GEOL-312 • Environmental Geology • Spring 2012
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Instructor: Steven Earle Office: 360/304a Office hours: Wed. and Fri. 10:00-11:30 E-mail: steven.earle@viu.ca |
| Geology 312 is an introduction to some of the important aspects of Environmental Geology - how both the natural and built environments are affected by geological features and processes, and how some of our activities can have an impact on geological processes. |
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Timetable (all in 370/107): |
Monday class |
Monday lab |
Wednesday class |
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8:30 to 10:00 AM |
1:00 to 4:00 PM |
8:30 to 10:00 AM |
Textbook: Environmental Geology (9th ed.) by E. Keller
Course topics
· the importance of clay minerals to environmental geology
· understanding earthquakes and their impacts and how to minimize those impacts,
· understanding volcanic eruptions and their impacts,
· the causes and effects of glaciations,
· the causes and effects of slope failures and how we can limit those effects,
· the importance of ground and surface water supplies,
· the implications of our use of other geological resources.
Course schedule
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Monday (lecture/lab) |
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Wednesday (lecture) |
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Jan |
2 |
no classes |
4 |
Introduction |
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9 |
Earthquake geology, characteristics and measurement |
11 |
Geological materials under shaking conditions |
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Clay minerals Clay mineral properties |
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16 |
Earthquake periodicity and prediction |
18 |
Earthquake intensity estimation and mapping damage potential |
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Earthquake harmonics & moment magnitude |
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23 |
Stress transfer, Episodic tremor and slip |
25 |
Sources and compositions of magmas, types of volcanic eruptions |
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Interpreting WCDA & ETS data |
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30 |
Volcanoes and different types of volcanic eruptions |
1 |
Volcanic hazards |
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Volcanic rocks in thin section |
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Feb |
6 |
Techniques for monitoring volcanoes |
8 |
Glacial periods in earth’s history and causes of glaciation |
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Volcano alert exercise |
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13 |
Glaciation in BC, glacial erosion & deposition |
15 |
Mass wasting - causes and classification, bedrock failure |
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Sea-to-Sky cross-sections & campus field trip |
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27 |
Steve away - class and lab cancelled |
29 |
Slope failure in unconsolidated deposits |
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Mar. |
5 |
Sea-to-Sky field trip (all day) |
7 |
Mitigation of slope failure impacts on people and infrastructure |
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12 |
Mining (metal and coal) and ARD |
14 |
ARD lab |
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Extension field trip |
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19 |
Raven Coal mine field trip? (all day) |
21 |
Raven mine discussion |
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26 |
Geological issues in waste disposal |
28 |
Surface and groundwater supplies |
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RDN Landfill field trip |
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Apr. |
2 |
Groundwater vulnerability assessment |
4 |
Raven Coal Forum |
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Academic integrity
The following standards of academic integrity are copied from the Academic Code of Conduct. The entire policy can be found on the VIU website at https://isweb.viu.ca/policy_procedure/docshow.asp?doc_id=22685 All students should read the entire policy document.
STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Students are expected to meet the standards of academic integrity as indicated in this policy. Standards of academic integrity include, but are not limited to:
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Mark distribution (subject to change)
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Item |
marks |
date or date due |
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Labs (3 to 5 marks each) |
35 |
1 week after each lab date |
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Assignments |
20 |
TBA |
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Raven Mine project |
15 |
April 4th |
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Final exam |
30 |
During exam period |
Grading (standard VIU grading scale)
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A+ 90-100 |
B+ 76-79.9 |
C+ 64-67.9 |
D 50-54.9 |
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A 85-89.9 |
B 72-75.9 |
C 60-63.9 |
F 0- 49.9 |
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A- 80-84.9 |
B- 68-71.9 |
C- 55-59.9 |
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