Course level

Undergraduate

Faculty

Science

Units

2

Duration

One Semester

Class hours

2 Lecture hours
3 Practical or Laboratory hours

Prerequisite

ERTH1000 or ERTH1501

Assessment methods

Examinations & assignments

Course enquiries

Dr Kevin Welsh (k.welsh1@uq.edu.au)

Study Abroad

This course is pre-approved for Study Abroad and Exchange students.

Current course offerings

Course offerings Location Mode Course Profile
Semester 1, 2024 (19/02/2024 - 15/06/2024) St Lucia In Person Course Profile

Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.

Course description

Sediments and sedimentary rocks are the most abundant geological materials at the Earth¿s surface. Sedimentary rocks form from sediments deposited in Earth surface environments including everything from river systems and coal swamps to coral reefs and deep sea fans. The sequence of such deposits in a given region, called stratigraphy, provides the fundamental record of the history of that region¿s environments and thus, the primary data for interpreting Earth¿s geological history. Stratigraphic sequences are critical archives for changing global environments as they reflect and record climatic, tectonic and biological processes through time. Sedimentary sequences also host important resources, including hydrocarbons, coal and many base metal deposits. Hence, sedimentary geology and stratigraphy are fundamental for all professional geoscientists. This course explores the mineralogical and textural composition of the main types of sedimentary rocks, their provenance, dispersal and their depositional structures and characteristics. We define ways of classifying sediments and investigate the physical and chemical changes that occur as sediments lithify to form rocks. Finally the course will introduce the principles of stratigraphy, which will allow students to interpret the temporal and spatial distribution of sedimentary rock units, thereby forming the basis for understanding, the evolution of sedimentary basins and for predicting the distribution of resources. This course is particularly vital for students taking a geological science major to ensure the fundamental skills necessary for third level sedimentology courses, field mapping, energy resources and coral reef studies are firmly in place.

Archived offerings

Course offerings Location Mode Course Profile
Semester 1, 2023 (20/02/2023 - 17/06/2023) St Lucia In Person Course Profile
Semester 1, 2023 (20/02/2023 - 17/06/2023) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2022 (21/02/2022 - 21/06/2022) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2022 (21/02/2022 - 21/06/2022) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2021 (22/02/2021 - 19/06/2021) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2021 (22/02/2021 - 19/06/2021) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 1, 2020 (24/02/2020 - 11/07/2020) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2019 (25/02/2019 - 22/06/2019) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2018 (19/02/2018 - 23/06/2018) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2017 (27/02/2017 - 24/06/2017) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2016 (29/02/2016 - 25/06/2016) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2015 (02/03/2015 - 27/06/2015) St Lucia Internal Course Profile