units

ESC1022

Faculty of Science

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2012 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 0 (NATIONAL PRIORITY), 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Science
OfferedClayton Second semester 2012 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Ms Marion Anderson

Synopsis

A continuation of the introduction to Geosciences. Topics include: Plate tectonics; formation and evolution of ocean basins and continents, earthquakes and volcanoes, mountain ranges and the formation of coal, petroleum and mineral deposits; the formation of rocks in various sedimentary environments and how rocks and the crust deform over geologic time; palaeontology and the evolution of life in Earth's history; the importance of groundwater hydrology, aqueous geochemistry and transport of elements in waters of the Earth's surface and crust.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to discuss the major features of ocean basins and continents, and to describe some of the processes which form them; discuss the processes of sedimentation and use the information tied up in sedimentary rocks to infer their environments of deposition; recognise and explain the features of, and processes, that deform rocks and minerals; describe the geologic evolution of Australia; explain how fossils can be used to study the evolution of life through geologic time, and infer the palaeoclimatic conditions on earth; discuss different types of ore, coal and petroleum deposits and explain some of the processes that form them; explain some of the aspects of geosciences that are important to the environment; explain some of the aspects of remote sensing and how they relate to the study of our planet and other planets.

Assessment

Examination (2 hours): 50%
Laboratory work, quizzes, assignment and two field excursions: 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Ms Marion Anderson

Contact hours

Three 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour practical per week

Prerequisites

ESC1011, or permission