Pre-requisites:
Passes in at least two science subjects at CAPE OR equivalent.

Course Content:
This course is a course in physical geology/earth science and provides students with skills to understand structural geology and geological maps as well as providing an introduction to environmental geology, geological hazards and basic concepts of environmental pollution. In structural geology the student will learn how to describe, measure, and analysis planar and linear features in rocks, including folds, faults, and fabrics. In environmental geology students will be introduced to the natural and anthropogenic physical and chemical factors that affect the environment, with topics including: climatic change and the combustion of fossil fuels; ocean pollution; toxic and radioactive waste disposal; land use management; geological hazards; water resources; and energy resources.
(2 Credits) (Level 1) (Semester 2)

Pre-requisites:

Passes in at least two science subjects at CAPE OR equivalent.

Course Content:

This course in physical geology involves the study of the different physical and chemical processes that operate within different environments and produce a range of geomorphological features on the Earth. The course will cover the introductory aspects of physical geology including: weathering and erosion; landforms (rivers, slopes, coastlines, arid lands and glaciated environments). An appreciation of the processes acting on the Earth’s surface and how they can be used to interpret Earth history, which is central to understanding the global distribution of rocks, geologic features and earth resources. This course also provides an introduction to historical geology – the origin of the Earth, the origin and evolution of life on Earth, and the geological timescale – with an emphasis on using present geological processes to interpret the past.

(2 Credits) (Level 1) (Semester 2)

The course builds on the Level 1 course in plate tectonics and sets igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks within their geological context. It will look at igneous suites and their geochemical characterization, and how this can be used to identify their plate tectonic setting. Metamorphic rocks will be used to infer geological indicators. The course will also build on the student’s understanding of structural geology from GEOL1104, and explore the different tectonic styles found in different parts of the Caribbean and their importance to geological resources.

An overview of the most important fossil groups, and an introduction to modern palaeontological methods and research. The practical part of the course covers the fundamentals of fossilization and taphonomy and the morphology of common fossil groups within the major phyla. The lecture portion introduces the most important topics in palaeobiology, evolution, the species concept in palaeontology, phylogenetics, speciation and extinction. There will also be an overview of the major patterns in life history, covering large-scale biotic radiations and crises and their linkages to global environmental change.

A field-based research project to be undertaken in the summer preceding the final year of the programme, followed by laboratory analyses and report writing. The completed project report and an oral presentation will be required in Semester 2 of the final year.

Definitions for resources and reserves; Abundances of metals in the Earth’s crust; Overview of the natural processes that produce metallic mineral deposits; The metallic mineral potential of Jamaica and the Caribbean; How a geologist contributes to the development of metallic mineral occurrences: field mapping, sampling, core logging, data/information interpretation from field and laboratory, report writing; Rare Earth Elements; Construction materials (building stones, aggregates, cement); Industrial minerals. Resource assessments for metallic and industrial minerals.

Introduction to Geophysics; Gravity Methods; Geomagnetics; Applied Seismology; Electrical Resistivity Methods. Electromagnetic Methods. Ground- Penetrating Radar. Case studies: Overview of geophysical techniques in engineering, environmental geology, oil exploration, archaeological studies and forensic applications; A field trip in which students will use Electrical Resistivity, Ground Penetrating Radar and Seismic Refraction survey techniques to identify subsurface geology, aquifers, lithological boundaries, and other engineering and environmental issues.

This course provides a theoretical and practical basis for understanding present-day tropical environments and the causes of global environmental change as well as for assessing the scale of human interference in natural environmental processes. While the causes and effects of climate change are global in scale, the course focuses on aspects directly relevant to the Caribbean Region, which include sea-level change, the influences of the different modes of climate variability (E.g. ENSO; NAO; AMO) and tropical cyclone activity.

Indicative topics include: documentary records of past climate change; biological 'proxy' records of climate variations and their quantification; the record of climate variability in the Tropics; low-latitude/high altitude ice-core records; oceanic records and past history of oceanic circulation and sea surface temperatures; role of atmosphere-ocean interactions (e.g. ENSO) on global climate change; sea level change; palaeotempestology; General Circulation Models (GCMs) of the global climate system; the concept of climate 'determinism' and human ecodynamics.