Course Description:
The course strives to instill a theoretical foundation and hands-on
techniques to allow the student to interpret earth history from stratigraphy.
Special emphasis will be placed on understanding (1) the causes of relative
sea-level change, and (2) how stratal architecture affects the quality
of the fossil record. We will use Cretaceous strata of the Book Cliffs
in Utah, and Miocene strata of the New Jersey margin as type-areas to
explore these concepts. In the 1st half of the semester, we will focus
on outcrop analysis and theoretical analysis. In the second half of
the semester, we will use seismic stratigraphic analysis to examine
the "ice-house" world of the Miocene in offshore New Jersey. The course
will culminate in a team project interpreting seismic data.
* Seismic Stratigraphic Analysis
* Sequence Stratigraphic Modeling
* Application to global change research and petroleum exploration
Text:
Coe, A. L., (ed.) The Sedimentary Record of Sea-level Change, 2003, The Open University and Cambridge University Press, 288 p.
Other related books:
(1) Siliciclastic Sequence Stratigraphy in Well Logs, Cores, and Outcrops by J.C. Van Wagoner, R.M. Mitchum, K.M. Campion, and V.D. Rahmanian
(2) Ancient Sedimentary Environments by R.C. Selley
(3) Sequence Stratigraphy by D. Emery and K.J. Myers
(4) The Sedimentary Record of Sea-Level Change by Angela L. Coe
(5) Sea Level Changes: An Integrated Approach by Cheryl K. Wilgus, Bruce S. Hastings, Christopher G. St. C. Kendall, Henry W. Posamentier, Charles A. Ross, John C. Van Wagoner
Syllabus:
Click here for a link to the Fall 2006 Syllabus
* Field Trip to Cretaceous Strata of Utah
Click here for pictures from the Book
Cliffs trip!
