INSTRUCTOR: J. M. Rhodes, Morrill IV, Room 163
(Phone 545-2841; e-mail jmrhodes@geo.umass.edu)
(Office hours, Mon, Wed, Fri, 11:00-12:00 a.m..)
TEACHING ASSISTANT: Anja Mueller, Morrill IV, Room 249C
(e-mail amueller@geo.umass.edu)
(Office hours, Thursday, 10:00- 12:00 a.m.)
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Laboratory Assignments: Each laboratory assignment will be completed and written up prior to next weeks lab period.
Homework Problems: Occasional homework problems may be assigned. As with the lab assignments, they are due the following week.
Research Project: Each person in the course will select a rock (pet rock!) to study during the course of the semester. This will include hand-specimen description, thin-section study and complete XRF major and trace element analysis. At the end of the semester you will write a brief report on what you have discovered about your rock. The reports are due the week before final exams, so start early!
Exams: There will be three exams, two during classes in the semester and a final scheduled exam. Each exam will cover the material covered in class and labs prior to the exam.
Grades: Exams 45%
Lab reports and homework 35%
Research Project 20%
Note - this means it should be possible to fail (or not take) the exams and still pass the course providing you do exceptionally well in the labs! Conclusion - labs are very important