Outline

Overview

Sediments and sedimentary rocks cover most of the Earth's surface, record much of the Earth's geological and climatic history and host important resources such as petroleum, coal, water and mineral ores. The aim of this unit is to provide students with the skills required to examine, describe and interpret sediments and sedimentary rocks for a variety of different purposes. Specific foci of the unit will be the identification of the recent or ancient environment in which sedimentary materials were deposited, the environmental controls which produce sedimentary structures, and the processes that control the production, movement and storage of sediment bodies. On completion of this unit students will be familiar with the natural processes that produce and modify sediments across a range of environments at the Earth's surface, including fluvial, aeolian, lacustrine, marginal marine and deep marine environments. The various controls on the sedimentary record such as climate and sea-level change, as well as diagenesis and geochemical cycles will also be discussed. Practical exercises will require students to examine global datasets, and determine the properties and significance of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The course is relevant to students interested in petroleum or mineral exploration, environmental and engineering geology as well as marine geoscience.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Geosciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	(GEOS2114 or GEOS2914) or (GEOS2116 or GEOS2916) or (GEOS2124 or GEOS2924)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	GEOS3803
Assumed knowledge ?	(GEOS1003 or GEOS1903)
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Dan Penny, dan.penny@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Take-home short release)	Final exam Examination based on essay questions for each component of the course.	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Anthropogenic signatures recorded in coastal sediments, pt 1 Practical report	3%	Week 04 Due date: 17 Mar 2022 at 23:59	Module 1, practical 2
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Anthropogenic signatures recorded in coastal sediments, pt 2 Practical report	3%	Week 05 Due date: 23 Mar 2022 at 23:59	Module 1, practical 3
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Marine sediments Laboratory assignment	5%	Week 06 Due date: 01 Apr 2022 at 23:59	Module 2, practical 1
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Sedimentation on the NSW margin Laboratory assignment	10%	Week 08 Due date: 15 Apr 2022 at 23:59	Module 2, practical 2
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Carbonate rocks Laboratory assignment	5%	Week 09 Due date: 29 Apr 2022 at 23:59	Module 2, practical 3
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Exploring the hidden microbial world of sediments Practical report	14%	Week 11 Due date: 13 May 2022 at 23:59	Module 1, practical 1
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Laboratory assessment Laboratory assignment (1 & 2)	20%	Week 13 Due date: 27 May 2022 at 23:59	Module 3
Outcomes assessed:
= Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

Final exam: If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voice (oral exam), if deemed appropriate by the unit coordinator. The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	At HD level, a student demonstrates a flair for the subject and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates the ability to apply subject knowledge to novel situations.
Distinction	75 - 84	At D level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a solid knowledge and understanding of the unit material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply the key ideas of the subject.
Credit	65 - 74	At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad understanding of the unit material but has not fully developed the ability to apply the key ideas of the subject
Pass	50 - 64	At P level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the unit material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory achievement and is awarded to a student who has threshold knowledge of the subject.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Prerecorded: Welcome to sediments and their systems	Lecture (1 hr)
	Live lectorial: Welcome to sediments and their systems	Lecture (1 hr)
	Welcome; preparation to explore the hidden microbial world of sediments	Practical (3 hr)
Week 02	Prerecorded: The hidden microbial world of sediments	Lecture (1 hr)
	Live lectorial: The hidden microbial world of sediments	Lecture (1 hr)
	Exploring the hidden microbial world of sediments	Practical (3 hr)
Week 03	Prerecorded: Biogeochemical cycles	Lecture (1 hr)
	Live lectorial: Biogeochemical cycles	Lecture (1 hr)
	Anthropogenic signatures recorded in coastal sediments, pt 1	Practical (3 hr)
Week 04	Prerecorded: Sediments in the Anthropocene	Lecture (1 hr)
	Live lectorial: Sediments in the Anthropocene	Lecture (1 hr)
	Anthropogenic signatures recorded in coastal sediments, pt 2	Practical (3 hr)
Week 05	Prerecorded: From shelf to sea - an introduction to marine geology	Lecture (1 hr)
	Prerecorded: Biogenic deep-sea sediments	Lecture (1 hr)
	Marine sediments	Practical (3 hr)
Week 06	Prerecorded: Biogenic deep-sea sediments cont.	Lecture (1 hr)
	Prerecorded: Ocean chemistry	Lecture (1 hr)
	Sedimentation on NSW margin	Practical (3 hr)
Week 07	Prerecorded: Non-biogenic deep-sea sediments	Lecture (1 hr)
	Prerecorded: Non-biogenic deep-sea sediments cont.	Lecture (1 hr)
	Sedimentation on NSW Margin cont.	Practical (3 hr)
Week 08	Prerecorded: Marine carbonates focusing on cool-water carbonates	Lecture (1 hr)
	Prerecorded: Evaporites	Lecture (1 hr)
	Petrology of carbonate rocks. (microscope-based practical)	Practical (3 hr)
Week 09	Prerecorded: Introduction of Geological Field Investigations	Lecture (1 hr)
	In class: Prelab briefing for core logging and sediment description	Lecture (1 hr)
	Core logging and sediment description	Practical (3 hr)
Week 10	Prerecorded: Magnetic properties of sediments	Lecture (1 hr)
	In class: Prelab briefing for magnetic and physical properties of sediment	Lecture (1 hr)
	Magnetic and physical properties of sediment	Practical (3 hr)
Week 11	Prerecorded: Biogenic sediment proxies	Lecture (1 hr)
	In class: Prelab briefing for biogenic sediment proxies	Lecture (1 hr)
	Biogenic sediment and environmental proxies	Practical (3 hr)
Week 12	Prerecorded: Geochemical methods	Lecture (1 hr)
	In class: Prelab briefing for geochemical methods	Lecture (1 hr)
	Geochemistry and mineralogy	Practical (3 hr)
Week 13	Course summary, exam preparation	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance

Lectures will be delivered as a combination of prerecordings, live lectorials and in class sessions. Please refer to Canvas for up to date details of delivery mode on a weekly basis. It is expected that students will watch prerecorded lectures and read additional supporting resources and pre-lab materials prior to attending live online/in person lecturiorals and practical classes,

Practical attendance is compulsory unless there is a clash with other UoS, or unless special consideration has been granted.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5–2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120–150 hours of student effort in total.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Comprehend how the cycling of matter, elements and energy at the Earth’s surface influences coastal systems and the composition of sediments.
LO2. Explain the role of life in early diagenesis and sediment formation.
LO3. Describe how major biogeochemical cycles can be altered by human activity and how this is recorded in sediments.
LO4. Recognise the impact of the Anthropocene on sediments and their associated ecosystems.
LO5. Understand the processes responsible for transporting sediments into and within oceanic basins.
LO6. Recognise different types of lithogenous, biogenic and hydrogenous marine sediments, where they form and the physical and biochemical conditions under which they form and are preserved.
LO7. Understand the controls on carbonate and silica production and deposition and their relationship to global carbonate and silica cycles.
LO8. Appreciate the climatic/tectonic significance of evaporates.
LO9. Identify different types of terrestrial sediment facies.
LO10. Describe the processes responsible for the production and preservation of lithified and unlithified sediment in terrestrial and marine environments.
LO11. Design and execute laboratory-based research in environmental sedimentology.
LO12. Be able to constrain both accuracy and precision in laboratory-based analyses.
LO13. Demonstrate a sense of responsibility, ethical behaviour and independence as a learner and as a scientist.
LO14. Operate safely in research laboratories.
LO15. Identify and utilise common techniques for describing and analysing sediment and sedimentary rocks.
LO16. Communicate scientific information appropriately, both orally and through written work.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory

As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

GEOS3103: Environment, Sediment and Climate Change

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect