Professor: Ron Schott
Office: 237 Tomanek Hall
Phone: 785-628-5348
Email: rschott@fhsu.edu; email is the most reliable way to contact me.
GTalk, Skype: HaysRockDoc Twitter: rschott
Office Hours: MWF 2:30pm - 3:30pm and TuTh 3:00pm - 4:00pm, or by appointment

Meeting Times:

• Lab: Wednesday 3:30-5:20pm in 217 Tomanek Hall

Text Book: Petrology: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic, 3^rd ed. by Blatt, Tracy, and Owens (2006)
Freeman, New York, NY, 530 p., ISBN: 0-7167-3743-4 - available in the Campus Bookstore

Course Website: http://hays.outcrop.org/GSCI320L/ - Also via Blackboard.

Course Schedule: A regularly updated, detailed class schedule for this course, which includes lecture topics, reading assignments and examinations, is posted on the class website. Examination dates will be confirmed, during class, one week in advance.

Course Description:
Petrology is the study of the origin, occurrence, and classification of rocks. This class will examine all three major classes of rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic. The igneous section will focus on topics including the origin and geochemical evolution of magmas, crystallization processes, intrusive and extrusive bodies, and igneous rock classification and associations. The sedimentary section will focus on topics weathering and the origin and mineralogical evolution of sediments, depositional environments, diagenesis, and sedimentary rock classification and associations. The metamorphic section will focus on types of metamorphic change (textural, mineralogical), conditions and agents of metamorphism, the metamorphic facies concept, metamorphic mineral assemblages, and metamorphic rock classification and associations.

Student Objectives: Given a group of rocks, a student will be able to:

• Interpret their geologic origin and tectonic/environmental setting
• Evaluate whether one of more of the rocks do not belong with the others in the group
• Predict other rocks that might be found in association with these
• Evaluate the resource potential of rocks in the region
• Design an analytical plan using geochemical and petrographic tools to further describe these rocks

Student Workload: In order to receive an average grade at FHSU, students are advised to expect to spend about two hours of studying and preparation for each hour spent in class. That amounts to about four hours of studying per week in order to get a B-/B this class. The time you need to spend may vary, depending on your study skills and your academic goals.

Disability Accommodations: In compliance with Fort Hays State University policy and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are available. Students who desire such services are to meet with the professor in a timely manner, preferably the first week of class, to discuss their disability-related needs. For more information on university policies see the FHSU catalog beginning on page 30.

Course Grade: Credit for GSCI 320L is only awarded upon the successful completion of the course. We all want you to succeed in this course. Any student experiencing difficulty with course material should arrange for an immediate conference. Please do not hesitate to do so because many times performance problems can be overcome if they are brought to the attention of the instructor. A tutor may also be available for this course.
The distribution of points for your final grade is as follows:

	
		Weekly Lab Quizzes		  60%
		Final Lab Practical Exam			  30%
		Attendance and Participation	   10%
		Final Course Grade			 100%

	
	A = 100% - 90%       B =90% - 80%	C =80% -70%	     D =70% - 60% 	U = 60% - 0%

Lab Activities: Each week students will be given a new set of 5-15 mineral, rock, and/or thin section samples to learn about. Most often there will be a theme that connects the samples. Students are responsible for learning to identify the rocks, as well as their mineralogy and texture, optical properties (if applicable), geologic origin, occurrence, associations, and uses. Keys that identify the set of rocks from the previous week’s lab will be posted the following Monday, so that students may better prepare for the weekly lab quizzes. Students may collaborate in identifying the rocks and studying for lab quizzes, but ultimately will be responsible for knowing the material individually.

Weekly Lab Quizzes: At the beginning of each lab period there will be a quiz covering the rocks that were the focus of the previous week’s lab. Weekly quizzes are closed book. Questions may cover (but are not limited to) rock identification, mineralogy and texture, geologic origin, occurrence, associations, and uses.

Lab Practical Exam: There will be one final lab practical exam worth 30% of the final lab grade. The exam is cumulative over the entire semester, will be organized around the Student Objectives statement above, and will require an understanding of rocks similar to that tested by the weekly lab quizzes. Rock and mineral samples will be available for study in the weeks leading up to the lab practical exam.

Attendance and Participation: Ten percent of your final grade will be based on attendance and participation. Attendance in class and lab is required. Any exam and lab make-ups must be completed promptly. E-mail me ASAP to arrange them.
   To receive full credit in this category you are expected to attend lab regularly (<2 absences for the entire semester) and demonstrate your active involvement in the class by asking questions, paying attention, and answering intelligently when called upon. Additional absences, unpreparedness, and general malaise will result in a lower grade.
   As another measure of participation, I expect you to check the class website frequently and keep abreast of geology in the news. Finally, I expect you to e-mail me whenever you run into questions about the material, need to schedule make-ups or extra help, or just want to share something that you found interesting about the class.

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."

-- Vince Lombardi