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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Evolution of the Modern Earth and Cyprus Excursion for Geologists (EASC10121)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryEvolution of the modern earth from Recent back to Palaeozoic time, with emphasis on continental margins and ocean basins, supported by a field trip the classic geology of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Course description The course during semester 2 consists of three closely related and integrated parts, which build on information given in previous courses. The lectures are planned to be live in the lecture theatre.

Part 1 Thematic lectures. This consists of a series of c. 14 thematic, process-orientated lectures related to the evolution of the earth, mostly during Palaeozoic to Recent time. The course will integrate information from a wide range of subjects including sedimentology, tectonics and magmatism. The lectures will particularly consider fundamental processes related to the evolution of continents and ocean basins on a global basis, making extensive use of the results of academic ocean drilling and classic areas of on-land geology. The lectures will explain well researched fundamental processes (lectures 1-10) and will also exemplify development and testing of alternative hypotheses (lectures 11-14).
Part 2 Fundamental principles will be illustrated with specific geological case histories related to the thematic lectures (Part 1). These sessions will also constitute the discussion and feedback for the course. There will also be up to seven preparatory lectures/discussion sessions on the geology of Cyprus and other related information. You will also study c. up to 30 thin sections of key rock types from Cyprus and make summary descriptions of some of these for reference in the field.
Part 3 Cyprus field excursion for 2 weeks in April (compulsory). The fieldtrip will include two days dedicated to GPG topics. The dates will be advised when confirmed but it is likely that we will leave soon after block 4 teaching ends.
Assessments. 1) A two-page extended abstract of a paper related to Cyprus geology (chosen by yourself from a list of suitable papers), followed by a two-page synopsis of a related aspect of Cyprus geology that you studied in the field. This will be assessed together with the extended abstract submitted in semester 1; 2. Your field notebook after the field excursion. Anyone unable to go to Cyprus will prepare and submit an essay on Cyprus geology that will replace the extended abstracts and the field notebook assessment; 3. Degree exam in May concerning Part 1 (synoptic lectures).
Coursework: 25%
Exam (2 hour): 75%

***Field course locations may change for a variety of reasons, including security risks, increased costs or inability to access field locations. Any changes to the main destination of the field course will be announced as soon as possible.***
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Global Tectonics and the Rock Cycle (EASC08020) AND Palaeontology and Sedimentology (EASC10106) AND Structural Analysis of Rocks and Regions (SARR) (EASC09052) AND Field Skills for Geology (EASC10105)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesMust have taken similar courses as pre-requisites. Acceptance into the course will be on CO discretion.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 24, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Fieldwork Hours 80, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 77 )
Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) Note: combination may vary
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 75 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam 75 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 0 %

Coursework: 25%
Exam: 75%

Coursework:
1. Extended abstract related to paper (5%) and post-excursion two page summary of chosen topic -5% i.e. total 10%
3. Cyprus notebook, including thin section petrographic summaries-15%

Assessment deadlines.Pre-excursion abstract - SEM 2 12:00 noon Thursday week 11

Post-excursion abstract - SEM 2 12:00 noon Monday week 15

Notebook Hand in: Semester 2 May Diet (soon after the degree exam)
Written Exam: Semester 2 May Exam Diet

Students must attain an overall mark of 40% (or above) to pass the course.
Feedback 1. Course discussion seminars on Mondays.
2. Peer and staff feedback related to student presentations during Cyprus excursion;
3. Individual feedback by staff on Cyprus extended abstracts and notebooks.
5. Individual (by staff) and group feedback and discussion during the field excursions.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/exams/regulations/common-marking-scheme
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Evolution of the Modern Earth and Cyprus Excursion for Geologists3:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Taking students to the research frontier in selected topics;
  2. Synthesis and integration across subject boundaries;
  3. Consolidation of rock recognition and petrographic skills;
  4. Learning to present and discuss geological information in a field context;
  5. Preparation for post-graduation life in the professional world.
Reading List
You are expected to study a minimum of two recommended papers for each lecture topic, as in the list below (most will be on LEARN).
You will also be supplied with appropriate reference material for the study of Cyprus geology, especially the field guide.

Suggested references for semester 2 lecture course:


1. A Robertson: Sedimentation-Early rift phase
Gawthorpe, R.L., Leeder, M.R., 2000. Tectono-sedimentary evolution of active extensional basins. Basin Research 12, 195-218.
Tucholke, B.E., Sawyer, D.S., Sibuet, J.-C., 2007. Break-up of the Newfoundland-Iberia rift. In Karner, G.D. et al. (eds). Imaging, Mapping and Modelling Continental Lithosphere Extension and Breakuo Geological Society, London Special Publication 292, 9-46.

2. A Robertson: Rift and passive margin sedimentation
Larsen, H.C., 2005. Investigations of rifted margins. JOIDES Journal 85-90.
Manatschal, G., Müntener, O., Lavier, L.L., Misshull, T.A., Peron-Pinvidic, G., 2007. Observations from thee Alpine Tethys and the Iberia-Newfoundland margins pertinent to the interpretation of continental breakup. In Karner, G.D. et al. (eds). Imaging, Mapping and Modelling Continental Lithosphere Extension and Breakuo Geological Society, London Special Publication 292, 291-324.

3. A. Robertson Sedimentation on mature passive margins
Reading H.G. Ed. Sedimentary Environments and Facies, Blackwell, 3rd edit,
Ch, Deep Seas, Stow et al. p, 395-451.
Einsele, G. Sedimentary Basins, Springer-Verlag Ch 5 Oceanic sediments 177-231
Note-In library; copies in dungeon or see AHFR

4. Robertson: British Mid-ocean Ridge project and oceanic crust.
Humphries, S., 2002. Altered rock and seafloor massive sulphide deposits: the record of hydrothermal processes. JOIDES Journal, 28, No 1, 67-72
J. A. Pearce., 2002. The Oceanic Lithosphere. JOIDES Journal, 28, No 1, 61-66.

5. G. Fitton: Large igneous provinces
Coffin, M.F. & O. Eldholm (1994) Large igneous provinces: crustal structure, dimensions, and external consequences, Reviews of Geophysics, 32, 1-36.
Wignall, P.B., (2001) Large igneous provinces and mass extinctions. Earth-Science Reviews 53, 1 33.

6. A Robertson: Arc-trench sedimentation
Plank, T., 2002. Subduction factory input and output JOIDES Journal, 28, No 1, 73-77.
Moore, C. and Silver, E., 2002. Fluid flow in accreting and eroding convergent margins. Journal, 28, No 1, 91-96. (given out in class)

7. A. Robertson: Backarc and fore-arc basins
Underwood, M B and others, l995. Sedimentation in forearc basins, trenches and collision zones, of the western Pacific: a summary of results from the Ocean Drilling Program. American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monograph 88, In B Taylor and J Natland (eds). Active Margins and Marginal Basins of the Western Pacific, 315-354. (copies in the 4th yr. room).
Reagan, M. K. et al. Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program, 352: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). 14379/iodp.proc.14352.12015. Also Reagan et al., 2017, Subduction Initiation and Ophiolite Crust: New Insights From IODP Drilling. International Geology Review, doi: 10.1080/00206814.2016.1276482

8. A. Robertson: modern pelagic sediments
Seibold, E and Berger, W.H., 1982. The Sea Floor, chapter 3. Sources and composition of marine sediments, Springer-Verlag, pages 54-76.
Seibold, E. and Berger, W.H., 1982. The Sea Floor, chapter 8. Patterns of Deep Sea Sedimentation, Springer-Verlag, pages 181-201

9. A. Robertson: Ancient pelagic sediments
Jenkyns, H.C. Pelagic sediments, In Reading, H.G. Sedimentary Environments and Facies, 2nd. l986
Robertson, A H F Robertson and Hudson, J.D., l974 Pelagic sediments in the Cretaceous-Miocene development of Cyprus. In: Hsu, K and Jenkyns, H.C. (eds). Pelagic Sediments on Land and Under the Sea. Special Publication of the International Association of Sedimentologists, No. 1.

10. A. Robertson: Ophiolite geology (ocean crust on land)
Special issue of "Elements", 2014, (vol 10, no. 2). International Magazine of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, Ed. Y Dilek and H. Furness. (browse several papers; e.g. by Julian Pearce).

11. A. Robertson: Neotectonic evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean (essential regional background for the Cyprus excursion).
Taymaz et al. 1991, Active tectonics of the north and central Aegean Sea. geophysics Journal international, 106, 433-490.
Kahle et al., 2000. GPS-derived strain rate field within the boundary zones of the Eurasian, African and Arabian plates. Journal of Geophysical Research, 105, 23353-23370

12. A. Robertson: Himalayas/Tibet (greatest mountain range on Earth)
1. Gaetani, M and Garzanti, E., l991. Multicycle history of the northern India continental margin (North western Himalayas). American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 75, 127-1446.
2. Robertson, A H F and Degnan, M P l993 Sedimentology and tectonic implications of the Lamayuru Complex: deep-water facies of the Indian passive margin, Indus Suture Zone, Ladakh Himalaya. In: Treloar, P.J. & Searle. M.P. (eds). Himalayan Tectonics. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., 74, 299-321.
3. Khan, M.A. et al. l993. Evolution of the lower arc crust in Kohistan, N Pakisatan: temporal arc magmatism through early, mature and intra-arc rift stages. In: Treloar and Searle (eds). Himalayan Tectonics, Geol. Soc. London Special Pub., 74, 123-138.

13. A. Robertson: Oman: continental margin-oceanic crust emplacement
A.H.F. Robertson and M.P. Searle (l990). The northern Oman Tethyan continental margin: stratigraphy, structure, concepts and controversies. In: Robertson, A.H.F., Searle, M.P. and Ries, A.C. 1990 (Eds). The Geology and Tectonics of the Oman Region (word classic geology). Special Publication of the Geological Society of London, 49, 3-44

14. A. Robertson: Late Precambrian-Lower Palaeozoic Iapetus ocean and Scottish Highland Border (example of hypotheses testing in advanced geology, supported by a practical (thin sections of key lithologies).
Henderson, W.G., Tanner, P.W.G. & Strachan, R.A. 2021. The Highland Border Ophiolite of Scotland: observation from the Highland Workshop field excursion 2008. Scottish Journal of Geology 45, 13018.
G. Leslie, 2008 ¿ Border skirmish¿ (summary of four different hypotheses); published on line
Tanner, P.W.G & Sutherland, s. 2007. The Highland Border Complex, Scotland: a paradox resolved. Journal of the Geological Society, London 164, 111-116.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills - Professional level writing skills; students will condense scientific findings and arguments from a selected paper and prepare a synopsis
- Participation in active group discussions, and peer-learning between the Geology and GPG cohorts

- Oral presentation skills during student presentations as part of Cyprus excursion

- Integration of information from contrasting sources (scientific reports and papers with individual field observations)

- High-level individual observation and interpretation followed by formative discussion and peer assessment.
Additional Class Delivery Information Total Hours: 200 (Lecture Hours 21, Practical 3 hours, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Fieldwork Hours up to 80, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 77) Note: combination may vary.
Keywordsevolution,modern earth,Cyprus
Contacts
Course organiserProf Alastair Robertson
Tel: (0131 6)50 8546
Email: Alastair.Robertson@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Johan De Klerk
Tel: (0131 6)50 7010
Email: johan.deklerk@ed.ac.uk
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