GEOL 420. Environmental Geology. Credit 3.

Geologic concepts of the nature of geologic environments and the dynamics of geologic processes needed to characterize and quantify human interactions with specific geologic systems including aquifers, watershed, coastlines and wetlands; specific techniques, including geophysical and geochemical techniques, field mapping, geographical information systems and remote sensing used to monitor human-geosphere interactions.

GEOL 451. Introduction to Geochemistry. Credit 3.

Chemical principles and processes responsible for the formation and cycling of earth materials, with emphasis on low temperature equilibria and kinetics in rock-water systems.

Geochemical processes affecting the fate and transport of inorganic and organic pollutants in terrestrial systems; equilibrium and kinetic modeling. Prerequisite: GEOL 451 or approval of instructor.

Earth’s 4.5 billion-year history is divided into units of geologic time based on the observed changes in the rock record: the timing of those changes is quantified by numerical dating methods: this course examines both dating methods and physical and biological changes observed in the rock record. Prerequisite: Graduate clasisification or approval of instructor.

Fundamental concepts and research techniques in the study of coupled biogeochemical cycles; focus on connections between major elemental cycles of carbon oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and metals including biotic and abiotic transformations in subsurface systems. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

Stable isotopes of oxygen, carbon, sulfur and hydrogen applied to problems in paleontology and paleoecology, carbonate diagenesis, petroleum exploration, and igneous and metamorphic petrology; isotopic paleotemperatures; analytical methods; theory of isotopic fractionation. Prerequisite: GEOL 451 or approval of instructor.

History and cause of global change in the earth system, Archean to Holocene; Impact of biotic change on the earth system; influence of tectonics on paleochemistry and climate change; influence of climate on tectonics; methods and models for evaluating global change. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

GEOL 681. Evolution of Photosynthesis. Credit 1
Evolution of photosynthesis from geological and biological perspectives: distribution of photosynthesis; evidence for early photosynthetic organisms; evolution of photosynthetic pigments and reaction centers; acquisition of electron donors for photosynthetic carbon fixation.

GEOL 689. Geochemical Characterization of Natural Systems. Credit 3.

GEOL 689. Applied Micropaleontology. Credit 3

This course looks at the major microfossil groups, foraminifera, nannofossils, ostracods, and palynology. We will examine their mode of life and their application to studies of climate change, paleoceanography, paleoecology, evolution, stratigraphy and oil and gas exploration.