Physical Geology, Syllabus 2022

Class MWF 9:15-10:20, Olin 307; labs in Olin 307, Tu 9:00-11:50 or 1:55-4:45

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the
dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” - John Adams

Kurt Hollocher, Professor

Office: Olin Building room 314
Phone: 518-388-6518
e-mail: [email protected] (best contact method)
Web page: https://muse.union.edu/hollochk/
Office hours: Wed 1:00-2:00, Fri 2:00-3:00, set up an appointment, or just drop by.
Text: Physical Geology, Karla Panchuk and Steven Earle, and Physical Geology, by Earle

Date Week Labs Topic

7 Introduction
1 -
9 Structure of the Earth, plate tectonics introduction
12 Plate tectonics - forming magmas and igneous rocks
14 2 Lab 1 Plate tectonics - sea-floor spreading
16 Plate tectonics - subduction zones
Sept 19 Subduction zones, volcanoes, and volcanic eruptions
21 3 Lab 2 Folds and faults
23 Realms of change - metamorphism
26 Geologic time - relative age relationships
28 4 Lab 3 Geologic time - absolute age relationships
30 Geologic time - using both absolute and relative ages
3 The Earth's climate - climate zones, climate controls
5 5 Lab 4 Weathering and sediments
7 Erosion on hill slopes
10 Running water - moving sediment and dissolved material
12 6 Lab 5 Mid-term exam
14 Running water - floods and related deposits
Oct 17 Sedimentary rocks, origin and characteristics
19 7 Lab 6 Ground water - concepts of ground water flow
21 Ground water - storage and flow
24 Oceans - shoreline processes
26 8 Lab 7 Oceans - shoreline advance and retreat
28 Oceans - open ocean currents, shallow and deep
31 Deserts of sand, rock, and ice
2 9 Lab 8 Evidence for climate change
4 Deducing long-term climate from sedimentary rocks
7 Glaciers and ice ages
Nov 9 10 Lab 9 Anatomy and dynamics of glaciers
11 Topographic features, flood, landslide hazards
14 11 Lab 10 Geologic hazards
Final exam
Topics are subject to change, naturally.

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Pandemic notes
This course has 30 lecture classes and 10 labs, divided into two 11-person sections. Lecture
and labs will be in-person as currently planned. Nexus, Union’s “learning management system,”
will be the center for course materials that will include backups of all class handouts, PowerPoint
materials presented in-class, with captions, and links to any videos.
Pandemic angst: What happens if the school shuts down, or if we have to go to a somewhat
less draconian state of teaching? One way or another, the course will continue. I’ve taught this
course in various gradations of on-line only, partially in-person, and entirely in-person, so you
don’t have to worry about the class being canceled, but see the next paragraph ↓.
To raise the probability that all in-person classes and labs go smoothly, mask wearing is
recommended, and all disease-related things required by Union College and the State of New
York must be adhered to. If faculty and staff start getting sick and dying, that will shut down the
campus just as fast as if students start getting sick and dying. Remember that.

Course objectives
In this course you will learn about geologic materials (e.g., minerals, rocks, water, air) and
processes (e.g., erosion, plate tectonics, climate change, volcanism). Through labs and other
activities you will gather and examine evidence, and evaluate it to reach geologically plausible
conclusions. You will practice technical writing, and several ways to graphically communicate
the results of your work.

Geosciences at Union College

In its most basic form, the geosciences involve the study of the solid earth. Geology had its
beginnings in early attempts to understand the origin and nature of mineral deposits and
associated rocks, and later evolved into the study of the distribution of rock types over Earth’s
surface (geologic mapping), and study of geologic processes. The geosciences now comprise
broad field that incorporates aspects of:

Recorded history Physics Mathematics Inorganic chemistry Environment

Astronomy Meteorology Paleoclimate Organic chemistry Computer models
Paleobiology Economics Oceanography Land use planning Global warming
Environment Microbiology Engineering Resource management Biology
Law Politics Public policy Ecology Other planets

No single geosciences branch includes all of these fields, but the field is diverse, with broad
public appeal, practical applications, and scientific challenge. The geosciences is also an active
part of science, with new things happening every day. Because of its diversity and direct
application to modern events, the geosciences are always new and exciting.
The Geosciences Department has advanced instrumentation and equipment that rivals
some graduate schools. We strive for excellence in research and teaching, and in covering all the
fundamental aspects of the modern geosciences. We offer a full range of instruction that includes
a variety of introductory (1xx level, no prerequisites) and upper level courses, experiences
abroad, and summer field and lab work. Many geoscience majors do research with one of the
faculty, which is great preparation for graduate school or professional work.

Opportunities in the Geosciences

Employment in the geosciences is available at many levels, fields, and geographic areas.
Employers include mining and petroleum companies, federal, state, and local government
agencies, environmental consulting and engineering firms, schools at all levels, software

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development, and even banks, insurance, and real estate companies. Employment prospects
overall are good.
Understanding the origins and physical systems of the Earth, oceans, and atmosphere, and
those of other solid bodies in our solar system, are the ultimate goals of the earth sciences.
Dwindling mineral and water resources in many areas, future energy resources, pressing
environmental issues, land use planning, waste disposal, and the dynamics of weather and
climate and their effect on people, are all modern challenges. The geosciences are directly
applicable to solutions of those problems. That’s what makes the geosciences the most exciting
scientific field.

Labs
There will be 9 formal lab exercises. The 10th lab will be review for the final exam. Five
labs will be out in the field, and will require 2-page write-ups, explained during the lab. These
should concisely describe what you did, how you did it, your results, and your interpretation of
the results in terms of the posed geologic questions.
All such write-ups must be submitted on the Nexus system by the Saturday noon following
the lab. Submitted labs must be a single PDF file, with your last name at the beginning of the file
name. Figures and tables included in the file must be legible, complete, labeled and numbered as
figures and tables, and cited as evidence supporting your conclusions. Completing and
understanding the readings will help you finish the labs with a minimum of fuss.

→ File submissions must be a single pdf document!

→ File names must start with your last name!

Tests
There will be mid-term and final exams. Exams will be closed book and closed notes, and
will contain mostly short answer questions, many related to illustrations given in the exam (a
copy of an old final exam is on Nexus and the Physical Geology web site to give you an idea of
the format). The exams will cover material from lectures, labs, and the textbook. As per Union
College policy, failure to complete a scheduled exam will result in failure of the exam (contact
me and the Dean of Students office if extraordinary circumstances force you to miss an exam).

Work handed in must be your own

All work handed in (lab reports, exams, comments on readings) must be your own, not
copied from anyone’s previous or current work. You certainly may and are encouraged to work
in small groups, but prepare all of your own text, illustrations, and tables yourself. See Academic
Misconduct below.

Readings
There will be two kinds of readings. The first will be readings from the textbook, with
chapters closely following the lecture material. All of these are required. The second reading
type will be short articles that I’ve taken from the popular scientific literature during the past two
years. They are all about contemporary geoscience issues, mostly about how those issues affect
people. One of those readings will required, and other listed ones will be completely optional.
The optional ones are completely optional, without grades, tracking, or exam questions. Read
them if they look interesting. P.S. They are all interesting.
All of the required readings will be accessed through the Perusall system. For each
assigned reading you will be asked to make a particular (minimum) number of comments,
questions, or answers to questions. These comments etc. will be graded by the Perusall “AI”
system, but I will also look through your comments at the end of the term, and adjust the Perusall

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scores as appropriate. On Nexus is a document that explains how Perusall works, or you can find
similar information elsewhere.

Text readings
This is a list of the textbook readings, and the weeks that they will be assigned. I give them
here in case you want to read ahead, but remember all will require you to add comments via the
Perusall system. Those specific assignments will be added to Nexus each week. What do you
need to take away from the readings? At the very least you should understand what the
illustrations are showing, and why they are showing it. Don’t worry that the chapters aren’t in
sequence. Each chapter, except for the first few, are pretty self-contained.

Week Chapters
1 1, 2, 7
2 3, 4, 5
3 10, 12, 13
4 6, 11, 19
5 8, 15
6 9, 14
7 14-5
8 17-5, 18-5
9 16
10 17
11 18

Grades
The exams will receive 0-100 numerical scores and letter grades. All other assignments,
such as lab write-ups, will be scored on a 0 to 5 scale. This scale translates to letter grades
approximately as follows: 5 ~A, 4 ~B+, 3 ~B-, 2 ~C, 1 ~F. Your final grade for the course will
be based on your cumulative numerical scores. Note that even letter grades of 'F' will help if the
number score is >0. Nothing averages worse than a zero, so always turn in something! The final
grade will be calculated approximately on the following basis:

Labs (9) 47%

Mid-term exam 20%
Final exam 25%
Textbook Perusall scores 5%
Other reading Perusall scores 3%
Total points 100%

Library
The Schaffer Library receives many excellent geoscience journals, many available on-line.
Geology is a monthly journal that specializes in short, 3 to 5 page, well-written papers from a
wide variety of geological subjects. Most geological books are cataloged under QE, in the
Schaffer library basement, except for big ones which are in the q stacks upstairs. The library also
has access to a wide variety of on-line reference search databases specializing in the sciences.

Reading, class attendance, turning in work

All students are expected to attend all classes and labs. If attendance is impossible for some
reason, materials will be made available on-line, so you will still be responsible for all work
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(readings, labs, tests), on which your grade will be based. All assignments, including labs, will
be due Saturday noon the same week each lab takes place. Can't turn it in by then? Get it in
earlier! If you have to miss a class, quiz, exam, or lab for some valid reason (e.g., you being
quarantined), let me and the Dean of Students office know beforehand to make alternative
arrangements. I can't make arrangements after the fact without a valid excuse through the Dean
of Students office. Sorry folks, just following College policy.
This not a fast-paced or particularly difficult course, but it is a fast-paced 10-week term.
Because of that, late work will generally not be accepted, except as recommended by Deans. Get
work in on time!
Specifics for medical issues: If you have to or have missed or may miss a class, lab, or
homework deadline because of illness, go to the Wicker Wellness Center, or send them the
relevant medical documentation (fax to 518-388-6147, email to [email protected], web
site: https://www.union.edu/health-services). The Wellness Center will make an evaluation. They
may or may not send that information on to the Dean of Students, with your permission, but if
you are sick you should certainly see someone. Wear your masks, etc., and try not to get sick.

Extra help
For extra help there is always me, of course. Office hour times are listed above, and I can
make Zoom or in-person appointments. I can even schedule weekly or more frequent regular
appointments to give extra help to individuals or small groups. Also, feel free to drop in to my
office for help to see if I’m available. Geoscience majors may be hanging out on the 3rd floor of
Olin, especially Olin 322, and are mostly harmless. They can be quite helpful.

Union-recommended on-line classes boilerplate

“If you are quarantined or isolated for COVID-19-related reasons, I will be notified by the
Dean of Students Office that you may require flexibility with regard to your participation in
this course. Your responsibility will be to contact me as soon as you are able so that we can
discuss your needs. If you are not able to keep up with the course in real time, I will make
arrangements to provide you with full course material missed from classes.”
In addition, all materials will routinely be available on Nexus and/or the class web
site, and all Zoom classes and labs, if we have any, will be recorded and available. That
means you can be away or out of touch for a while, and still turn in the work. Do so.

Learning or other disabilities

From the Union College Student Handbook: "Students seeking reasonable
accommodations should be aware that it is their responsibility to...request accommodations from
the Director [of Student Support Services] in person with at least two (2) weeks notice of the
accommodation needed." Contact them directly: Accommodative Services Office, 518-388-
8785, mailto:%[email protected]. No accommodations can be provided without a letter or
card from the Accommodative Services Office. You talk the them, they will notify me. You
should also talk to me, too, to make sure I am aware of (or remember) the issue so we can
arrange things appropriately.

Academic misconduct
You will sometimes work in small groups, and are encouraged to do so, but all work that
you hand in must be your own! No copying or otherwise duplicating lab reports or computer-
generated figures. No giving or accepting access to old course materials. This and all other forms
of plagiarism, cheating, destruction of resource materials, and other forms of academic
dishonesty will be referred immediately to the Dean of Studies, as per Union College policy.

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 We have an Honor Code at Union College. Here is the "model statement" that I have been
asked to place right here in this very spot, just for you:

"Union College recognizes the need to create an environment of mutual trust as part of its
educational mission. Responsible participation in an academic community requires respect for
and acknowledgement of the thoughts and work of others, whether expressed in the present or in
some distant time and place. Matriculation at the College is taken to signify implicit agreement
with the Academic Honor Code, available at honorcode.union.edu. It is each student’s
responsibility to ensure that submitted work is his or her own and does not involve any form of
academic misconduct. Students are expected to ask their course instructors for clarification
regarding, but not limited to, collaboration, citations, and plagiarism. Ignorance is not an
excuse for breaching academic integrity. Students are also required to affix the full Honor Code
Affirmation, or the following shortened version, on each item of coursework submitted for
grading: ‘I affirm that I have carried out my academic endeavors with full academic honesty.’”

Signed
Whoever you are

Note that, if you forget to “…affix the full Honor Code Affirmation, or this shortened version, on
each item of coursework submitted for grading: “I affirm that I have carried out my academic
endeavors with full academic honesty.”, I will assume that you meant to.