Geology

GSU11004 Spaceship Earth: Introduction to Earth Science System

Description

• Outline the fundamental concepts of Earth Systems Science with reference to its major subsystems: Geosphere, Biosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and Anthroposphere.
• Illustrate how material and energy are cycled through the Earth system
• Describe the links between biotic and abiotic systems and their role in maintaining a habitable planet
• Apply an Earth Systems approach to describe the phenomena of environmental and climate change
• Discriminate between ‘weather’ and ‘climate’ and situate concerns about current climate change in a longer-term (geological) context
• Identify how human activities modify Earth System function
• Apply core concepts in geography and geoscience to real-world examples

GSU11003 The Anthropocene: Constructing the Human Planet

Description

Understand and explain the scientific and cultural significance of the Anthropocene.
• Critically engage with key debates over the Anthropocene that span the natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities.
• Identify the major ethical and political questions facing humanity in a time of ecological uncertainty and environmental degradation.
• Connect the Anthropocene with current events and everyday life, particularly as relates to urban sustainability.

GSU11005 Geology beginners guide to planet earth

Description

• Outline the origin and evolution of planet Earth
• Describe and illustrate the dynamic nature of planet Earth with reference to specific geological processes
• Describe the origins of life on Earth and list the major evolutionary episodes evident in the fossil record
• Explain the links between the evolution of life and environmental conditions on planet Earth
• Outline the geological history of the island of Ireland
• Make basic geological observations, measurements and interpretations in the field and laboratory

GSU22005 Sedimentary Processes and Environments

Description

• Illustrate the importance of geochemistry in Earth Sciences and the relationship between geochemistry and geology, environmental chemistry, oceanography, soil sciences and biology.
• Describe the electronic structure of atoms and ions, as well as the periodic table and the arrangement of atoms to form solids.
• Describe the main geochemical reservoirs Earth and the processes responsible for distributing elements within the crust and mantle.
• Outline the most relevant physicochemical phenomena occurring when minerals are dissolved in melts and aqueous solutions.
• Illustrate the most important processes occurring during the interaction of minerals/rocks with water and their relevance to environmental quality and therefore to humans.
• Define radiogenic and non-radiogenic isotope systematics and their importance in Earth Science.
• Relate the relevance of the carbon cycle and carbonate minerals with life, ocean evolution, climate and availability of elements.

GSU33002 Blue Earth: Understanding the Function of Marine Ecosystems

Description

This module will concentrate on the key processes that regulate the climate and marine biology, from ecosystems to cells.
The module will cover the biogeochemistry of marine and coastal systems, including coral reefs, estuaries and wetlands, processes regulating the formation and fate of organic matter in the marine environment, and introduce analytical and modelling techniques in marine biogeochemistry.

GLU33004 The Crystal World

Description

This module provides an overview of the main characteristics of minerals from a chemical and structural point of view, as well as their formation and transformation process and the factors ffecting their crystallisation and chemical variability. It also focuses on the identification and characterisation of the 10‐top rock‐forming minerals using the petrographic microscope.

GLU33005 Volcanism and Magmatism

Description

This module explores the origin, evolution and emplacement of magmas and the effect of magmatic and volcanic processes on society and the environment. The module provides an overview of the most important igneous rocks at a range of scales (tectonic setting, outcrop, hand specimen and thin section) through investigations of thin section and hand samples, videos and analogue experiments.

GLU33006 Stratigraphy: Earth Through Time

Description

This module sets the foundation for how to reconstruct the history of our planet, from the samples and techniques employed, through the controversies that remain. It will address the fundamental question of how to constrain geological time, and why this is important to unravel the fundamental processes that control the Earth system.

GLU33008 Metamorphic Rocks and Processes

Description

This module introduces the minerals and mineral assemblages that develop in metamorphosed basic igneous rocks (metabasites), mudstones and shales (pelites) and limestones (calc-silicates) investigations of thin sections, hand samples and maps.

GLU33009 Hydrology and Groundwater Quality

Description

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of hydrological processes, following the different pathways of water through the terrestrial part of the hydrological cycle. It also aims to familiarise students with the factors affecting groundwater quality, and to develop an understanding of groundwater quality issues in the context of integrated catchment management.

GLU33928-Structural Geology

Description

This module aims to develop an understanding of structures in three dimensions by introducing the principal means of presenting structural data, namely maps, cross sections and stereographic projections. Students will examine the geometries, kinematics and mechanics of rock deformation. They will also deal practically with the representation of three-dimensional structural data using maps, cross-sections and stereographic projections.

GLU44005-Advanced Palaeontology

Description

This module will build on foundation courses in Fresh and Junior Sophister to explore topics of palaeoecology/palaeoenvironmental analysis in more depth, with an emphasis on current research (e.g. in the field of conservation palaeobiology), and in association with concepts of palaeobiogeography, taphonomy and evolutionary theory. In addition, it will focus on practical aspects and methodologies of palaeontology, including field collection, sample preparation, microscopy, imaging, museum curation and data analysis. The course will contain some student-led practical elements that will draw on current palaeontological research and methods. Irish examples will be integrated throughout to further a deeper understanding of the geological history of the island.

GLU44006 Carbonates: from the Atomic to the Planetary Scale

Description

This module provides a review of the most important carbonate minerals, their stability, reactivity and natural distribution. After an introduction on the importance of carbonates in Earth and planetary sciences, technology, carbon capture and storage and environmental sciences, we will focus on the chemistry and structures of carbonate minerals and the discussion on the processes that lead to adsorption and uptake of foreign ions by these minerals. The module concludes with the principal methods for carbonate synthesis and key tools for characterisation.

GLU44007 Earth Resources for a Critical Future

Description

This module introduces students to a wide range of mineral deposits with an emphasis placed on raw materials critical to energy conservation, transport, and infrastructure. Students will gain a broad understanding of earth resources and important occurrences of mineral deposits in the Earth’s Crust.
The students will become familiar with the environments in which various ore resources and critical elements form as well as the implications for exploration, assessment and recovery of critical raw materials for a decarbonized society.

GLU44008 Early Earth Evolution

Description

This module explores the uncertain science of the first billion years of Earth history. This was a period of significant change however, the rock record is both sparse and ambiguous. Furthermore, the processes that shaped our planet may not have operated by the same mechanisms or at the same rate as today, and therefore the present may not be the key to the past. We will start by introducing the tools used to understand the early Earth, and then move on to investigate the formative processes that shaped the planet:
• What were conditions like in the Hadean? How did geological processes operate before plate tectonics?
• When did modern plate tectonics begin?
• And how and when did continental crust form?

GLU44009 Geoscience for a Sustainable Planet

Description

Sense-making: Understanding geoscience systems in relation to sustainable development and societal needs.
• Ideation: Identifying opportunities for geoscience to address sustainability and climate-change challenges.
• Communication: Explaining how geoscience knowledge may help to meet Sustainable Development Goals.
• The module will avail of:
• Blended learning incorporating both online and in-person classes.
• Practical sessions with case studies and hands-on exercises.
• Focussed discussion groups.
Challenge-based learning.

GLU44010 Hydrocarbon Exploration in Rift Basins

Description

This module introduces the principal theoretical concepts behind hydrocarbon generation, migration and accumulation. It then investigates the coupled tectonic – climatic controls on sedimentary geodynamics in rift basins, which lead to the deposition of key source, reservoir and seal lithologies. Finally, the technical process of hydrocarbon exploration is outlined and illustrated using Industry data from three different rift systems across the Equatorial Tropics of Africa: in Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The module includes a four-day residential field course, during Study Week, to the classic Namurian coastal exposures of Co. Clare, where exploration field geology concepts and techniques will be tested and applied in a series of problem-solving exercises.

GLU44011 Palaeoceanography and Palaeoclimatology

Description

TBC

GLU44012-Raw Materials in Building

Description

The module will explore several recent failures in building materials and their legacy, highlighting the need for professional geoscientists in the industry.
We explore the types of bulk raw materials and end uses (road dressing, concrete and mortar aggregate, fill, soil) in Ireland, focusing on specified properties and national standards.
Basic testing methods and advanced analytical techniques will be covered, along with method and standard development. Predicting the stability of raw materials and the lifespan of the structures they are used in will introduce the topics of site-won material, recycling and alternative green building materials. The quarrying / extraction and processing will be taught with a trip to a working quarry / gravel pit / recycling and site stabilisation site.