1. GLG 304: Physical and Biological History of the Earth Lab
Lab Syllabus, Spring 2016
Lab Instructor: Matt Karl
Office: Room 214 Natural Sciences
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: karlmatt@msu.edu
Required Text: Interpreting Earth History – A Manual in Historical Geology, Ritter and Peterson
Required Materials: Hand lens, colored pencils, ruler/straightedge, 3 ring binder
Lab Objectives:
The lab portion of this course is designed to allow you to interact with the minerals, rocks, fossils
and geologic tools that have been used to understand the geologic history of the Earth. It
supplements information learned in your readings and discussed in class, and provides tangible
examples and experiences which will assist you in understanding and interpreting outcrops and
samples in future endeavors. When this lab concludes, you will be able to:
1) Identify and interpret the historical context of rock, mineral and fossil samples,
2) Have a better understanding of the formational or depositional environment associated
with those samples,
3) Create and use tools like stratigraphic columns, geologic cross sections and geologic and
topographic maps to enhance your understanding of Earth history.
Lab Attendance and Make Up:
Three unexcused absences will result in a 0% for the lab portion of the course. If you have a
legitimate (documented) schedule conflict and are unable to attend, please contact me ahead of
time so that we can make accommodations for you. Note that the lab room is used for multiple
courses, and it may not be possible to make up missed labs for partial credit (excused absences,
only).
Grading:
Activities and assignments conducted during this lab will account for 25% of your overall course
grade. Additionally, concepts focused on during lab are among the most important discussed in
this course, so mastery of the lab will likely correspond to mastery of the course. Read through the
lab exercises each week in advance of the lab meeting and check what additional materials are
required (if any). Failure to arrive in lab on time and prepared is cause for point deduction. The
grading breakdown is as follows:
0) Not completed
1) Does not meet expectations
2) Meets expectations for average performance
3) Exceeds average performance
This portion of the grade is computed as a percent of the total possible points (your total
divided by the number of labs x3 points each). Keep your labs in you binder and keep track of
your progress. Your completed labs should be useful in studying for the final.

2. Grand Ledge Field Trip:
Will account for 40% of the lab grade and the associated exercises and activities will assess
concepts and skills presented in lab, so make sure that you put forth the effort to understand
the material as it is presented!
Lab Schedule- Exercises are from Ritter and Peterson Lab Manual
Week 1 Lab: Pre-assessment; “Rethinking Rocks” lab from D2L
Week 2 Lab: Exercise 8: Fossils and fossilization
Week 3 Lab: Ex 1: Relative dating and unconformities; Ex 2: Radiometric Ages, as homework
Week 4 Lab: Ex 3: Analysis of sedimentary rocks; Ex 4 as homework
Week 5 Lab: Ex 11: Continental drift & plate tectonics, Ex 12 Index fossils, as homework
Week 6 Lab: Ex 13: Interpretation of geologic maps
Week 7 Lab: Ex 14: Canadian Shield & stable platform
Week 8 Lab: Ex 5: Stratigraphy
Week 9 Lab: Ex 6: Physical Correlation
Week 10 Lab: Ex 7: Facies relationships and sea-level change
Week 11 Lab: Ex 15: Paleozoic Orogenies of Ancestral North America
Week 12 Lab: Ex 16: Cordilleran Orogeny
Week 13 Lab: Ex 18 & 19: Cenozoic Geology & Pleistocene glaciation; MSU Museum Visit
Week 14 Lab: Grand Ledge draft, correlation and history
Week 15 Lab: Lab practical: Interpreting Earth history from geologic materials and maps
Plagiarism:
In lab, we work together toward a better understanding of the content material we are
covering. It is expected and encouraged that you work in groups on lab activities. However,
answers must be in your own words, and any references you used must be cited properly. If
you are unsure about how to cite something, ask! Apprise yourself of the MSU definition of
plagiarism, found in the student handbook. Plagiarism will result in an automatic 0 on the
assignment, and will be reported to the Ombudsperson.