Undergraduate Course: Cyprus Excursion and Synoptic Practical for Geology and Physical Geographers (EASC10069)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course consists of three elements, namely:
1. A 2 week field course in Cyprus that focuses on the geology and geomorphology of the Island. This component integrates all the bedrock geology including the outstanding Ophiolite sequence that records the igneous and sedimentary record of oceanic crust. The timing of deformational, sedimentary and geomorphic processes is placed in the regional tectonic context of the eastern Mediterranean. Prior to the field course, the students attend 8 lectures that document the geological history of the island.
2. An half day of lectures and practical work based around understanding eustatic versus local relative sea-level change, glacio-eustacy, and the formation of terraces. This is followed by a GIS exercise and topographic analysis of Cyprus in relation to its geology. This component runs prior to the field course and enables students to consider how topographic characteristics such as elevation, relief and long river profiles relate to bedrock geology and relative uplift of the island. This component links closely to the final two days fieldwork of the trip where the river and marine terraces are analysed.
3. A Synoptic Practical exam that covers a broad range of topics analysed in the context of a particular region (not Cyprus). The Examination will involve defining, interpreting and synthesising the geological and/or geomorphological history and evolution of an area given in a geological or other map. The area, and map, may be either real or imaginary. Cross-sections, stratigraphic logs, structural information and sub-area maps may form additional material to aid in the interpretation. Rock samples, thin and polished sections, polished slabs and photographs may also provided to form the basis of sub-sections of the paper in which you are asked to give more specific and detailed answers (e.g. on, for example, sedimentary environments, geomorphological history). Note that (unless otherwise informed) you will be expected to have retained an elementary working knowledge of mineralogy and igneous and metamorphic geology and petrography to the level of a successful Geology 2 student, as the practical is intended to test your overall geological skills. A full 'dry run' Synoptic Practical exercise, based on an actual exam given in a previous year, is run after the Easter vacation, but before the exam. The material will be available for several days, and then we will meet for a feedback and discussion session. |
| Course description |
Not entered
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 3,
Fieldwork Hours 100,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
80 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 15%, Course Work: 60 %, Practical Exam: 25%.
1) The Geological Evolution of Cyprus fieldtrip run by Alastair Robertson (50% of course).
This is broken down as follows.
A) An extended abstract (2 sides of A4) on a topic concerning Cyprus geology, submitted prior to departure (7%).
B) A short (2 sides of A4) report which presents the field observations and interpretations bearing directly upon the subject of the original abstract and sets that paper in the wider context of Cyprus geology (10.5%).
C) The field notebook covering the work in Cyprus (17.5%).
D) A 1 hour examination in the May diet (15%).
2) Terrace exercise from the last 2 Geomorphological field days (12.5% of course).
This requires the students to draft a figure summarising the sedimentology and geomorphology of the region north of the Troodos Massif.
3) A GIS laboratory exercise that analyses the link between geology and geomorphology on Cyprus (12.5% of course).
4) Synoptic Practical run by Hugh Sinclair (25% of course).
The Synoptic Practical Exam is 3 hours in duration, excluding a half an hour allowed for initial analysis of the materials given. THIS IS AN OPEN-BOOK EXAM. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 1:00 | | | Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- An understanding of how numerous sub-disciplines within the geosciences such as igneous geology, sedimentology, structural geology and geomorphology integrate to determine the present form of a region.
- An understanding of the nature of geological debate in the interpretation of a region.
- A confidence in geological and geomorphological observation and interpretation of a region.
- An understanding of oceanic processes and their preservation during continental collision.
- An understanding of the sedimentary characteristics of terraces and their use in interpreting recent tectonic motions.
An ability to appraise and integrate large and seemingly disparate datasets.
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Reading List
| Poole, A. J., and A. H. F. Robertson. "Quaternary uplift and sea-level change at an active plate boundary, Cyprus." Journal of the Geological Society 148.5 (1991): 909-921. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Cyprus_gpg |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Hugh Sinclair
Tel: (0131 6)50 5931
Email: Hugh.Sinclair@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ken O'Neill
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: koneill3@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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