G145 Geology of the Northwest                                    Spring 2008

4 credits—no prerequisite                                            TTH 3-5:50

Instructor:  Sarah Hoover                                             Office Hrs: M 1-3; T 1:30-2:30, W 10-12, TH 11-12

Phone:  503-657-6958 ext: 2812                                   e-mail: sarahh@clackamas.edu

Required Texts:                                                                     Office:  Pauling Center P124m

     In Search of Ancient Oregon; A Geological and Natural History, Ellen Morris Bishop

     Interesting read:  Cataclysms on the Columbia,  Allen, Burns, and Sargent

Course Web Page:  http://depts.clackamas.edu/science/physci/geology/index.htm

 

Course Content and Philosophy:  This course examines the geological processes that have created and controlled the formation of Northwestern North America.  The beginning of the course will focus on basic geologic concepts and will move on to discuss the Northwest’s formation with emphasis being placed on Oregon.  The lab associated with this course will focus on identification of rock types found in Oregon/Northwest and will include two fieldtrips that examine the unique geology of this area.

 

Student Outcomes: This course is designed so at its completion a student should be able to discuss the geological principles that relate to the Pacific Northwest and be able to discuss different regions and the formation of those regions within the Northwest.  Additionally students should finish the course with some familiarity with basic rock types found in the Northwest and which regions of the Northwest they would be found.

 

Grading: Grading is based on quizzes, a midterm, a final exam, class assignments and lab work

 

  • Quizzes will emphasize material currently being discussed in class and are to be taken on the dates given in class.  Quizzes will be announced at least one class prior to the quiz date and the lowest quiz score will be dropped. Because the lowest score will be dropped, quizzes can not be made up if they are missed. 

 

  • The midterm will cover all material introduced since the beginning of the term.   If the midterm is missed for a legitimate reason it is your responsibility to make it up within one week of the original test date. 

 

  • The final exam will be comprehensive.  NO make-up exams will be administered without at least 5 days prior notice, a good reason, and a signed administrative excuse. 

 

  • Homework, class assignments and reading (and due dates) will be assigned periodically throughout the term.  Homework will be collected at the beginning of class on the date due and will be considered late if it is not turned in at the time it is collected.  Late assignments will be assessed a 5% penalty per day it is late (including weekends).  The Textbook for this class is designed to compliment the lectures and will NOT give you the same information that you will get during our meetings.  It is to be read throughout the term and will give you a better perspective on the geology of this area. 

 

·                Lab: Lab counts for 25% of the course grade and you must pass the lab with 60% of the possible points  in order to pass the class.  Lab will meet formally for the first 6 weeks of the term.  A lab midterm will be during the lab period on week 6 and then during weeks 6-10 there will be two Saturday field trips scheduled to apply what you learn during the term.  These field trips are MANDATORY and will affect your grade if you do not attend.  If you can not attend a fieldtrip please inform the instructor as soon as possible. THERE ARE NO MAKE UP LABS.  Once the labs are done for the week the only way to make them up is to come see the instructor make arrangements to earn some of the points possible for the lab you missed.  Many times this will require you working on your own.  It is important NOT to miss lab.

 

                FIELDTRIP DATES:  Saturday May 3, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm  (Columbia River Gorge)

                                                         Saturday May 31, 8 am to 5 pm  (Local area geology)

 

Grading percents will be based on the following:

       Quizzes 20%;  Class assignments 15%;    Midterm 20%;   Final Exam  20%;   Laboratory work 25%

 

IMPORTANT…PLEASE READ!!!

Students may exercise the right to drop this class until the end of the 6th week of the term without being held responsible for a grade.  If a student stops attending class prior to or during the sixth week, they will be given a Withdraw for the course unless they communicate to the instructor in writing that they wish for a letter grade.  From the beginning of the 7th week, if a student stops attending class, they will be given a letter grade unless they ask (in writing) for a Withdraw.  Students may ask for a Withdraw from the course (in writing) until the end of the 8th week.  If a student has not asked for a withdraw by the end of the 8th week, they will receive a letter grade for the course.  An incomplete will only be issued when all key components of the course have been completed with the exception of one item.  A student accumulated grade to that point must be of a C or better to qualify for an incomplete.  To receive an incomplete you MUST speak with the instructor and submit your request in writing.  If you have chosen a pass/no pass grading option for this course, you must earn a C or better to receive the passing grade.  If you decide to change your grade to a pass/no pass you must do this before the 10th week of the class.  The instructor reserves the right to make exceptions to the terms above on a case by case basis.

               

Student Honor Policy: Plagiarism and cheating will NOT be tolerated.  While students are encouraged to interact in small groups during class assignments, any cheating or copying will result in a zero for that assignment and may result in consequences at the administrative level.

 

Please turn off all cell phones on entering the classroom!!

 

Tentative Schedule Topics, Reading and Lab for G145

Week

Dates

Lecture Topic

Corresponding Book Pages/chapters

Reading: Chronologically based

Lab Assignments

1

3/31-4/4

Introduction to geological principles: geologic time, plate tectonics, earth's structure, relative dating principles, absolute dating techniques

 

Web reading assignment (course web page)

 

 

Plate tectonics and geologic tiime

2

4/7-4/11

Rock types, OR provinces, terranes

Chapter 1 and 2

Chapter 1 and 2

Earthscope

3

4/14-4/18

Blue Mountains:

Eastern: Chp. 2, 3, Pgs 60-65.  Western: Chps. 5, 6, 7, 8 

Chapter 3 and 4

Igenous rocks

4

4/21-4/25

Klamath Mountains

Chapter 2 and 4

Chapter 5, 6 and 7

Sedimentary  and Metamorphic rocks

5

4/28-5/2

High Lava Plains

MIDTERM 2nd half of lecture

Chapter 9, 10, Pgs 216-225

Chapter 8

Geologic Maps Fieldtrip Sat 5/3

6

5/5-5/9

Basin and Range

Chapter 10, page 191

Chapter 9

 

Lab Midterm

 

7

5/12-5/16

Columbia Plateau & Col. River Basalts

Chapter 9, page 174

Start Reading Cataclisyms on the Columbia

Chapter 10

 

 

 

8

5/19-5/23

Cascade Mountains

Chapter 12 Pages: 120-124; 167;175-179; 233-244

Chapter 11

 

 

 

9

5/26-5/30

Coast Range

Pages: 98-102; 124-125; 246-253

Chapter 12

 

 

Fieldtrip Sat 5/31

10

6/2-6/6

Willamette & Puget Valleys

Chapter 12, Pages: 97; 192-193

Chapter 13

 

 

 

Unless otherwise noted, all reading is from In Search of Ancient OR

Final will be Tues. June 10 from 4-6 pm in P103