Hobart
Compulsory 5 day excursion in the week before the start of semester.
Introduction
Have you ever wondered about the tale that can be told by a grain of sand? Or why some volcanoes erupt violently and others effusively? Learn how to unlock the secrets held in minerals and rocks in KEA208. After an introduction to Earth Sciences in KEA101 and KEA102, this unit offers you the opportunity to delve further into geological processes that occur at and near the Earth’s surface. There is a particular emphasis on the minerals and processes that form sedimentary and volcanic rocks. You will also be introduced to the petrographic microscope as a means of identifying and studying Earth materials at the microscale and to remote sensing as a means of mapping and interpreting the geology and geological history of the Earth's surface. This 12.5% unit also includes a five-day pre-semester trip on the scenic east coast of Tasmania, which provides an opportunity to hone your geological field skills.
Summary 2021
| Unit name | Earth's Surface |
|---|---|
| Unit code | KEA208 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| Faculty/School | College of Sciences and Engineering School of Natural Sciences |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences |
| Coordinator | Sebastien Meffre |
| Teaching staff | Dr Sasha Stepanov, Dr Martin Jutzeler |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Available as student elective? | Yes |
| Breadth Unit? | No |
Availability
Note
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TNE Program units special approval requirements.
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (see withdrawal dates explained for more information).
Learning Outcomes
1 | Identify minerals, mineral groups and textures in rocks formed at and near the Earth’s surface from their optical and physical properties in order to classify and differentiate rock types |
2 | Deduce the formation processes and settings for a range of sedimentary and volcanic rocks based on their mineralogy and texture |
3 | Appraise geoscientific information and surface/near-surface geological processes at a range of scales |
Fees
Requisites
Prerequisites
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | 3 x 1-hr lectures and 1 x 3-hr lab work weekly throughout semester 1, plus 5 days of field work before semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Assessment | ATT1 - 2-hr theory exam (30%) ATT2 - Practicals (30%) ATT3 - 10 quizzes (15%) ATT4 - Excursion Report (10%) ATT5 - Compulsory excursion held in the week before start of semester, by field tests and report (15%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required | Information textbook requirements is available in the Unit Outline. |
|---|
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