Field trips required. An introduction to sedimentary and environmental geochemistry, including carbonate equilibria, coal and petroleum geochemistry, and the geochemistry of aqueous contaminants. Megascopic and microscopic examination of textures and structures of sediments. Mineralogy of sediments and the significance of sedimentary environments. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits under different subtitles.
Course includes an assigned field problem involving geophysical techniques.
Lectures are presented more frequently when field trips are not scheduled. An introduction to exploration seismology with emphasis on the fundamentals of gathering, processing and interpretation of seismic data. The course includes the application of ray theory, Fourier and Z-transforms, and spatial filtering techniques as used in seismic exploration. One four-day field trip required. The geochemical and paleobotanical origin of coal macerals and kerogen.