GEO 380 Integrative Topics in Geology

Integrative topics in geology is a rotating suite of courses in which geologic concepts are examined primarily through application of geochemistry, data structures, or geophysics. The course may count toward the major as a supplemental course OR an upper division elective. If taken more than once, the second course will count as an upper-division elective in Geology.

Environmental Geochemistry

Low-temperature geochemical techniques are used to understand the global and local circulation of water from the atmosphere through rocks and into groundwater. In this course we will learn how stable isotope and trace elements help define the transport of water, metals, and carbon under changing climate and land-use conditions. Labs will give students an opportunity to apply geochemical tools to a variety of real world settings, using data from the Rocky Mountain headwater catchments to the karst aquifers in central Texas. A final collaborative class project will provide students the unique opportunity to sample, prepare, analyze, and interpret their own stable isotope data using a Picarro instrument in Dr. Sekhon’s laboratory

Prerequisite

GEO105 and two 200-level GEO courses

Corequisite

Must also enroll in GEO 380L

Core Requirements Met

• Laboratory Science
• Mathematics/Science