GEOLOGY 3013 - Tectonics III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

This course will develop knowledge of the Earth as a four-dimensional dynamic system. The megascopic structure of the earth - oceanic and continental crust and lithosphere, and the asthenosphere, will be introduced and compared. The basic dynamic potentials acting on the Earth (heat, gravity) will be examined, and their diverse first order effects explored (isostasy, convection, exhumation, pluming). The concepts of rifting and ocean formation will be examined, as will those of subduction and mantle plumes. Processes of orogenesis will be examined in depth. Recent and Mesozoic evidence (structural, geochemical, geophysical, sedimentological) for the operation of these processes will be examined. We will examine evidence and constraints on interpretation of these processes operating in past geological eras: the Palaeozoic, Proterozoic and Archaean. Emphasis will be placed upon understanding examples from the tectonic evolution of the Australian Plate. Details of field trip will be communicated at start of the course.

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Course Details

Course Code	GEOLOGY 3013
Course	Tectonics III
Coordinating Unit	Earth Sciences
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 5 hours per week, plus field trip. Other students may apply to Head of Geology for exemption
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	GEOLOGY 2501 or equivalent
Assumed Knowledge	GEOLOGY 2500 & GEOLOGY 2502
Assessment	In class tests, practical assignments, seminar, field trip reports

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Jacob Mulder

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

	A succesful student should be able to:
1	Demonstrate proficiency in common practical skills in tectonics and structural geology;
2	Understand the tectonic processes that operate at plate boundaries and their effects on the plate interior;
3	Understand the main forces that impact the Earth's surface and subsurface, what drives them and how the Earth responds;
4	Describe models for the lithosphere and asthenosphere including their phycial properties;
5	Combine appropriate structural, metamorphic, geophysical, geochemical evidence to interrogate tectonics operating in the past;
6	Work in a team to produce a presentation about a current tectonics research topic.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1-5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1-6
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	5,6
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1-6
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	6
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	5,6

Learning Resources

Required Resources

The following items are required resources for all practical exercises: paper, ruler, protractor, pencils (including colour pencils) and calculator. Some practicals will require the use of a (laptop) computer, basic software such as MS Excel and/or software (freeware) that will be given to you during or before the practicals. Bringing a laptop to the classroom for these practicals is strongly recommended, however the exercises can be completed at home as well and/or in team. Required reading will be issued from journal articles that will be available through the Library and/or MyUni. There is no recommended textbook for this course, although course materials are generally sourced from the textbooks listed below (pdf chapters will be made available if required). Course notes (recordings) and digital copies of all slideshows used in lectures and practicals will be readily available on MyUni.

This course will include a field component. The following Field Kit is compulsory for this component and items can be purchased at Unibooks:
- good quality (hardback) notebook
- compass/clinometer
- hand lens

Recommended Resources

Recommended Resource:

- Kearey P., Klepeis, K.A., and Vine, F.J. 2009. Global Tectonics. 3rd edition, Wiley-Blackwell (most recommended and available at Unibooks);

Other Resources that you may want to refer to:

- Plate Tectonics, Continental Drift and Mountain Building - Wolfgang Frisch, Martin Meschede and Ronald C Blakely Springer 2011 (availabel free as an e-book through the library);

- Stuwe, K. 2007. Geodynamics of the Lithosphere, an Introduction. 2nd edition. Springer. (hideously expensive, but unbelievably the library has electronic access to it – you can download pdfs of all the chapters);

- McClay, K., 1997. Mapping of Geological Structures, Open University Press – pretty hard to find, but a great little book

Online Learning

MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes

The course consists of two one-hour lecture sessions and one 1-hour workshop per week for 12 weeks plus accompanying practical work, most weeks. See MyUni for a detailed syllabus.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Learning Activities Summary
The course consists of:
- two 40-50-min recorded lectures per week
- one 50-min workshop per week in the classroom
- one 3-hour practical class per week
- a fieldtrip during the mid-semester break
Specific Course Requirements

Attendance is compulsory at all scheduled practical and field sessions

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching.
Assessment Task	Task Type	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes	Outcomes being assessed/achieved	Hurdle	Due Date
Practical assignments	Formative & Summative	40%	1-6	No	One week after practical
field trip	Formative & Summative	20%	1,5,6	No	Mid Semester Break
Exam	Summative	40%	1-5	No	Mid year exam period

Assessment Related Requirements

Attendance at practicals and field exercises is compulsory and will be recorded. The learning outcomes for this course are substantially dependent on this hands-on experience and practice. Therefore, missing any practical class or field session in a semester without an allowed absence will result in a grade of FAIL being recorded for the course.

Students are able to apply for an allowed absence from a class by submitting the application form, with appropriate supporting documentation, to the Course Co-ordinator. However, it remains a requirement to complete that practical assignment in your own time and to submit at the regular dead line (or a different date, negotiated witht he course coordinator in case of extended allowed absence).

Assessment Detail

Practical exercises (40%): Six in-class practical exercises require a short report including results obtained during the exercises. More details will be given at the start of each Practical session.

Fieldtrip (20%): Students work in groups to measure and interpret structural data.

Final exam (45%): A final written exam will be used to summatively assess the course materials.

Submission

Late Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator