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Geology 4650/7650

Active Volcanoes, Plate Tectonics and the "Ring of Fire"

Instructor:  Eric Sandvol, sandvole@missouri.edu
Mailing address: 101 Geology Building
Office:  Room 9 Geology Building
Phone:  884-9616
Office Hours:  Mondays and Wednesdays 12:00-2:00 and by appointment

Overview

This course is designed to cover the basics of the theory of plate tectonics. This theory revolutionized the earth sciences and the way people think of earth processes. By definition the theory of plate tectonics is an interdisciplinary paradigm therefore it is necessary to cover a wide range of topics from seismology to paleontology.  However, I am a seismologist and hence this course will spend a good deal of time on seismology, geophysics, and plate tectonics.

Reverse Fault	Strike-Slip Fault

Grading

30%    Final Exam
25%    Midterm Exam
20%    Final Term Project
10%    1st Draft of Term Project
15%    Homework

Primary Reference Book:

Global Tectonics;  Kearey and Vine

Secondary Reference Books (Advanced):

Geodynamics:  Applications of Continuum Physics to Geological Problems; Turcotte and Schubert

Plate Tectonics: How it Works;  Cox and Hart

Mantle Convection in the Earth and Planets;  Schubert, Turcotte, and Olson

The Theory of the Earth;  Anderson.

Secondary References (Introductory):

Earth; Press and Sevier

 

Syllabus

Term Project

Class Review

Tectonic Map of Eastern Turkey

MU policy on academic honesty
The University of Missouri is committed to preventing all forms of academic dishonesty. Any student who witnesses any form of academic dishonesty is obligated to inform the professor. Incidents of cheating will be reported to the chair of the department and on to the office of the provost. The University’s action on these reports will be according to the rules and regulations published in the “M book.” If a student is found guilty of any form of academic dishonesty, a failing grade (F) will be assigned.

Accommodation of students with disabilities
Students who have special conditions as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and who need any test or course materials furnished in an alternative format should notify the instructor immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of these students.

Department of Geological Sciences :: College of Arts and Science
University of Missouri-Columbia

last revised: summer 2003
Copyright © The Curators of the University of Missouri