Υ5202 - STRATIGRAPHY

INSTRUCTORS

COURSE KEY ELEMENTS

COURSE CONTENT:

A. Lectures

• Definition of Stratigraphy, its role and importance on Earth-sciences
• Lithostratigraphy and facies relationships; the nature of unconformities
• Biostratigraphy; Principles, accuracy and limitations
• Chronostratigraphy; history of time estimates in geology; the development of the traditional Timescale and its hierarchy; the type section concept and the GSSPs
• Chemostratigraphy (elemental, mineral chemistry, organic carbon, stable isotopes) and paleoclimatic stratigraphic indices
• Geochronology; radiometric Ar/Ar, U-Pb, U-series, dendrochronology, varves, ice cores; Astrochronology and future prospects for improving stratigraphic and timescale resolution
• Geomagnetism, magnetic polarity stratigraphy and the geomagnetic polarity timescale
• Sequence Stratigraphy and sea level change; Basin formation, mountain building and stratigraphy
• Paleogeography, methods and synthesis
• Seismic stratigraphy
• Earth development during Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
• Stratigraphic applications on environmental monitoring, geotechnical issues and geoarchaeology 

B. Practical & Laboratory Exercises

• Exercises 1-3 Construction and correlation of stratigraphic columns and stratigraphic sections. Biostratigraphic datings and stratigraphic continuity. The effect of unconformities and tectonism.
• Exercises 4-6 Neritic, pelagic and transitional sequences, paleogeographic implications.  
• Exercises 7-8 Stratigraphic examples from the Hellenic geological units.
• Exercise 9 Biostratigraphy, isotopic stratigraphy and astrochronology of postalpine deposits.
• Exercise 10 Postalpine formations and stratigraphic correlations.

C. Fieldwork

One-day fieldtrip to Boeotia-Argolis: determination of alpine formations and geotectonic units (neritic, pelagic and transitional facies), based on lithologic, biostratigraphic, sedimentary and tectonic features. Recognition of unconformities and tectonic contacts.               
Sampling of alpine and postalpine deposits, sampling techniques in the field: sample collection and coding. Construction of stratigraphic columns and stratigraphic sections.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES - TEACHING METHODS:

PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA

The assessment process is conducted in Greek (there is the possibility of examination in English for Erasmus students).

For the lab(50%):

• Essays concerning the construction of lithostratigraphic columns and stratigraphic sections, biostratigraphic assessments, recognition of stratigraphic and tectonic relationships and contacts, paleogeographic implications, stratigraphic examples from the Hellenic geological units 

For the theoretical part:

• written  assessment and multiple choice exercises (35%)
• questions concerning the topics discussed in the fieldwork (15%)

RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Course Book is:

• Καρακίτσιος Β. 2001. Στρωματογραφία, εκδόσεις ΑΣΤΑΡΤΗ, σελ. 503, ISBN 960-263-095-7. [Κωδ. ΕΥΔΟΞΟΣ: 4869]
• Κουφός, Γ.Δ., 2008, Μαθήματα Στρωματογραφίας, ISBN: 9789601217567, [Κωδ. ΕΥΔΟΞΟΣ: 17383]"

Suggested Bibliography:

• Brookfield, M., 2004. Principles of Stratigraphy. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 340 p.
• Doyle, P., Bennett M., 1998. Unlocking the Stratigraphical Record: Advances in Modern Stratigraphy. J. Wiley & Sons Ltd, 532 p.
• Nichols G., 2009, Stratigraphy: Concepts and Lithostratigraphy. Wiley-Blackwell, 397 p.
• Wicander R., Monroe , J., 1993. Historical Geology: Evolution of the Earth and Life through Time. West Publishing Company, 640 p.
• Schoch, R., 1989, Stratigraphy: Principles and Methods. Van Nostrand Reinhold (New York), 375 p.
• Armstrong, H.A., Brasier, M.D., 2005. Microfossils. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, p. 296.

Additional Teaching Material:

• Additional bibliographic resources and lecture contents are available to students participating in the course through the relevant course website in (e-class) platform.

¹ V.S.: Visitor Students (e.g. ERASMUS)