsaturated materials. Modeling of hydrogeologic systems. Applications to groundwater contamination and management problems.

2

GEOL 515 Ore Geology

Prerequisite:  GEOL 202.  Overview of what ore is and how it is formed, techniques of finding and extracting ore, plus environmental impacts of extracting ore.  Case studies of well known mines.

3

GEOL 521 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

(2 lecture, 4 laboratory) Prerequisite: GEOL 320. Description and classification of igneous and metamorphic rocks in hand sample and in thin section. Includes a study of the genesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks via phase diagrams and chemical reactions.

4

GEOL 540 Paleontology

(3 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: GEOL 202. Study of fossils including taxonomy, systematics, taphonomy, functional morphology, paleoecology, biostratigraphy, extinction, evolutionary trends and major events in the history of life. Labs review major fossil groups. Field trips required.

4

GEOL 545 Vertebrate Paleontology

Prerequisite: GEOL 202 or permission of instructor. A survey of the evolution of vertebrates through geologic time, emphasizing major events in the history of vertebrates. Includes field trips and methods of fossil collection, preparation, and curation.

3

GEOL 550 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

(3 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: GEOL 202. Sedimentary processes; depositional environments; classification and structures of sedimentary rocks; field and laboratory methods of analyzing and interpreting outcrops and samples. Regional stratigraphy of northeastern Colorado investigated. Field trips required.

4

GEOL 560 Geomorphology

(2 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: GEOL 100 or GEOL 201. Origin and evolution of landforms emphasizing fluvial processes, hydraulic characteristics of streams, morphology of drainage basins, landscape evolution by stream sculpture and deposition and lithologic, climatic and structural controls.

3

GEOL 564 Glacial and Quaternary Geology

Prerequisite: GEOL 100 or GEOL 201. A survey of geologic phenomena that characterized the Quaternary Period, with emphasis on the behavior of glaciers, glacial landforms and sediment and climatic implications. Two Saturday field trips required.

3

GEOL 567 Volcanic Geology

(2 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: GEOL 202 or consent of instructor. A study of volcanoes and volcanic processes and products. Emphasis on the origin, classification and interpretation of volcanic rocks and ejecta and volcanic structures and landforms.

3

GEOL 570 Structural Geology

(3 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisites: GEOL 202. Mechanics of rock deformation and geologic structures of the earth's crust – their description and classification, theories and facts regarding their origins and methods of investigating them. Field trips required.

4

GEOL 581 Geologic Field Techniques

(4 laboratory) Prerequisites: GEOL 450, GEOL 470. Techniques of obtaining and recording geological data in the field and constructing geological maps. Includes use of Brunton compass, topographic maps, aerial photographs, geographic information systems, and the preparation of geological reports.

2

GEOL 590 Rocky Mountain Geology Seminar

Consent of instructor. Geology of selected Rocky Mountain area thoroughly investigated by means of four-day field trip to that area followed by seminar presentations on topics relevant to geology of specified area.

2

GEOL 622 Directed Studies

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.) Repeatable, maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

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