Erosion and deposition in modern and ancient streams
Initial Publication Date: June 29, 2010
Summary
This activity is designed to link how modern day processes are preserved in the rock record. It provides the opportunity to directly compare similar settings. It is an opportunity to practice observation skills and putting information from class and lab into context.
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Context
Audience
This activity is intended for early in a sedimentology course for undergraduate majors.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
This class requires a backgroun from an introductory class. Students will need some knowledge of what to look for in sedimentary grains from one or two previous lab sessions.
How the activity is situated in the course
This is a field trip that could stand alone. It could also become a two part project where students collect samples in the field and analyze rocks and sediments under the microscope in lab.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Concepts that students should learn in this activity are how erosion creates unconformities and sediments. They also get an introduction to how sedimentary rocks preserve past geologic environments.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Students synthesize the information from two locations to connect basic concepts of these idea, but also make observations to discuss how these environments are also different.
Other skills goals for this activity
Field observations, data collection, collaborating with peers.
Description of the activity/assignment
Students will make comparisons between an active stream system and an ancient system recorded in the rock record. Students will be given a list of prompting questions to help them practice field observations. Their task is to identify features of a modern system that can be preserved and think about the environmental changes that occur to ensure preservation.
Determining whether students have met the goals
Students will be assessed on how well they connect processes in the two systems visited and the depth of their analyses and observations. Evaluation will be based on the level of detail in the observations.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment:Erosion and deposition in modern and ancient streams (Microsoft Word 27kB May25 10)
- Instructors Notes:
- Solution Set:
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