units

ESC1022

Faculty of Science

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 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 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Science
Organisational UnitSchool of Geosciences
OfferedClayton Second semester 2013 (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:

  1. Discuss the major features of ocean basins and continents, and describe some of the processes which form them;

  1. Discuss the processes of sedimentation and use the information tied up in sedimentary rocks to infer their environments of deposition;

  1. Identify the features of, and recognise and explain the processes which deform rocks and minerals;

  1. Describe the geologic evolution of Australia and, more specifically, Victoria;

  1. Explain how fossils can be used to study the evolution of life through geologic time, and use them to infer past palaeoclimatics;

  1. Discuss different types of ore, coal and petroleum deposits and explain some of the processes that form them;

  1. Explain and apply aspects of geosciences which are important to the environment;

  1. 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)

Contact hours

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

Prerequisites

ESC1011, or permission