Assignments will be made from articles in the literature.  In general, reading should be done before class.  There will be some in-class reading and discussion with a follow-up interpretation of the papers.

Background materials:

GSA DNAG Volume G-3: The Cordilleran Orogen: Coterminous U.S., B.C. Burchfield, P.W. Lipman, and M.L. Zoback, 1986.

This is an excellent volume, but out of print. I will  place a copy on reserve in the UGL for your use. 

GSA DNAG Volume A: The Geology of North America: an Overview, A.W. Balley and  A.R. Palmer, 1989.

A great background on many elements that pertain to the Western Cordillera.

J.D. Winter, 2001, An introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, 
Prentice HAll, 607 pp.

Background on petrology related to this course. 

1. Exams. The course will have two exams; one at about mid-semester and the final exam during the general UB exam period following the end of classes for the semester.
2. Readings. The readings may be long and detailed.  It is essential that you read the assigned articles prior to class, since lectures and exams will be based heavily on these assignments.  Some reading and discussion will be done in class.
3. In class presentations. Graduate students will be required to conduct independent research on 2 lecture topics (South American analogs to the North American topics) and make 15 minute PowerPoint presentations of the materials as a lecture during the class period. These talks will generally be on Fridays.  The topics and dates will be chosen by random in the first class.
   

*The question/evaluation grade includes written discussion/evaluation of the presentations by graduate students. 
 

Grades
>90%	A
80-89%	B
70-79%	C
60-69%	D
<60%	F