West Virginia University

Department of Geology & Geography

Geology Course Descriptions

Geol 435: Introductory Paleobotany. Resume of development of principal plant groups through the ages; present distribution; mode of occurrence and index species; methods of collection (on demand; required Saturday field trips).

Geol 454: Exploration Geophysics 1. Basic theory, computer modeling, and use of gravitational, magnetic, resistivity, and electromagnetic methods in the evaluation of shallow targets of interest to environmental, hydrological, and hazardous waste site investigations.

Geog 452: GIS Applications. Operational and management issues in planning management analysis, locational decision making, and design implementation of GIS. Lab project emphasizes student's specialization (2 hr. lec, 2 hr lab; alternate years)

Geol 455: Introduction to Remote Sensing. Theory, technology and applications of photo-interpretation and digital image analysis of aerial photography and multispectral images. (2 hr lec.,1 hr lab)

Geol 463: Physical Hydrology. Principles of ground-water hydrology, emphasizing the occurrence and movement of ground water. Topics include aquifer properties, flow net analysis, and hydraulic aquifer testing.

Geol 470: Mineral Resources. Description, mode of occurrence, and principles governing the formation of ore deposits.

Geol 472: Petroleum Geology. Origin, geologic distribution, methods of exploration and exploitation, uses and future reserves of petroleum and natural gas in the world.

Geol 488: Environmental Geochemistry. Basic review of physical and aqueous chemistry, discussion of basic geochemical processes; calcium carbonate chemistry, diagenetic processes, weathering, the silicate and iron system.

Geol 493G: Rivers, Floods, and Landslides. Principles of stream flow and sediment transport, focusing on impacts on society and ecosystems.

Geol 493S: Computer Aided Subsurface Interpretation.

Geol 525: Problems in Geomorphology.

Geol 543: Tectonics. Study of the plate tectonic processes that shape the earth's crust, and of large-scale intraplate deformation. Taught on alternate years. Next taught Spring 2002.
 

Geol 554: Environmental and Exploration Geophysics 2. Studies in applied geophysics with emphasis on the environmental applications of reflection and refraction seismology and ground penetrating radar. (3 hr. lec., 1 hr. computer lab.)

Geol 562: Quantitative Hydrogeology. Mathematical and computer analysis of groundwater flow. Aquifer systems. Radial-flow solutions. Well/aquifer test methods. Superposition, boundaries. Dispersive/advective transport.
 

Geol 564: Environmental Hydrogeology. Seminar reviewing groundwater occurrence, flow, quality, and exploration in various geologic terrains; groundwater pollution and dewatering; and groundwater technology. Includes topical literature review.
 

Geol 585: Optical Mineralogy and Petrology. Introduction to the optical properties of minerals and the use of the petrographic microscope. Interpretation of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks based on microscopic examination of thin sections. (Offered alternate years.)

Geol 587: Physical Geochemistry. Introduction to thermodynamics and its application to geologic systems. Equilibrium calculations involving pure phases and solutions in the gaseous, liquid and solid states. (Offered in Fall of even years.)
 

Geol 588: Aqueous Geochemistry. Review of basic chemical principles as they apply to aqueous geochemical environments. Properties of water and the types, sources, and controls of the common and environmentally significant chemical species dissolved in water.
 

Geol 591 Advanced topics. Courses not having formal number and readings courses.

Geol 591x Special Topics-Stratigraphy in Europe. Class centered on a Spring Break field trip to study the stratigraphy a lovely area in Europe. Previous trips have gone to Spain and Ireland.
 
 Geol 591y: Special Topics-Contaminant Chemistry and Transport. 3 hr. An introduction to contaminant chemistry. Topics will be covered by module and may include the following: organic contaminant chemistry, colloids and particles, surface chemistry background and models, isotopes, geomicrobiology, kinetics. Class to include calculations, modeling, literature review and discussion. A previous course in aqueous geochemistry is helpful but not required.

 Geol 611: Carbonate Sedimentology. Origin and distribution of modern marine carbonate sediments as models for interpretation of ancient limestone and dolomite facies.
 

Geol 615: Stratigraphy of Porous Media. Advanced discussion of the deposition of clastic sediments, chemistry of carbonates, sequence stratigraphy, porosity development in sandstones and limestones, flow of oil through rock.
 

Geol 621: Advanced Fluvial Geomorphology. Analysis of stream processes, landforms, deposits, including paleohydrology and Appalachian surficial geology. (Fall semester of odd-numbered years; required weekend field trips at student's expense; also listed as GEOG 321.)
 

Geol 622: Surficial and Glacial Geology. Analysis of late Cenozoic landscapes, especially those caused by glaciers or otherwise influenced by global climate change. (Fall semester of even-numbered years; required weekend field trips)
 

Geol 632: Paleoecology. Methods of paleoecologic analysis in sedimentary geology. Topics include trace fossil analysis, shell biogeochemistry, community paleoecology, biofacies analysis of basins, and Precambrian paleoecology.
 

Geol 642: Advanced Structural Geology. Theoretical and observational aspects of the development of geological structures. Problems ranging from the microstructural to the orogenic scale will be addressed. Taught on alternate years.
 

Geol 645: Basin Structures. Seminar on the origin of basins and their distribution around the world. With emphasis on the geodynamic process of basin formation, the structures within basins, and the occurrence of hydrocarbons and mineral resources. Taught on demand.

Geol 659: Quantitative Methods in Geoscience. Brief review and introduction to multivariate quantitative techniques as applied to Geology and Geography.
 

Geol 665: Groundwater Modeling. Theory and application of groundwater flow modeling, focusing on MODFLOW. Numerical methods. Discretization and boundaries. Parameterization and calibration. Problems and case histories.

Geol 666: Karst Geology. Review of karst terrain hydrogeology and geomorphology, emphasizing origins and nature of caves, sinkholes and other karst landforms, environmental problems of karst, and its water and mineral/petroleum resources.
 

Geol 692: Directed Study. Directed study, reading, or research. (Should be used for Option 2 Professional Studies Master's projects.)

Geol 697: Research. Research activities leading to thesis or dissertation. (Should be used for research credits by students working on a traditional M.S. thesis).
 

Geol 698: Master's Thesis Research. Research activities leading to a Master's thesis in Option 1. (Despite it's name, 2-4 credit designation limits the utility of this class; take GEOL 692 or GEOL 697 instead).
 

Geol 755: Advanced Remote Sensing. Collection, processing and classification of remotely sensed data, including optical, thermal, radar, and topographic information. (2 hr. lec., 1 hr. lab) (Also listed as GEOG 455)
 

Geol 796: Graduate Seminar. 

Geol 798: Ph.D. Dissertation Research. 

West Virginia University
Department of Geology & Geography
330 Brooks Hall
P.O. Box 6300
Morgantown, WV 26506

Phone: (304)293-5603
Fax: (304)293-6522

General E-Mail: Hope Stewart