Depositional Environments of the Jordan Formation, Winona, MN

Tom Hickson
,
University of St. Thomas
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Summary

This project involves a field trip to the Jordan Formation in Winona, MN. Student teams are assigned a section of the outcrop from which they are to determine a stratigraphic column. The class then performs a lateral analysis and builds a composite stratigraphic column for the formation. As a final product, the students write up the class's observations about the formation.

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Context

Audience

This activity was designed for an Upper Division Undergraduate class on Sedimentology and Stratigraphy.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

How the activity is situated in the course

This virtual field trip was designed to go along with in class discussion for weeks 6-10 of a 15 week term.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

  • Measure a detailed section and interpret it in terms of grain size, bedding style and other sedimentary structures.
  • Correlate two or more sections and interpret lateral variability

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

This project involves a field trip to the Jordan Formation in Winona, MN. Student teams are assigned a section of the outcrop from which they are to determine a stratigraphic column. The class then performs a lateral analysis and builds a composite stratigraphic column for the formation. As a final product, the students write up the class's observations about the formation.

Determining whether students have met the goals

The student must hand in detailed write-ups of the class's observations and conclusions about the formation including figures and pictures of particular features.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

Other Materials

Supporting references/URLs