Undergraduate Earth Sciences Skills Bootcamp

Undergraduate Earth Sciences Skills BootcampProgram at a Glance

Dates: Aug 29 – Sep 02

Delivery Method: In person

Location: Herzberg 2120, 2130; and field locations that vary each day.

Required Courses: ERTH 1006, ERTH 2102

Full program fee: $50.00

Alright rock-stars, it’s time to dig out your hiking shoes, brush off your petrographic microscopes and get ready to rock. We will leave no stone unturned in this micro-credential field and lab skill course designed for 3rd and 4th-year earth sciences undergraduate students.This course – spread over a five day period – will teach you how to identify minerals and rocks and introduce crystallography, crystal chemistry and systematic minerology. You will learn how to use polarized light microscopy and other analytical methods. And you will learn to interpret and communicate observations.Now, if that doesn’t whet your apatite, view the in-depth learning outcomes and course descriptions provided below to learn more.What You Will Learn

Learn how minerals and rocks are classified and named.

Identify minerals and rocks in hand specimen and thin section.

Introduce crystallography, crystal chemistry, and systematic mineralogy.

Relate the physical properties of minerals to their crystal structures.

Introduce analytical methods used in modern mineralogy and petrology, especially polarized light microscopy.

Appreciate the influence of crystal chemistry on mineral assemblages in rocks and mineral weathering

Develop the ability to research and learn mineralogical and petrological topics individually and in groups.

Implement best safety and best field or lab work practices; work effectively (e.g. independently or with others)

Identify, classify, describe and document minerals, rocks, textures, and structures of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic origin

Distinguish between observations and interpretations.

Communicate observations, interpretations and conclusions through field notes and discussions with peers and instructors.

Laboratory Safety

Locate first aid kit.

Report injury to lab coordinator.

Know the location of hand washing station for each lab.

Know the procedure for cleaning of workstation and microscope.

Know the location of electrical outlets beneath the lab tables and is aware of the potential hazard.

Know how to safely pick up a polarizing microscope.

Mineral Identification

Students should be able to identify rock forming minerals using standard mineral identification techniques to determine the diagnostic characteristics of minerals.

Know the physical properties of the common rock-forming minerals.

Know how to use tools to aid in determination of physical properties.

Know the common minerals in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Rock Identification

Students should be able to identify, name and describe common igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

Distinguish rock types based on the composition (mineralogy) and texture of the 3 main rock types.

Use tools such as hand lens, magnet, HCl acid, grain size card to aid in mineral identification and textural characteristics.

Familiar with rock naming charts based on mineral abundances and textural characteristics.

Students should be able to relate igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks to plate tectonic settings.

How to use a petrographic microscope

Understands the use of objectives, quartz plate, analyzer, Bertrand lens, focus knobs

Handles thin sections with appropriate care

Mineral identification with the petrographic microscope

Understands the utility of plane- versus cross-polarized light

Knows the properties of the key rock-forming minerals in plane light

Familiarity with birefringence determinations

Knows how to describe optical orientation of mineral grains in a thin section and how to pick the best one for optical figure determination

Can sketch the fundamental relationships between minerals or rock particles in a thin section

Textural Information using the petrographic microscope

Describe the relationships of different crystals in a thin section

Know the basic textural terms applied to minerals in different rock types

Safety in the field

Familiarization with field safety and emergency procedures (i.e. in the area; for the program, etc.).

Wears appropriate clothing for field work.

Evaluate the outcrop and its location and identify the safety hazards specific to this locality.

Use bright field vests or hardhats at roadside outcrops or in rock quarries where necessary.

Avoid standing beneath steep rock walls or cliffs.

Correct use of geological hammers, chisels, etc., with safety goggles, gloves (as necessary)

Awareness of location of other people in the field group at all times, especially if using hammers.

Rock and mineral identification in field situations

Applies basic rock and mineral identification skills to name rocks in the field.

Assign igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary origin to rocks in the area and name rock types observed.

Determines if cross-cutting relations exist to establish a relative chronology of rock formation.

Evaluate the presence of major rock structures at outcrop scale.

Structural geology in the field

Use Brunton compass for measuring orientations of linear and planar geological features.

Determine whether structures observed are primary (bedding, unconformities, etc.) or secondary (joints, faults, folds, etc.).

Evaluate cross-cutting relationships and other data to determine a relative chronology of structure formation.

Documenting and communicating data and interpretations in the field (i.e. note taking).

Develop a stratigraphic column and geological history

Students should observe, describe and identify sedimentary rocks, fossils and sedimentary structures.

Students should understand the relationships that exist between the energy of an environment of transportation or deposition and sedimentary texture and/or composition.

Students should interpret their observations and provide and interpretation of potential depositional environments.

Draft a stratigraphic column of the rock units in the area.

Students should be able to apply the Principles of Relative Age Dating to a sequence of rocks observed in the field.

Using both numeric and relative age dating techniques students should be able to interpret the geologic history of a sequence of rocks and determine the age or age range for a rock unit within that sequence.

Who Should Attend3^rd and 4^th-year undergraduate students from Earth SciencesPrerequisites: ERTH 1006, ERTH 2102

Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6
Canada
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