Clastic depositional systems II – field course

obligatory courses

Before attending course, the student should have basic knowledge in the field of sedimentation processes, especially in the processes associated with clastic rock sedimentation environments.

Student before the course on Clastic Depositional Systems II – field trip should participate in the classes on Physical Geology, Geomorphology and Sedimentology (both exercises and lectures), Clastic Depositional Systems I.

Clastic Depositional Systems II – field course is continuing the Discussion course on the clastic depositional systems. The field trip enables practical verification of knowledge, learning the description of sedimentary succession, interpretation of the fossil record as well as extending knowledge of regional geology.

Clastic Depositional Systems II – field course is continuing the Discussion course on the clastic depositional systems. The course is focused on recognizing of clastic sequences of selected areas of Poland. Depending on the choice of students, the course can take place in one of the four variants: [1] Marine clastic sedimentary successions of the Outer Carpathians, [2] Shallow marine sedimentation in the Fore-Carpathian Basin, [3] Continental and marine clastic sedimentary successions of the Sudetes.

Regardless of the trip variant chosen by the students, students will be able to decide whether the chosen issue is carried out as part of field work or as the description of the core material in the Chmielnik storage.

Regardless of the chosen variant, the course presents fossil clastic environments and their economic potential, both as rock raw materials, parent rock, migration path, as well as reservoir rock.

[Variant 1] The aim of the course is to independently describe and characterize the marine series of the Outer Carpathians, e.g. Hieroglyphic beds, Ciężkowice sandstones, Krosno sandstones or Menilite beds. Based on their own sections, students interpret the sedimentation environment. Based on a comparison with published data, they discuss the correctness of their interpretations and the regional context of their interpretation.

[Variant 2] The aim of the course is to independently describe and characterize the shallow-marine succession of the northern marginal depozone of the Fore-Carpathian Basin (in Roztocze) as well as in the zone directly adjacent to the Carpathian overlap. Based on their own sections, students interpret the sedimentation environment. Based on a comparison with published data, they discuss the correctness of their interpretations and the regional context of their interpretation.

[Variant 3] The aim of the course is to independently describe and characterize the continental and marine series of the Sudetes, e.g. the Carboniferous series of Świebodzice Depression, continental Permian and Triassic formations, marine Cretaceous series. Based on their own sections, students interpret the sedimentation environment. Based on a comparison with published data, they discuss the correctness of their interpretations and the regional context of their interpretation.

[Variant 4] The aim of the course is to independently describe and characterize Quaternary deposits, e.i. aeolian sands of dune, gravel-sandy series accumulated in glacimarginal fan and tills. Based on their own sections, students interpret the sedimentation environment. Based on a comparison with published data, they discuss the correctness of their interpretations.

In order to achieve the learning outcomes defined for the course, the student must take part in classes (30h) and take the time to prepare the issues he will present during the trip (estimated approx. 30h).

After completing the course Clastic depositional systems II - field trip the student knows the principles of preparing sedimentological-lithological sections of clastic rocks, can interpret the sedimentation environment on the basis of the fossil record, knows the stratigraphic and lithostratigraphic units of the area where the trip took place in a given year. Correctly describes the geological structures and interprets sedimentary and tectonic processes. Analyzes the architecture of sedimentary basins and their reservoir potential.

The student has knowledge about the processes and factors shaping the Earth, can interpret various environments of clastic rock sedimentation. He has knowledge about sedimentation processes, knows terminology, both Polish and English, concerning the description of modern and ancient sedimentary basins, can characterize marine and terrestrial depositional systems, their origin and evolution. Student is able to independently interpret the results of the research and has own opinion on the subject of discussion; can efficiently use a variety of Polish and foreign professional literature and critically evaluate its content. Student uses on-line geological data, can verify them, can report, using multimedia techniques, research results and the state of knowledge related to the Polish and foreign literature. Thanks to group compilation of issues, the student cooperates in thematic groups.

The final grade is the arithmetic mean of the activity assessment during fieldwork, outline assessment and field materials prepared before the field trip, and assessment of attachments performed in the field.

Not applicable.