Undergraduate Course: Antarctica: Development of a Continent and its context in Rodian and Gondwana (EASC10072)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Earth Science |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | (a) Overview of East and West Antarctica:
Geography, features and geology. Its place in Gondwana
(b) The East Antarctic Shield
Evolution and significance for the context of Antarctica in pre-Rodinian continental reconstructions
550-500 Ma Pan-African orogenesis. The Ross Orogen.
Impacts for Rodinia and the amalgamation of Gondwana.
(c) The Trans-Antarctic Mountains and West Antarctica:
Palaeozoic-Mesozoic evolution.
Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanism, uplift and Ross Sea rifting.
The record of fore-arc, arc and back-arc systems in West Antarctica
(d) Breakup of Gondwana:
The Antarctic marine record, microplate rotations and other effects in the Pacific - Atlantic sector.
(e) Glaciation and recent climate change:
Eocene and post-Eocene glaciation and its longer-term record. The shorter-term record from slected parts of the EAS. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This is a level 10 option course that is available only to those students who have previously passed the third year (junior honours year) in Geology, Geology & Physical Geography or Geology & Geophysics.
Required pre-requisite courses are at least 3 from the following list:
Structural Geology (EASC09002);
Chemical Geology (EASC09009);
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (EASC09008);
Geology and Landscapes (EASC10079); and
Sedimentology (EASC09037).
In exceptional cases, by agreement with the Course Organiser, the course may be available to other Geoscience and Visiting Students who have appropriate levels of attainment in relevant courses |
| Additional Costs | None. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2014/15 Block 3 (Sem 2), Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Learn enabled: No |
Quota: 24 |
|
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Class Delivery Information |
5-6 sessions of lectures / presentations, followed by a gap during which students develop theier seminar work and literature reveiws, then followed by 2 or more student-led seminar presentations. |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2015 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 15,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
70 )
|
| Additional Notes |
very good value for the hours provided!
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. To develop a thorough understanding of the principal aspects and the significance of Antarctic geology: its geological evolution from the Archaean to the present, its Gondwanan and Rodinian contexts and its Cenozoic glacial record.
2. To develop an appreciation of the significance of geological information from Antarctica in constraining models for past continental configurations and the processes of supercontinent formation and break-up.
3. To research and develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of one particular aspect of Antarctica geology which will be supplemented by information sourced from relevant published literature.
4. To develop formal presentation skills on a chosen specialised topic to an informed audience during which the knowledge presented will be in a critical fashion and where information is limited, reasonable judgements will be made.
5. To be able to work with others to develop a coherent and thorough overview and analysis of a theme within the spectrum of those embraced by the course. |
Assessment Information
Written Exam: 0%, Course Work: 100 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
Assessment is based on two items of course work:
1. A seminar topic presentation (40% total), in which the student presents a component of a broad thematic topic in the course. The assessment includes a group mark based on the overall clarity, connectivity and coverage of the group in dealing with the topic (20%), and a mark generated from the student¿s distinctive individual contribution to the presentation of the overall topic (20%) as presented by the group.
2. An extended abstract (60%) written on the subject of the student¿s seminar (i.e. an aspect of the overall topic/theme dealt with by his/her group) or a related subject with the approval of the CO. The extended abstract is to be no more than 4 A4 sides long, including diagrams and references. It is to be presented in a format appropriate for submission to a conference, following conference guidelines as distributed to the class by the CO early in the course. The CO (after the end of the academic year) compiles the set of such extended abstracts to produce a ¿Conference Volume¿ for distribution to the students on graduation. |
Special Arrangements
| Students do not need to provide their own ice axes |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
An advanced course leading to an in-depth understanding of the most remote and significant continent on our planet |
| Syllabus |
1. Overview of East and West Antarctica:
Geography, features and geology. Its place in Gondwana
2. The East Antarctic Shield
Evolution and significance for the context of Antarctica in pre-Rodinian continental reconstructions.
550-500 Ma Pan-African orogenesis.
The Ross Orogen.
Impacts for Rodinia and the amalgamation of Gondwana.
3. The Trans-Antarctic Mountains and West Antarctica:
Palaeozoic-Mesozoic evolution.
Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanism, uplift and Ross Sea rifting.
The record of fore-arc, arc and back-arc systems in West Antarctica
4. Breakup of Gondwana:
The Antarctic marine record, microplate rotations and other effects in the Pacific & Atlantic sector.
5. Glaciation and recent climate change:
Eocene and post-Eocene glaciation and its longer-term record. The shorter-term record from selected parts of the EAS.
|
| Transferable skills |
Seminar Presentations
Group work on thematic seminar topics
Concentration skills
Penguin Appreciation |
| Reading list |
This is given during the course.
A key reference, however, will be:
Harley, S.L., Fitzsimons, I.C.W. & Zhao, Y., 2013. Antarctica and supercontinent evolution: historical perspectives, recent advances and unresolved issues. In (Harley, S.L., Fitzsimons, I.C.W. & Zhao, Y. eds.) Antarctica and Supercontinent Evolution. Special Publications Geological Society of London. Volume 383. |
| Study Abroad |
None |
| Study Pattern |
Reading and review of papers in concert with and following presentation by the Professor of the principal geological terranes and features of Antarctica.
Then directed, themee-specific reading and synthesis of paprs relating to the seminar topics, done in collaboratoin with student colleagues. |
| Keywords | Antarctica Rodinia Gondwana geological evolution metamorphism mountain building amalgamation |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Simon Harley
Tel: (0131 6)50 8547
Email: s.harley@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ken O'Neill
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: koneill3@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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