Stratigraphy – Historical Geology

School  Natural Sciences
Academic Unit
 Geology Department
Level of Studies
 Undergraduate
Course Code
 GEO_301Α
Εξάμηνο σπουδών  4ο
Course Title
 Stratigraphy – Historical Geology
Independent Teaching Activities
 Lectures and laboratory work, Fieldwork
Weekly Teaching Hours
 2 (lect.), 2 (lab.)
Credits  5
Course Type
 Basic and Skills Development 
Prerequisite Courses
Typically, there are not prerequisite courses, however, for the better understanding of the course it would be considered appropriate students to have attended the following modules: Palaeontology, Planet Earth: Extrinsic Processes, Planet Earth: Intrinsic Processes Sedimentary  Rocks and Structural Geology 
Language of Instruction & Examinations
 Greek
Is the Course offered to Erasmus Students
Υes, teaching may be however offered in English in case foreign students attend the course.
Course Web-Page (URL)  https://eclass.upatras.gr/courses/GEO325/  (in Greek)
Learning Outcomes

This is a basic module for the disciplines of Stratigraphy and Historical Geology, providing information on the use of the main stratigraphic methods and the evolution of earth through geological time. 

Upon successful completion of this course the students will be able to:

  1. Understand, implement and discuss the principles of Stratigraphy.
  2. Apply the principles of stratigraphy in geological studies.
  3. Apply stratigraphic methods such as lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy etc. for the solution of stratigraphic problems.
  4. Become familiar with the main stratigraphic units, used in the main stratigraphic methods and mainly the chronostratigraphic and geochronologic ones.
  5. Obtain basic knowledge of depositional environments, lithofacies and biofacies.
  6. Obtain basic knowledge on the main geological events that occurred and stigmatised the history of the earth from the Precambrian until today.
General Competences

Generally, by the end of this course the student will, furthermore, have developed the following general abilities:

  1. Search, analyze and synthesize data and information, using the necessary technologies.
  2. Adapting to new situations.
  3. Working in a multidisciplinary environment
  4. Working in an international environment.
  5. Independent work.
  6. Group work.
  7. Generating new research ideas.
  8. Respecting the environment.
  9. Criticism and self-criticism.
  10. Promoting free and creative thinking. 
Syllabus
  1. Principles of Stratigraphy – Sedimentary rocks and bedding – Types of bedding – Discontinuities – Unconformities – Hiatuses – Stratigraphic sections
  2. Stratigraphic methods – Lithostratigraphy – Biostratigraphy – Chronostratigraphy – Geochronology – Radiometric dating  – Magnetostratigraphy – Chemostratigraphy
  3. Facies Analyses – Depositional environments – Stratigraphic correlation
  4. History of the earth from the Precambrian till the Quaternary - Stratigraphic distributions, rocks, organisms, extinctions, palaeogeography, palaeobiogeography, palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, orogenies, with special reference to the respective formations of the  Greek Penninsula.  
Delivery  Lectures and laboratory practice face to face. Solving Stratigraphical problems during laboratory practice
Use of Information & Communication Technology
 Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) (powerpoint) in teaching. Supporting teaching and communication through e-class. The lectures content of the course for each chapter are uploaded on the e-class platform, in the form of a series of ppt files, from where the students can freely download them.
Teaching Methods
 
Activity Semester workload
Lectures (2 conduct hours per week x 13 weeks)  2X13 = 26
Laboratory work (2 conduct hours per week x 13 weeks)  2X13 = 26
Hours for the preparation of laboratory work reports (3h per week x 13 weeks)  3Χ13= 39
Hours for private study of the student (3h per week x 13 weeks) 39
Fieldwork 8
 Total number of hours for the Course 138
 Student Performance Evaluation

Ι) Oral final examination. The mark consists 50% of the final grade.

 The examination will include:

- Short answered questions.

- Short essays of combined approach.

ΙΙ. Written reports following the completion of each laboratory practical. The mean mark of the reports consists the other 50% of the final grade.

Minimum passing grade:  5.

Final Course Grade (FCG)

FCG = ( Oral exam + practical reports ) / 2

The language of assessment is in Greek. If foreign students attend the course, their assessment in English.
Attached Bibliography

Suggested bibliography:

  1. Miall, A.D., 2015, Stratigraphy: A Modern Synthesis, Springer
  2. Brookfield, M.E., 2004, Principles of Stratigraphy, Willey
  3. Levin, H., 2013, The Earth through time, Wiley
  4. Wicander, R., Monroe, J.,S., 2010, Historical geology: evolution of earth and life through time, Brooks/Cole
  5. Notes of lecturers in English.