Undergraduate Units
100 Level.
GEOS112 The Planet Earth 3cp
Staff contact: Dr Flood, Dr Beggs, A/Prof George
A unit recommended for all geologists, geographers, biologists and others seeking an integrated view of the Planet Earth. The unit deals with the Earth as a dynamic system tracing both the origins and workings of the solid earth, the atmosphere, the oceans and the biosphere. The Earth’s internal structure and tectonic processes (earthquakes, volcanism and plate movements), atmosphere and oceans, landforms, surface processes and the role of the biosphere are investigated. Models for the genesis of life are considered and patterns of evolution and extinction are traced through fossils and other evidence. Wherever possible interactions (for example between landscape and climate, atmosphere and life, plate movements and landforms) are examined to develop a unified model of the global system. Special lectures are included to illustrate the human significance of the models examined.
GEOS115 Earth Dynamics, Materials and the Environment 4cp
Staff contact: Dr Rushmer, Dr Daczko
When Offered: E1, D2, X2
Day students: 1 full-day compulsory field excursion; other compulsory excursions in scheduled practical classes.
Evening students: 1 full-day compulsory field excursion
Discover how the solid Earth works - investigate the dynamic link between plate tectonics and Earth evolution. This introductory unit is suitable for all students including those wanting to try a natural science. It explores the composition and structure of our planet and the dynamic processes that change our environment. You will become skilled at geoscience techniques that permit detailed study of the Earth and explore via case studies modern sedimentary environments, volcanoes and volcanic hazards and economic geology.
Field aspect: Enjoy eye-opening field trips in tutorial classes around campus and to the Lane Cove National Park, and a day trip across the Blue Mountains.
Provides: 1) Background in geoscience for further studies in geology, geophysics, geography, museum studies, geomorphology, soils, astronomy and environmental science.
2) Insights into Earth materials and their relationship to the environment for students of economics, physics, archaeology, chemistry, biology, marine science and education.
GEOS116 Marine Geoscience 2cp
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Staff contact: Dr Dadd, Dr Flood
This unit introduces you to the marine environment through study of the oceans past and present. From the perspective of a marine scientist we will consider aspects of the geological history and dynamics of the oceans, recent techniques for probing the ocean’s depths, physical oceanographic processes, ocean circulation patterns, depositional environments, marine environments supporting life, and human interactions with the marine environment. The unit provides background to your further studies in marine science, earth and environmental science, biology, chemistry or resource management.
200 Level
GEOS204 Life, the Universe and Everything 3 cp
Staff contact: A/Prof George
This is a broad-based interdisciplinary science unit which aims to present a non-technical overview of recent ideas in science. Many of these ideas relate to astrobiology, which is about the origin of life on Earth and the possibility of finding life elsewhere in the universe. The unit is suitable for students without any science background. The unit will:
- Present an integrated view of science across a broad range of disciplines (geoscience, biology, cosmology, chemistry).
- Look at some of the “Big Questions” (e.g. Origin of the Universe, What is Life?, Are We Alone?, Early Earth Environments).
- Look at the science behind topical issues such as climate change and energy security.
- Present science as it is actually done, not just as a set of facts.
Unit assessment is weighted towards assignments, with 30% on a class test in the last week of classes.
This unit was ELS204 in 2007, and utilises some material from the 2003-2007 GEOS309 Astrobiology unit.
GEOS226 Introduction to Field Geology 3cp
Staff contact: Dr Dadd
A field-based unit with a strong emphasis on the observation and delineation of rock units using simple mapping techniques. The concepts of depositional environments, rock succession and rock deformation will be developed during small group tutorials. Unit is taught at Lake Kepit, near Tamworth in Northern NSW. Transport is provided to and from the University.
GEOS230 Field and Laboratory Studies in Geoscience 4cp
Staff contact: Dr Daczko, Dr Flood
This unit uses projects integrated with lectures and laboratory classes to develop the theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience needed to map, describe and interpret rocks in the field and the laboratory. Field studies will involve remote sensing methods, conventional air photo interpretation and ground-based observations of rock types, rock structures and the relationship between geology and topography. Laboratory studies will include the preparation of materials for optical and x-ray diffraction studies and the identification of minerals using these methods. One project will involve the analysis of suitable materials that are of particular interest to each student (eg volcanic rocks, building stones, ores and weathered rocks.)
The compulsory field trip will be used to generate individual student projects that involve both analysis of field observations and additional laboratory studies.
GEOS251 Minerals, Energy and the Environment 3cp
Study Guide
Staff contact: Dr Dadd
This is a general education unit that introduces students to the technical, social, economic and environmental aspects that lie behind the production and use of mineral and energy resources in Australia and the rest of the world. The end products of these resources are familiar to us as steel for cars, aluminium for pots and pans, crude oil for petrol and coal for electricity. Nowadays, we have to consider acid rain, greenhouse effect, heavy metal pollution, oil spills, radiation, land degradation and land rights. Scarcity and resource exhaustion are also concerns. We demand and accept the goods and services provided by the minerals industries, including the increased wealth resulting from mineral exports, yet increasingly oppose the development of the resources that produce these goods. This does not mean that opposition to development is necessarily bad, or that development is necessarily good. What it does mean is that it is important to look at the broad picture rather than concentrate on a particular, narrow facet of the ‘non renewable’ resource industries.
GEOS260 Marine Depositional Environments 4cp
Staff contact: Dr Dadd, Dr Flood
Geological processes and products of modern and ancient marine environments. Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction using lithological, geometrical and palaeontological data. Volcanism and its products in marine environments. Evidence of present day hydrothermal alteration and metamorphism of the oceanic lithosphere and the formation of ore deposits in marine rocks.
GEOS268 Introduction to Geophysics 4cp
Staff contact: Dr Lackie
Lectures cover, at an introductory level, some of the important geophysicsl approaches, which are used by earth scientists to explore and understand the earth’s interior. Included are the methods of collecting and interpreting gravity, magnetic, seismic and electrical data and their use in assembling the presently-held picture of the crust, mantle and core.
Practical classes involve reducing and interpreting geophysicsl data from both exploration and global problems. The excursion provides an opportunity to carry out a field survey and interpret the results in terms of geological structure.
300 Level
GEOS307 Field Geology and Mapping 3cp
Staff contact: Dr Daczko
This unit aims to integrate stratigraphic, sedimentological, structural, igneous and tectonic field studies in a varied terrain. It provides extended experience in geological mapping, particularly in photogeological techniques and study of local to regional relations, and requires preparation of a field report. Day students should attend class sessions in the month before the excursion to complete initial photo-interpretation and other preparatory work; distance education students should contact the unit chairperson regarding preliminary work. The excursion involves bushwalking, for which a reasonable level of physical fitness is required and tutorial/data-plotting work in the evenings.
GEOS308 Structural and Metamorphic Geology 4cp
Staff contact: Dr. Daczko
This unit considers the processes by which rocks become deformed and altered in response to physical conditions in the Earth’s crust, such as stress, geothermal gradient and burial-history. Scales range from microscopic to regional. Practical work comprises exercises on rock-deformation testing, geometrical and kinematic analysis of brittle and ductile structures, superposed folding, reconstruction of large structures, deformational and metamorphic textures, metamorphic mineral assemblages, and laboratory and project work on metamorphic and structural styles in different tectonic environments (convergent, wrench and extensional). Field study provides both experience in unraveling the history of a typical complex part of the Australian continent and practice in detailed structural mapping of brittle and ductile structures (relevant to the minerals and geotechnology professions).
GEOS 314 Magmas, Fluids and Ore Deposits 4cp
Staff contact: Professor Turner
An understanding of the behaviour and evolution of silicate magmas and aqueous fluids in both the crust and mantle is developed. Examples of mafic/ultramafic and intermediate-silicic magmatic rock associations and their linked fluids and ore deposits are treated in terms of their geochemical behaviour and petrology. This treatment ranges from a deposit scale to a mantle-domain scale. Physical attributes of magma-fluid systems and isotopes are considered as petrogenetic and exploration tools. Important ore deposits related to fluid flow in sedimentary basins are also outlined. Practical work involves evaluating geochemical data bases and microscopic examination of important suites. Field work will be conducted in an area containing an igneous complex and associated ore deposits.
GEOS315 Environmental and Groundwater Geophysics 4cp
Unit info
Staff contact: Dr Lackie
Seismology, seismic refraction and instrumentation, potential field and electrical methods and geophysicsl well-logging with an emphasis on applications to engineering site and groundwater investigation and pollution monitoring.
Practical work includes exercises in the reduction and interpretation of data. The field excursion will give an appreciation of the practical application, problems and limitations of the techniques studied during the unit.
GEOS316 Exploration Geophysics 4cp
Unit info
Staff contact: Dr Lackie
The application of geophysicsl techniques to exploration for minerals and petroleum. Topics include potential field, induced polarisation, electromagnetic, seismic reflection and radiometric methods. Generally, emphasis is placed on the applications and relative merits of the various methods for particular aspects of exploration, rather than on rigorous theoretical treatment. Practical work includes laboratory exercises in the reduction, plotting and interpretation of geophysicsl data, followed by case history studies. Field data collection using several methods is undertaken during the field excursion.
GEOS373 Volcanic Geology Fieldwork 3cp
Staff contact: Dr Dadd
Field excursion February of odd years
Modern (Cainozoic) magmatic environments of the Pacific Rim are the key to reconstruction of the circum-Pacific. Fieldwork and literature research form the foundation of the description and interpretation of the modern magmatic environments of New Zealand and assessment of their relevance to reconstruction of Paleozoic and Mesozoic volcanic-plutonic terrains in eastern Australia. Fieldwork will be conducted in a relevant area during February.
GEOS377 Environmental Geology 4cp
Staff contact: Dr Dosseto
Deals with the interaction of people and the geological environment, including issues arising from people's occupation and exploitation of the Earth. The unit covers both urban and resource geology, and geologic hazards. Students will work on three projects based on realistic work-place scenarios including preparing tenders, data analysis and report writing using industry standard styles. One project will involve collection of data at a field site. The lecture program will include invited speakers from industry and government.
GEOS381 Earth and Planetary Sciences Special Interest Seminar 2cp
A choice of seminars may be offered, each specialising in a particular area of interest in geology or geophysics. The areas are based upon patterns of staff and/or student interest. Students are asked to note that University Regulations state that no unit taken under the same code number can be counted more than once for credit towards a degree; accordingly they must take care to select only the most appropriate of the topics on offer. Students wishing to enter this unit are required to check with advisers about topics on offer prior to enrolling.
GEOS386 Global Tectonics 3cp
Staff contact: Dr Lackie, Professor O’Reilly, Dr Daczko, Dr. Flood
Integrated geophysicsl, petrological and stratigraphic methodologies are used to explore global tectonics. Recent advances in the understanding of the structure, composition and history of the lithosphere and the asthenosphere are presented. Continental reconstructions through time as inferred from geophysicsl, palaeomagnetic, palaeontological and geological evidence are discussed. Plate tectonics, supercycles and recent developments in the understanding of mantle/lithosphere dynamics are applied to the billion year tectonic history of Australia and its neighbours in Gondwaland.
GEOS394 Applied Palaeontology and Biogenic Sediments 3cp
Staff contact: Dr Brock
This unit focuses on using past life forms to solve environmental and geological problems. It is essentially a practical unit, with fossil and recent materials being used to elucidate problems concerning databases, biotopes, biofacies, proxies for climate change, palaeotemperature and palaeobathymetry, changes in vegetation and biodiversity, and the principles and importance of chronologic alignment and isotopic signatures. The unit is especially useful for students interested in the environment, quaternary geology, geology or palaeontology.
400 Level
The postgraduate units described below are available to any undergraduate student who has the necessary prerequisites, including permission of the Head of Department.
GEOS420 Data and Image Processing in Geophysics and Exploration 4cp
Unit login
Staff contact: Dr Lackie
Offered: D2
Prereq: 30cp in GEOS units including GEOS268(P); 3cp in COMP units or permission of Dean of Division
This unit aims to provide familiarity with a variety of computer software packages that are currently being used by mining and exploration companies. The unit will be more an applied than a theoretical offering.
GEOS437 Geochemical Applications and Techniques 2cp
Staff contact: Dr Pearson
Offered: D1
Prereq: GEOS230(P) or GEOS260(P) or CHEM324 or CHEM325
This is an introduction to the various analytical techniques used in inorganic geochemistry to determine the major element, trace element and isotopic composition of rocks and their constituent minerals. Advances in instrumentation and the development of new procedures has led to the acquisition of more complete data from individual samples and the more rapid processing of samples has resulted in the generation of large datasets. An emphasis is placed on understanding the fundamentals of the analytical techniques to remove the ‘black-box’ aura and to develop a basic working knowledge of the principles and procedures used in the evaluation and manipulation of geochemical data. Topics covered include a review of bulk analytical methods and microbeam techniques: X-ray fluorescence, electron microprobe, induced coupled plasma mass spectrometry (including laser ablation microanalysis), thermal ionisation mass spectrometry. Class work comprises lectures, tutorials, computer practicals and laboratory/instrument practicals.
There is more information about Postgraduate Unit descriptions and Postgraduate coursework and research degrees in the Postgraduate pages