Mark Schmitz Teaching

I regularly teach or co-teach a variety of courses in geology and geochemistry, for both undergraduates and graduate students. Syllabi for these courses may be found via the links below.

I also advise undergraduate students in research projects ranging from one semester directed studies (GEOS 480) to senior theses (GEOS 495). Students having completed GEOS 100 and 200, and interested in engaging in a research project in field geology, geochemistry, or geochronology should contact me directly.

Undergraduate Courses:

GEOS 200 EVOLUTION OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA (3-V-4)(F). Advanced introduction to geologic sciences. Regional and global tectonics and their relationship to igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary processes, chemical differentiation, and landscape evolution. Emphasis on understanding the rock record by integrating field and analytical observations from various geologic disciplines. Field trips required. PREREQ: GEOS 100 or GEOS 101. COREQ: MATH 147.

GEOS 330 QUATERNARY GEOCHRONOLOGY (3-0-3)(F/S). Examine the methods used to establish the timing, duration and rates of geological and geoarchaeological events and processes within the last approximately two million years of Earth history, historically referred to as the Quaternary system or period. PREREQ: GEOS 100 or GEOS 101; COREQ: GEOS 200 or PERM/INST.

GEOS 425 WHOLE EARTH GEOCHEMISTRY (3-0-3)(F/S). Basic tools and topics of modern geochemistry with an emphasis on solid-earth applications. Essentials of thermodynamics, kinetics, radiogenic and stable isotopes, and trace element chemistry necessary to study Earth processes in the crust, mantle, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Completion of or co-enrollment in MATH 175 is recommended. PREREQ: GEOS 300, CHEM 112, MATH 170.

Graduate Courses:

GEOS 525 WHOLE EARTH GEOCHEMISTRY (3-0-3)(F/S). Basic tools and topics of modern geochemistry with an emphasis on solid-earth applications. Essentials of thermodynamics, kinetics, radiogenic and stable isotopes, and trace element chemistry necessary to study Earth processes in the crust, mantle, hydrosphere and atmosphere. PREREQ: PERM/INST.

GEOS 638 RADIOGENIC ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY AND GEOCHRONOLOGY (3-0-3)(F/S). Comprehensive overview of theory, methods, and applications of radiogenic isotope geochemistry and geochronology to a wide range of earth science problems. PREREQ: PERM/ INST.

GEOS 645 PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF MOUNTAIN BUILDING (3-0-3)(F/S). An introduction to modern methods for analyzing the pressure-temperature-time paths and histories of metamorphic terrains comprising modern and ancient mountain belts; subjects to include quantitative geothermobarometry, chemical diffusion and closure temperature theory, geochronology and thermochronology, the thermal structure and evolution of mountain belts. PREREQ: PERM/INST.

Additional Course Information

Course Outcomes:

Develop an understanding of the principles and mechanics of the scientific method, as used by geoscientists to study geological phenomena.
Develop skills in field observation, critical thinking, and geological inference, applied to geologic mapping.
Apply concepts from geology, geochemistry and geophysics to understand the geologic, magmatic and tectonic evolution of western North America.
Achieve a familiarity with sources of scientific information and be able to utilize scientific literature.

This course is designed to provide future geoscientists with a basic understanding of how geological processes have shaped the structure and evolution of the western North American continent. The study of the geology of western North America in turn serves as a means of introduction to the nature of scientific investigation, and the research methods geologists apply to formulate and test geological hypotheses.

Course Assessment:

1) Attendance and Participation (10%) Participation in class discussions and completion of in-class exercises.

2) Midterm exam (15%) This will be an in-class short answer format exam.

3) Final Exam (15%) This will be a comprehensive short answer format exam.

4) Castle Rock Notebook (10%) Students will compile a detailed field notebook entry describing their observations of the sedimentary deposits of the Castle Rock field area.

5) Swan Falls Notebook and Lab Project (15%) Students will compile a detailed field notebook entry describing their observations of the phreato-magmatic deposits of the Swan Fall – Sinker Butte field area, and complete an in-class laboratory exercise on complementary analytical methods for studying igneous rocks.

6) Reynolds Creek Notebook (10%) Students will compile a detailed field notebook entry describing their observations of the geology of the Reynolds Creek field area.

7) Castle Rock Map Project (25%) Students will generate a compiled geologic map, cross section, and written report describing and interpreting the geology of the Castle Rock field area. Emphasis will be placed on using observations and supporting laboratory data to interpret the geologic significance and history of the western Snake River Plain.

Extra credit: Summaries of selected Department Seminars (Mondays, 3:30-4:30) When the topic is appropriate (as announced in class), students who attend the Geosciences Department Seminar, write a one page narrative summary, and turn it in by beginning of class on the following Tuesday will receive up to 1% of the total course point total for each summary.

Required Text & Materials

1) The Geoscience Handbook, AGI Data Sheets, Fourth Edition, edited by J.D. Walker and H.A. Cohen; publisher: American Geological Institute

2) Field notebook (recommended: hardbound “Rite in the Rain” journal #390F or equivalent

3) Field mapping board (e.g. 2 – 10” x 12” plexiglass sheets duct-taped together) or clipboard

Course Schedule: Fall 2009

Week 1: The Scientific Method

Lab: In class – Field Techniques Review

Week 2: Science Focus: The Snake River Plain

Lab: In field (Castle Rock) – Field Observations and Measurements: Snake River Plain Lithology and Superposition

Week 3: Making Geological Observations

Lab: In field (Swan Falls) – Field Observations and Measurements: Snake River Plain Phreato-magmatism

Week 4: From Observations to Hypotheses

Lab: In class – Laboratory Observations and Measurements: Geochemistry, Petrography and Remnant Magnetism

Week 5: Testing Hypotheses: Geologic Mapping

Lab: In field (Reynolds Creek) – Field Observations and Measurements: Snake River Plain Structure

Week 6: Stretching Our Horizons: Isotope Geochemistry

Lab: In field (Castle Rock) – Start Field Map

Week 7: Its About Time: Geochronology

Lab: In field (Castle Rock) – Continue Field Map

Week 8: Mid-Term Exam 10/15

Lab: In class – Constructing Cross-sections

Week 9: Neogene – Basin and Range, Extension and Magmatism

Lab: In field (Castle Rock) – Finish Field Map

Week 10: Cretaceous-Paleogene – Batholiths, Arcs and Core Complexes

Lab: In class – Castle Rock Map and Cross-section Compilation

Week 11: Early Mesozoic – Accreted Terranes

Lab: In class – Castle Rock Map Presentations

Week 12: Late Paleozoic – Antler and Sonoma Orogenies

Lab: In class – Field Report Work Period

Week 13: Early Paleozoic – Passive Margin

Lab: In class – Field Report Work Period

Week 14: Thanksgiving Holiday – No Classes

Week 15: The Proterozoic – Continental Construction

Lab: In class – Field Report Work Period

Week 16: The Archean – Cratons

Course Outcomes:

Apply the principles and methods of the most widely used numerical dating methodologies for the Quaternary period, and how they constrain the timing, duration and rates of geologic and archaeological events and processes.
Apply critical thinking skills through the scientific method to address a range of problems in geochronology.
Develop the ability to critically read and comprehend research articles in geology and archaeology within the primary scientific literature (technical journals).
Demonstrate the ability to articulate the results of scientific research.

This course is designed to examine the principles and methods of the most widely used numerical dating methodologies for the Quaternary period (roughly the last two million years of Earth history), and how they constrain the timing, duration and rates of geologic and archaeological events and processes. Our discussions will focus on the resolving power, strengths and weaknesses of various geochronological techniques, and strategies for their successful application to a range of geological and geoarchaeological problems.

Each geochronological method will be presented and studied in a three week module comprising lectures, reading of scientific literature, manipulation and analysis of scientific data, and group presentations of research results.

Course Assessment:

individual summaries of scientific papers read in each course module
group poster presentations of the analysis of a data set for each geochronological method
final research proposal detailing the application of one or more geochronological methods to a scientific problem

Required Text: (available in the Bookstore)

Walker, Mike, 2005, Quaternary Dating Methods, John Wiley and Sons, 286 p.

Supplementary Texts: (available at Albertson Library)

Noller, J.S., Sowers, J.M., and Lettis, W.R., (eds.) Quaternary Geochronology Methods and Applications, American Geophysical Union Reference Shelf Series 4, Washington DC, 2000

Rutter, N.W., and Catto, N.R. (eds.) Dating Methods for Quaternary Deposits, Geological Association of Canada GeoText 2, 1995

Rapp and Hill, Geoarchaeology: the Earth-Science Approach to Archaeological Interpretation, Yale University Press, 1998.

Dickin, A.P. Radiogenic Isotope Geology, Cambridge University Press, 1994 (on reserve for GEOL 572)

Faure, G., Principles of Isotope Geology, 2^nd ed., Wiley, 1986

Course Schedule: Spring 2009

Module 1: Dendrochronology

1/21 – 1/28: lectures and reading

1/30 – 2/4: data analysis

2/6: in class presentations

2/9: method recap

Module 2: Radiocarbon (¹⁴C)

2/11 – 2/18: lectures and reading

(2/16: President’s Day, no class)

2/20 – 2/25: data analysis

2/27: in class presentations

3/2: method recap

Module 3: U-Series Disequilibria (²³⁴U and ²³⁰Th)

3/4 – 3/9: lectures and reading

3/11 – 3/16: data analysis

3/18: in class presentations

3/20: method recap

(3/23 – 3/27: Spring Break, no class)

Module 4: Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL)

3/30 – 4/3: lectures and reading

4/6 – 4/10: data analysis

4/13: in class presentations

4/15: method recap

Module 5: ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs

4/17 – 4/22: lectures and reading

4/24 – 4/29: data analysis

5/1: in class presentations

5/4: method recap

5/6: final project assignment (due final exam period)

Course Outcomes:

Be able to describe the fundamental concepts of geochemistry, and how they constrain the origin, composition, and evolution of the Earth.
Be able to apply principles of physics, chemistry, and mathematics to understand geochemical processes.
Be able to apply geochemical knowledge and critical thinking skills to address a range of geological problems.
Utilize computers and software to solve problems in the field of geochemistry.
Be familiar with sources of scientific information and be able to utilize scientific literature in geochemistry.

This course is designed to be a quantitative examination of the field of geochemistry — the application of chemical principles to the study of Earth materials and processes, including the Earth’s mantle, crust, hydrosphere and atmosphere. To understand the scientific principles that govern geochemical systems, we will review the essentials of thermodynamics and kinetics, two-component mixing, isotope and trace element chemistry. These principles will be applied to understanding topics including nucleosynthesis and the formation of the elements; the formation and chemical differentiation of the Earth; isotope systems as tracers and chronometers; chemical weathering and aqueous geochemistry of the continents and oceans.

Course Assessment:

problem sets & assignments 50%
class discussion and participation 10%
mid-term exam 20%
final exam 20%
final project (grads only) (25%)

Problem Sets & Assignments:

All problem sets/assignments must be submitted through Canvas
All problem sets/assignments are due for full credit one week after handout.
There will be a new assignment each week, so please keep up!

Required Text: (available in the Bookstore)

McSween, H. Richardson, S., and Uhle, M., Geochemistry: Pathways and Processes, 2^nd ed., Columbia University Press, 2003.

Supplementary Texts: (available at Albertson Library)

Faure, G., Principles and Applications of Inorganic Geochemistry, 2^nd ed., Prentice Hall, 1997.

Allegre, C., From Stone to Star: A View of Modern Geology, Harvard University Press, 1992.

Wood, B.J. and Fraser, D.J., Elementary Thermodynamics for Geologists, Oxford University Press, 1977.

Course Schedule: Fall 2009

Week 1: Review: Atomic Theory, Periodic Properties of the Elements and Chemical Bonding (Chapter 1,2)

Week 2: Review: Whole Earth Composition, Structure and Geodynamics; Nucleosynthesis (Chapters 12 and 15; also Allegre, “From Stone to Star”)

Week 3: Laws of Thermodynamics, Entropy, and Enthalpy, and Free Energy (Chapter 3,9)

Week 4: Thermodynamics of Solutions: Chemical Potential (Chapter 4,9)

Week 5: Thermodynamics of Solutions: Equilibrium Constants and Geothermometry (Chapter 4,9)

Week 6: Trace Element Geochemistry (Chapter 12)

Week 7: Radiogenic Isotopes: Geochronology (Chapter 14)

Week 8: Mid-Term Exam 10/16

Week 9: Radiogenic Isotopes: Tracers (Chapter 14)

Week 10: Mixing Processes (Faure, Chapter 16)

Week 11: Kinetics and Diffusion (Chapter 5,11)

Week 12: Stable Isotopes: Equilibrium Fractionation (Chapter 13)

Week 13: Stable Isotopes: Kinetic Fractionation (Chapter 13)

Week 14: Thanksgiving Holiday – No Classes

Week 15: Aqueous Geochemistry: Acid-Base Reactions and pH; Oxidation-Reduction Reactions and Eh (Chapters 5,7,8)

Week 16: Reactions at the Earth’s Surface: Chemical Weathering, Soils and Natural Waters (Chapter 5,7,8)

Course Outcomes:

Be able to describe the fundamental concepts of isotope geochemistry, and their application to understanding the origin, composition, and evolution of the Earth, and how the Earth system responds to internal and external forces.
Be able to apply physics, chemistry, and mathematics to understand geological processes.
Be able to apply geochemical knowledge and critical thinking skills to address a range of problems in isotope geology and geochemistry.
Utilize computers and software to solve problems in the fields of isotope geology and geochemistry.
Be familiar with sources of scientific information and be able to utilize scientific literature in isotope geology and geochemistry.

This course is designed to be a survey of the field of radiogenic isotope geochemistry and its application to the study of Earth materials and processes. The focus will be on the major long-lived radioactive decay schemes (e.g. K-Ar, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf, Re-Os, U-Th-Pb), as well as cosmogenic and U-series nuclides, their systematics and application. We will investigate topics which utilize radiogenic isotope systems as both tracers and/or chronometers, including: the formation and chemical differentiation of the Earth; igneous petrology and the chemical geodynamics of the solid Earth; metamorphism and orogenesis; the isotope composition of continental waters and oceans; isotopic constraints on the stratigraphic record including geochronology and chemostratigraphy; geochemical cycling.

Course Assessment:

problem sets & assignments 50%
mid-term exam 20%
final exam 20%
class discussion & participation 10%

Problem Sets and Assignments: Due for full credit one week after assignment.

Required Text (available in Bookstore)

Faure, G. and Mensing, T.M., Isotopes: Principles and Applications, 3^rd ed., Wiley, 2006.

Supplementary Text (available in Albertson Library)

Dickin, A.P., Radiogenic Isotope Geology, 2^nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Heaman, L.M., and Ludden, J.L. (eds.) Applications of radiogenic isotope systems to problems in geology; Short course handbook v. 19, Mineralogical Association of Canada, 1991.

Valley, J.W., and Cole, D.R. (eds.) Stable Isotope Geochemistry, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 43, Mineralogical Society of America, 2001.

Hanchar, J.M., Hoskin, P.W.O. (eds.) Zircon, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 53, Mineralogical Society of America, 2003.

McDougall, I., Harrison, T.M., Geochronology and thermochronology by the 40Ar/39Ar method, Oxford University Press, 1999.

Course Schedule

Week 1: Nuclear Systematics & Trace Element Geochemistry (Faure Ch. 1; Dickin Ch. 1; Supplements)

Week 2: Law of Radioactive Decay (Faure Ch. 2-3; Dickin Ch. 1)

Week 3: Geochronology, Model Ages and Isochrons (Faure Ch. 4,6; Dickin Ch. 5)

Week 4: Mass Spectrometry (Dickin Ch. 2)

Week 5: U-Th-Pb Zircon Geochronology (Faure Ch. 10-11; Dickin Ch. 5; Hanchar and Hoskin)

Week 6:⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar Geochronology (Faure Ch. 6-7; Dickin Ch. 10; McDougall&Harrison Ch. 2-4)

Week 7: Geochemical Statistics I: Parametric Statistics and Error Propagation (Dickin Ch. 2; Supplements)

Week 8: Geochemical Statistics II: Linear Regression and Non-Parametric Methods (Dickin Ch. 2; Supplements)

Week 9: Mid-Term Exam 10/18; (Faure Ch. 8; Dickin Ch. 3)

Week 10: Spring Break (No Classes)

Week 11:⁸⁷Rb-⁸⁷Sr, ¹⁴⁷Sm-¹⁴³Nd & ¹⁷⁶Lu-¹⁷⁶Hf Decay (Faure Ch. 5,9,12; Dickin Ch. 4,9)

Week 12: Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb Isotopes in the Crust & Mantle (Faure Ch. 16,17; Dickin Ch. 6,7)

Week 13:¹⁸⁷Re-¹⁸⁷Os Decay and the Lithospheric Mantle (Dickin Ch. 8; Faure Ch. 13)

Week 14: Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb Isotopes in the Hydrosphere (Faure Ch. 18,19; Dickin Ch. 3,4)

Week 15: Cosmogenic Isotopes: Atmospheric, Hydrologic and In Situ (Faure Ch. 21,23; White Ch. 12-13)

Week 16: U-Series Geochemistry (Faure Ch. 20; Dickin Ch. 13)

Course Outcomes:

Be able to describe the fundamental concepts of heat flow, diffusion and mass tranport in the Earth.
Be able to apply thermodynamic and kinetic principles to model heat flow and diffusive processes.
Utilize both spreadsheets and Matlab to compute analytical and numerical solutions to the heat flow and diffusion equations.
Be familiar with sources of scientific information and be able to utilize scientific literature dealing with orogenesis.

This course is designed to be an introduction to modern methods for analyzing the pressure-temperature-time paths and histories of metamorphic terrains comprising modern and ancient mountain belts; subjects to include quantitative geothermobarometry, chemical diffusion and closure temperature theory, geochronology and thermochronology, the thermal structure and evolution of mountain belts.

Course Assessment:

Projects (3; poster, presentation, paper) 75%
Class discussion & participation (including paper summaries) 25%

Required Text: (available from MSA)

Spear, F.S., Metamorphic Phase Equilibria and Pressure-Temperature-Time Paths. Mineral. Soc. Amer. Monograph, 1993.

Supplementary Texts: (available at Albertson Library)

Bucher, K., and Frey, M., Petrogenesis of Metamorphic Rocks, 6^th ed. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1994.

Dickin, A.P., Radiogenic Isotope Geology, Cambridge University Press, 1994.

Heaman, L.M., and Ludden, J.L. (eds.) Applications of radiogenic isotope systems to problems in geology; Short course handbook v. 19, Mineralogical Association of Canada, 1991.

McDougall, I., Harrison, T.M., Geochronology and thermochronology by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method, Oxford University Press, 1999.

Nisbet, E.G. and Fowler, C.M.R. (eds.) Heat, Metamorphism and Tectonics; Short course handbook v. 14, Mineralogical Association of Canada, 1988.

Turcotte, D.L., and Schubert, G., Geodynamics: Applications of Continuum Physics to Geological Problems, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1982.

Course Schedule: Fall 2009

Week 1: Introduction to Metamorphism (Chapter 1)

Week 2: Metamorphic Facies (Chapter 2)

Week 3: Heat Conduction and Heat Flow (Chapter 3)

Week 4: Steady State Geotherms (Chapter 3)

Week 5: Time-Dependent Solutions (Chapter 3)

Week 6: Numerical Solutions – 1D

Week 7: Numerical Solutions – 2D

Week 8: P-T Paths and Metamorphic Field Gradients (Chapter 3)

Week 9: Thermobarometry (Chapter 15)

Week 10: Diffusion (Chapter 20)

Week 11: Analytical and Numerical Solutions (Chapter 20)

Week 12: Closure Temperature (Dodson)

Week 13: Closure in Petrologic Systems (Chapter 20)

Week 14: Thanksgiving Holiday – No Classes

Week 15: Thermochronology – ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar

Week 16: Thermochronology – U-Pb

Mark Schmitz Teaching

Undergraduate Courses:

Graduate Courses:

Additional Course Information

GEOSCIENCES