Eric Sandvol, MU Dept. of Geological Sciences - Geology 304: Plate Tectonics Syllabus

[ Home ] [ Shear-Wave Splitting ] [ Regional Wave Propagation ] [ Publications ] [ Teaching ]

<< back to Teaching
<< back to Geology 304

Geology 3600 Syllabus

08/22 - Introduction and History of Plate Tectonics (Read Chapter 1)

I. Framework of Plate Tectonics:

A. Plate Motions (sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 4.1-4.7, and 5.9)

08/24 - Plate Rotations on a Sphere and Plate Reconstructions
08/26 - Defining and Finding Euler Poles
08/29 - Paleomagnetism and Polar Wander
08/31 - Sea Floor Spreading

B. Framework of Plate Tectonics (chapter 5)

09/02 - Seismicity Patterns and Plate boundaries
09/05 - Plumes and Hot spots
09/07 - Geodetic Measurements of Plate Motions
09/09 - Triple Junctions
(Term Project Proposals Due)

II. Earth Structure: From the Crust to the Core (Chapter 2)

A. Seismology Overview (sections 2.1 and 2.2)

09/12 – Writing Methods I (Bob Bauer)
09/14 - Earthquake Location and Magnitude
09/16 - Earthquake Focal Mechanisms

B. Crustal and Lithospheric Mantle (sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, and 2.12)

09/19 – Writing Methods II (Bob Bauer)
09/21 – Lithosphere: Crust and Uppermost Mantle (Alan Whittington)
09/23 - Isostasy, Gravity, and the Lithosphere
(Project Abstracts Due)
09/26 – Writing Methods III (Bob Bauer)

C. Mantle Transition Zone, Lower Mantle, and D" (section 2.8)

09/28 - Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, and Tectosphere (Alan Whittington)
09/30 - Composition of the Earth's Mantle Transition Zone and Lower Mantle (Kevin Shelton)

D. Inner Core and Outer Core (section 2.9)

10/03 - Writing Methods IV (Bob Bauer)
10/05 – The Core and Core Mantle Boundary (Paco Gomez)
10/07 - Core Dynamics and the Geodynamo (Peter Nabelek)

III. Plumes and Ridges

10/10 - Mid-Oceanic Ridges and the Ocean Floor (Mian Liu)
10/12 - Lithospheric Structure Beneath Ocean Ridges (Mian Liu)
10/14 - Magma Formation in the Upper Mantle and Global Volcanic Activity (Alan Whittington)

IV. Kinematics

10/17 – The Wilson Cycle (section 10.4)
(Project Outlines Due)

A. Transform and Transcurrent Boundaries (chapter 7)

10/19 - Origin of Transform faults and Fracture Zones
10/21 - Continental Transform Faults

10/24 – Midterm Exam

B. Subduction Zones (chapter 8)

10/26 - Subduction Zones: The Nature of Downgoing Slabs
10/28 – Backarc Basins and Volcanic Arcs
10/31 - Metamorphism and Accreting Subduction Boundaries

C. Collisional Tectonics (chapter 9)

11/02 - Structure of Collision Tectonics
11/04 - Continental Accretion and Delamination
11/07 - Alpine Himalayan Example

D. Rifts (chapter 10)

11/09 - Crustal and Mantle Structure Beneath Rifts
11/11 - Petrogenesis of Rifts
(Project 1^st Drafts Due)
11/14 - Origin of Rifts

V. Mantle Convection, Observations and Theory (chapters 2 and 11)

A. Observations (chapter 2)

11/16 – Seismic Tomography and Mantle Convection
11/18 – Seismic Anisotropy and Mantle Convection

B. Physics of Mantle Convection (chapter 11)

11/28 - Mantle Temperatures and Thermodynamic Properties
11/30 - Driving Force of Plate Tectonics: Slab Pull, Ridge Push, and Basal Drag
12/02 - Nature of Convection in the Mantle (single vs multiple cell convection
12/05 - Viscosity of the Mantle

VI. Last Week

12/07 – Video: Seismic Anisotropy and Mantle Convection
12/09 – Work on Final Projects

Final Exam (Comprehensive)

12/14 (10:30am)
(Final Projects Due)

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