ESC-30025 - Micropalaeontology: Principles and Applications
Coordinator: Michael Montenari Room: WSF10A Tel: +44 1782 7 33162
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733615

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

This module explores the principles and applications of micropalaeontology. It provides the student with extended knowledge and critical awareness of evolutionary processes, biostratigraphic principles, systematic palaeontological/taxonomical methods and detailed knowledge in the application of mircopalaeontological methods for environmental reconstructions, evolutionary research and the hydrocarbon industry.

Aims
The aim of the micropalaeontology module is to provide level 6 students with the key theoretical and practical issues of micropalaeontolgy and furthermore to introduce them to modern analytical facilities and methods (e.g. Electron Microscopy, EDS).

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/esc-30025/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe in detail micropalaeontological processes: 1,2
describe and apply the principles of evolutionary palaeobiology, biostratigraphy, palaeoenvironmental analysis, applied micropalaeontology, hydrocarbon maturity analysis, facies interpretation and productivity interpretation: 1,2
describe and apply state-of-the-art micropalaeontological theories and modern analytical methods, which are at the forefront of the subject, including SEM and EDS techniques: 1,2

Study hours

12 x1 hours lectures, 12 x 3 hours practicals, 30 hours of practical work completion outside practical classes, 22 hours independent report and essay writing and 50 hours of independent study.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 50%
Practical based reports
4 reports (500 words each) with focus on the anatomy/structure and palaeobiology of microfossil groups discussed during the practicals.

2: Essay weighted 50%
Micropalaeontological Essay
One 2000 word essay on a microfossil group discussed during the lectures and practicals with focus on its palaeoenvironmental, palaeoecological and stratigraphic distribution.