Instructor:	Dr. R. P. Freeman-Lynde	Office:	Room 145 GGS
Phone:	542-2391 (UGA), 354-1699 (home), 542-2652 (Geology office)	E-mail:	RFREEMAN@UGA.EDU
Office Hours:	MW:8:30-11:00 AM TuTh: 8:30-11:30 AM or by appointment.	Web page:	HTTP://WWW.ARCHES.UGA.EDU/~RFREEMAN

Text: Evolution of the Earth, by Robert H. Dott, Jr., & Donald R. Prothero (Fifth Edition).

Attendance. The following is from the University of Georgia Bulletin:

"Students are expected to attend class regularly. A student who incurs an excessive number of absences may be withdrawn (WF) from a class at the discretion of the professor."

Course Objectives.

Society is currently concerned with the impact of human activities on the environment and the scientific community is involved in the assessment of this impact. Two aspects of the scientific effort are the documentation of the changes that have already been made to the environment and the prediction of future changes. Historical geology has much to contribute to both of these aspects. Documentation of change requires an understanding, or knowledge, of baseline conditions that existed prior to change, or of variations in conditions that may not remain static. The record of baseline conditions can be accessed by historical geology. For example, atmospheric CO₂ content is increasing due to the burning of fossil fuels by humans. The past variation of atmospheric CO₂ content can be obtained from ice core samples, from samples of amber, and from the carbon isotope composition of various materials. Knowledge of past conditions can also be used in predictions of future changes. Again, the climatic effect of increasing atmospheric CO₂ content is of great concern at present. Attempts are being made to make such predictions using computer models. The validity of these computer models can be tested by using these models to reproduce past climates based on the geologic record. The objective of this course is to acquaint you with the principles used in historical geology, to give you an appreciation of the immense amount of time involved in the evolution of the Earth, to illustrate the changes that the Earth has undergone over the last 4.6 billion years, and to examine the implications that past naturally-induced changes have for the future changes wrought by people.

Course Grade:

Lecture	75%
Lab	25%
Total	100%

Lecture Grades, Quizzes, & Exams:

	% total grade	% lecture grade
2 Mid-Term Exams (9/23 & 10/28)	45%	60.00%
Comprehensive Final Exam (12/13)	25%	33.33%
Unscheduled Quizzes	5%	6.67%
Total	75%	100.00%

Attendance at lectures is essential. I will allow 3 unexcused lecture absences. This includes the period for Drop-Add. You will be dropped from the class after I record a 4th unexcused absence. Absences as a result of medical conditions, family emergencies, jury duty, or military duty will be excused when documented by an excuse from a physician or from the Office of Student Affairs (201 Academic Building; 542-2564). Makeup Mid-Term & Final Exams will be given only for students with excused absences. There will be NO makeup quizzes.

Laboratory.

The lab is essentially separate from the lecture part of the course. Every effort will be made to prepare you for work covered in lab. The lab manual is Deciphering Earth History by Robert A. Gastaldo, Charles E. Savrda & Ronald D. Lewis.

Course Strategies.

1) It is assumed that you are familiar with the basics of GEOL1250 or equivalent physical geology course. . If you are not, you need to obtain a physical geology text & read it to gain the necessary background.

2) GEOL1260 covers the geologic history of the Earth and of life on earth. A great deal of information is presented during the semester. It is therefore highly recommended that you read the assigned material in advance of the lectures.

3) It has been shown that recopying notes after class, preferably the same day, greatly reinforces the learning process (& cuts down on study time before exams).

Assignments.

1) Learn the geologic time scale (handout, and page 76, Table 4-1, & endpapers) for Quiz #1. Know the names of the eons, eras, periods & epochs, and the times for the beginning & end of the eons & eras.

2) Learn the 6 Kingdoms, the Phyla of Kingdoms Plantae & Animalia (Appendix I), and the common names of the organisms in Kingdoms Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, & Protista and in the Plantae & Animalia Phyla. (For Quiz #2)

Course Outline

Lecture Topic	Text Reading	Dates
Introduction & Transition from GEOL1250	Chapter 17	August 24
Time & Rates of Geologic Processes	Chapter 1	August 26
Geologic Time; Development of the Geological Time Scale; & Geological Principles; and Stratigraphic Terminology	Chapters 2, 4 & 5	Aug.31-September 7
Lab Exercise 4	-	September 9
Evolution, Charles Darwin & Natural Selection	Chapter 3	September 14-21
MID-TERM EXAM #1	-	September 23
Origin & Early Evolution of the Earth	Chapter 6	September 28-30
Plate Tectonics & Mountain Building	Chapter 7	October 5-7
Cryptozoic Tectonic History	Chapter 8	October 12-14
Cryptozoic & Early Paleozoic Life History	Chapter 9	October 19-26
Lab Exercise 17	-	October 21
MID-TERM EXAM #2	-	October 28
Vendian & Paleozoic Tectonic History:	Chapter 10 Chapter 11 (259-278) Chapter 12 (293-298;305-324) Chapter 13 (328-361; 379-380)	November 2-4
Paleozoic Life History	Chapter 11 (250-259; 277) Chapter 12 (282-293; 298-305; 323-324)	November 9-11
Cenozoic-Mesozoic Tectonic History	Chapter 14 (384-413; 447-448) Chapter 15 (452-482; 503-504)	November 16-18
Cenozoic-Mesozoic Climatic History	Chapter 14 (413-416; 448) Chapter 15 (482-488;504) Chapter 16 (508-527; 538-543)	November 23
Thanksgiving Recess	-	November 24-26
Mesozoic Life History	Chapter 14 (417-448)	Nov. 30-December 2
Cenozoic Life History	Chapter 15 (489-502; 504) Chapter 16 (527-538; 542-543)	December 7-9
FINAL EXAM	-	December 13

The Final Exam will be Monday, December 13, 1997, from Noon-3 PM in room 143.

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