Meeting Time: T/TH, 2-3:30 PM, room 205

Course Description: This course will focus on the recognition and evolution of active structures with particular emphasis on fold and thrust belts, the geomorphic responses to active deformation, and the feedback mechanisms between uplift, climate and tectonics. The course will consist of lectures, discussions, student presentations, in- and out-of-class exercises, and written work. Students will be expected to develop and utilize 3-D visualization skills and to verbally communicate their understanding of active structure development throughout the semester.

• From Doug Burbank: “At present tectonic geomorphology seems to me to be one of the most exciting and diverse fields in geology, as it draws on a multitude of disciplines and is beginning to reveal how climate, erosion, and tectonics interact. In the realm of tectonic geomorphology, we are studying the evolution of growing folds and faults, landscape responses to spatial variations in deformation and climate, rates of surface processes (river incision, land-sliding), strain partitioning in oblique compression and extension, and mass balances in rapidly eroding mountain belts."

Prerequisites: GEOL 3302, Structural Geology; Field Methods & Mapping would be useful but not required.

Recommended Textbooks:
Tectonic Geomorphology (2001; Blackwell Science) by Burbank and Anderson,
Thrust Tectonics (1992) edited by McKlay,
Thrust Tectonics & Hydrocarbon Systems, (2004) edited by McKlay,
The Geology Of Earthquakes (1997) by Yeats, R.S., et al.,
The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting (1992; 2002) by Scholz,
Active Tectonics - Earthquakes, Uplift, and Landscapes (2nd Edition, 2002; Prentice Hall) by Keller and Pinter.

Reviews of general concepts in structural geology may be found in texts such as Structural Geology by Twiss and Moores or Structural Geology of Rocks and Regions by Davis and Reynolds.

In addition to portions of these texts, various journal articles will be read in class.

Required Supplies: Colored Pencils, metric and American ruler, protractor, mechanical divider to measure line-lengths, drawing compass, 4H or 5H pencils with erasers (don't use pens in lab or lecture), calculator with trig functions, pad of tracing paper, grid paper for cross section construction.

Field Trip: TBA, 10-15 March.

Grading: 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D, < 60% F, based on points distributed from a mixture of quizzes, exercises, exams, oral presentations, written assignments, participation and attendance. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned date, unless otherwise noted. Drafts of out-of-class assignments (oral/written/etc.) may be turned in EARLY for review and editing by the professor. The professor will then return the edited draft with comments and suggestions for the student to consider. The student may then revise their exercise before final submittal on the due date. All previous drafts of the exercise must be turned in with the final draft. This will enable the student to maximize their understanding of the exercise as well as the increase the potential for earning the highest possible grade

The distribution and number of assignments differentiated between undergraduate and graduate students is as follows:

GEOL 4361 (Undergraduate): ~2 Quizzes (25 points), >3 Exercises (100), 2 Written Assignments (50), Participation & Attendance (25), Final Paper (100), Final Exam (100). TOTAL POINTS = 400.

GEOL 5361 (Graduate): ~2 Quizzes (25 points), >3 Exercises (100), >3 Written Assignments (100), Participation & Attendance (25), oral Presnetation of Final Paper Topic (100), Final Paper (100), Final Exam (100). TOTAL POINTS = 550.

• The Final Exam Date and Time is Saturday, 7 May, 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM.

Quizzes will consist of on-the-spot question & answer sessions that may be verbal or written. You may be asked to come to the board and draw a diagram, or explain/interpret a map or field photo or rock. You will NOT be given prior warning of a quiz.

Exercises consist of preparing balanced cross sections, deconstructing and reconstructing a portion of a journal article by orally explaining a part of the article in class, orally presenting a paper in class & leading a discussion (mostly graduate students), developing a bibliography for your paper, writing a ‘Discussion’ of some article, or some other type of exercise. You will be given prior warning of an exercise and due date. Exercises will be reasonable in length and expectation. For example, a balanced cross section assignment might take 6-20 hours of work depending on the level of detail; therefore, you would be given at least 1 to 2 weeks to complete this exercise. Remember, you may always show me your draft results before turning in your final product.

Final Paper will be in the form of an original research paper on some aspect of Tectonic Geomorphology. The paper should be approximately 10 pages text not including color/black and white figures, graphs, diagrams, and references. The paper must be written in the format for submittal to GSA Bulletin, Geology, or JGR. It must clearly present a question or problem in the broad field of Tectonic Geomorphology and Active Structures, a data set that addresses the question, and an interpretation that provides and explanation to the problem or question. Original research utilizing DEM’s in ARCGIS, MFWORKS or some other type of GIS is encouraged. For example you may want to research stream gradients in Patagonia. You would then need to download the DEM’s and learn how to calculate a stream profile in the GIS you are using. Different parts of the paper will be assigned over the course of the semester with different due dates as follows.

• The Final Paper will consist of the following parts:
  Bibliography (Due 1 March)
  Paper Outline (Due 8 March)
  Oral Presentation (graduate students only; 8 March)
  Abstract
  Introduction
  Main Body - Including data, table of results, etc.
  Discussion - Including interpretations, implications, etc.
  Conclusions
  References Cited.
  Figures & Captions

Graduate students will present their paper proposals to the class via PowerPoint on 8 March. These presentations will last 12 minutes each with room for questions and discussion. At this point in their research, the student is not expected to have an answer. Rather, the student should be equipped with a general understanding of the problem and the avenues of fruitful research that will most likely lead to new results.

The final paper will be due: 5 May by 5 PM. Late papers will not be accepted. All revised, edited and earlier drafts need to be turned in with the final paper so that I may review your progress and changes.

• Final Paper Topics may include:
  • Interactions of erosion and uplift in forming relief
  • Does precipitation correlate with higher relief and greater uplift?
  • What do numerical models tell us about the nature of climate and tectonic interactions?
  • What are the major active faults in the foreland of the Himalaya and what are their recurrence intervals?
  • How has the Indus river affected metamorphism in Pakistan?
  • Why are blind thrust faults a seismic hazard in Algeria and Southern California?
  • Are the New Zealand alps truly a steady-state mountain range? If so, is the relationship fractal?
  • What are the rates of thrusting and folding in the [insert your favorite orogen] discerned?
  • What is the spatial and temporal relationship between precipitation, bedrock river incision, and uplift in the Nepal Himalaya?
  • other topics….

Additional Needs:
Those with learning disabilities or who require some special arrangements in lecture should see me ASAP. Proof of the particular disability or condition must be furnished. The P.A.S.S. office in West Hall is available for special testing or studying services and counseling. Students may be excused from class for observance of a recognized religious holiday.

Important Dates:

8 FEBRUARY – DEFINE YOUR RESEARCH PAPER PROBLEM
1 MARCH – BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE
8 MARCH – UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE DUE
8, MARCH – GRAD. STUDENT ORAL PRESENTATIONS OF RESEARCH PAPER PROBLEM
10-15 MARCH – FIELD TRIP
5 May, 5 PM – PAPER DUE
7 May, 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM - FINAL