Undergraduate Course: Palaeontology and Sedimentology (EASC10106)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Palaeontology coupled with advanced sedimentology (carbonates, clastics and chemical sediments), supported by practicals and locally based half-day fieldtrips. |
| Course description |
The course covers selected aspects of palaeontology and sedimentology as two on-going strands during semester 1. These are essentially two different subject areas that are brought together by means of integrated fieldwork. The sedimentology component will build on second year course material, whereas the palaeontology component will be introductory.
The palaeontology and sedimentology stands will achieve effective synergy in the context of the four dedicated halfday fieldtrips to Palaeozoic rocks in the vicinity of Edinburgh.
Note: experience with the use of the optical microscope for mineral and rock identification is required for this course.
***Field course locations may change for a variety of reasons, including security risks or inability to access field locations. Any changes to the main destination of the field course will be announced as soon as possible.***
|
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | This is a third-year honours level course; students are expected to have an academic profile equivalent to the first two years of this degree programme. Study equivalent to the following University of Edinburgh courses is required; Global Tectonics and the Rock Cycle (EASC08020).
|
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Show a good understanding of the occurrence and geological relevance of key fossil groups
- Show a good understanding of key geological processes and settings involved in the formation and diagenesis of carbonate sediments, chemical sediments and siliciclastic sediments with emphasis on practical and field context and integration with palaeontology.
- Integrate aspects of palaeontology and sedimentology in the context of the geological development if the Palaeozoic of the Edinburgh area.
|
Reading List
Palaeontology:
1. Benton, M.J. and Harper, D.A.T, 2009, Basic Palaeontology: Introduction to Paleobiology and the fossil record, Wiley-Blackwell (this will be the main course textbook and is required reading)
2. Clarkson, E.N.K, 2001, Invertebrate palaeontology and evolution, Wiley-Blackwell (this book will be most useful in helping to identify major fossil groups)
3. Michael J Benton, 2014, Vetebrate Palaeontology, Wiley-Blackwell (this book is for background reading related to the vertebrate palaeontology lectures)
4. Stephen L. Brusatte, 2012, Dinosaur Paleobiology, Wiley-Blackwell (this book is for background reading related to the vertebrate palaeontology lectures)
Sedimentology:
Basic text-good for catch-up and basic information:
Tucker ME, Sedimentary Petrology: An Introduction, Blackwell
Nichols, G, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Blackwell (Advanced text- good for third year reference)
Leeder MR, Sedimentology and Sedimentary Basins: from Turbulence to Tectonics, Blackwell Science
Reading HG, Sedimentary Environments and Facies, Blackwell
Tucker ME and Wright VP, Carbonate Sedimentology, Blackwell
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Palaeontology,Sedimentology,Fieldwork |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Stephen Brusatte
Tel: (0131 6)50 6039
Email: Stephen.Brusatte@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Johan De Klerk
Tel: (0131 6)50 7010
Email: johan.deklerk@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage