Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LC Earth History and Life
School	School of Geog Earth & Env Sci
Department	Earth and Environ Sciences
Module Code	03 29202
Module Lead	Ivan Sansom
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-25 hours Practical Classes and workshops-20 hours Guided independent study-155 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	The module focusses on how planet Earth has changed physically and biologically through geological time and introduces the principles of stratigraphy and palaeontology. The concepts of deep-time and the geological timescale are developed and provide a fundamental framework for studies in Geological and Earth Sciences. Through lectures, case studies are presented from the geological timescale that address key events in Earth history including the plate tectonic and palaeogeographic history of the planet, the development of global biogeochemical cycles, profound episodes of evolutionary diversification and extinction, as well as global patterns of climate and environment change through time. Integrating lecture and practical content the module will introduce invertebrate macrofossils and trace fossils, and their modes of preservation, and palaeontological topics dealt with include the classification, morphology and modes of life and geological importance of trilobites, brachiopods, molluscs, graptolites, echinoderms and corals. Trace fossils are dealt with in terms of their classification and evidence for organism:sediment interactions. Delivery methods are based on a combination of 25 lectures focussing on principles of stratigraphy, case studies though Earth History and introductory level palaeontology, and 20 hours of specimen based laboratory classes to provide both theoretical and practical experience of the subject.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Recount the major systems of the geological timescale and understand the principles of stratigraphy and deep-time. Demonstrate how the planet Earth has changed through geological time as a result of past geological processes. Explain the relationship between changing climates and geological processes at a global to local scale. Understand key events in Earth History and link these to likely causal mechanisms. Identify and classify the commoner types of invertebrate macrofossils and trace fossils. Describe, in basic terms, the modes of fossil and trace fossil preservation. Demonstrate how fossils can be used in biostratigraphy. Use fossils and trace fossils to aid inference of sedimentary environnment and in palaeogeographical reconstruction.
Assessment	29202-07 : Coursework : Coursework (50%) 29202-08 : Examination : Exam (School Arranged) - Written Unseen (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: 1.5 hour written exam (1 seen question, 5 short answer questions) (50%) Practical assessments (50%) Reassessment: Examination only comprising 2 hour written exam overing the learning outcomes.
Other	None
Reading List