ENVS3752 Geology of Australia

This topic will focus on the formation and evolution of the Australian continent over geological time, as revealed by the fossil and rock records. Students will be given the opportunity to relate classical geologic principles to the understanding of the main processes, modern and ancient, that contributed to the development of Australia. This topic will also give particular emphasis to the formation, evolution and main geological characteristics in South Australia.

This topic aims to:

• Understand the concept of geologic time and how classic geologic principles and modern techniques are used to date rocks and fossils
• Develop a deeper understanding of scientific theories such as plate tectonics and life evolution and how they can explain the geological and biological evolution of the continent
• Know about the birth and evolution of Earth and modern Australia

1. Understand and explain facies, stratigraphic relationships, transgression and regression, process of fossilization
2. Understand and explain environments of deposition, paleogeographic reconstruction and paleoclimatic inferences
3. Understand and explain Darwin's and Wallace's theory of natural selection, Mendelian concept of inheritance, speciation, fossil record evidence
4. Understand and explain Precambrian history and formation of core rocks
5. Understand and explain climate change and the geological record
6. Understand and explain the birth and evolution of modern Australia