GEOL 373 - Regional Geology

Credits: 4
Planned Offering: Spring

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and two geology courses numbered 200 or above.The emphasis and location of the study area differs from year to year. Most course activity involves outside fieldwork with a series of multi-day to multi-week field trips. Information about the course is available prior to the end of the fall term. May be repeated for degree credit with permission and if the topics are different but only four credits may be used toward major requirements.

Topic for Spring 2011:

GEOL GEOL 373: Regional Geology of the Argentine Andes (4). Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and two geology courses numbered 200 or above. The Andes of northwest Argentina present incredible geologic conditions and features that demonstrate the processes of mountain building and landscape evolution. In this course, students explore the temporal and spatial development of a major fold-and-thrust mountain belt through readings and the analysis of satellite images, maps, and outcrops containing varied geologic structures and depositional environments. Students also discover the glacial, hillslope, and river processes competing with active uplift to produce the 4 km. of relief along an environmental gradient ranging from humid to arid. Course includes approximately three weeks in northwest Argentina. Harbor