Course subject: Earth Science (EARTH)

A systematic examination of major groups of microfossils, particularly palynomorphs, and insects, with emphasis on their classification, evolution, paleoecology and stratigraphic application.

The origin of recent clastic and non-clastic sediments, the study of composition, structures, relationships, and environments towards an interpretation of ancient sedimentary rocks. The origin and significance of sedimentary structures, environmental associations, sedimentological models, hydrodynamics.

Weekly seminars will introduce current concepts in a variety of subject areas in the deposition and diagenesis of carbonate sediments. Laboratory exercises will involve study of Pleistocene and older carbonate rock suites from a selection of geologic settings. Several laboratories will be devoted to introduction of common analytical techniques such as cathodoluminescence and SEM.

a) Basic thermodynamics and activity-fugacity relationships. Chemical equilibria, ion association and complexing, oxidation-reduction reactions. Models for aqueous equilibria in high concentration solutions. b) Interaction of groundwater with porous media; mineral dissolution/precipitation reaction kinetics, ion exchange, surface ionization of oxides. c) Use of computer codes such as PHREEQE and GEOCHEM to simulate mass transfer in geochemical systems. Examining and modelling chemical evolution in groundwater flow systems.

Application of light and heavy stable isotope systems as process tracers and exploration tools for a wide variety of low-temperature and high-temperature ore deposits. The use of stable isotopes for oil-oil and oil-source rock correlations and for reconstruction of local and global redox conditions during deposition of petroleum source rocks. Offered in alternate years.

Advanced numerical techniques and theory in quantifying the behavior of rocks and fluids at high temperatures and pressues. Application of experimental and natural data to the study of tectonic, metamorphic and igneous processes.

Principles of radioactive decay and geochronology. Applications of geochronology and isotopic tracing using the U-Th-Pb, Re-OS, Lu-Hf, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, and Ar-Ar Isotope systems, U-series disequilibrum, cosmogenic nuclides, and extinct radionuclides. Offered in alternate years.

Site investigation techniques for strength and deformation properties, load tests, bore hole tests, rock classification, monitoring methods and instrumentation, borehole geophysics for geomechanical properties, correlation to case histories.

Geomechanics of in situ methods of energy recovery for heavy oil and minerals. Thermoelasticity, hydraulic fracture geomechanics, multi-phase system compressibility, remote and direct monitoring methods.

Time dependent behaviour of rocks, Griffiths crack theory, failure criteria for rocks, in situ stresses and their origins, behaviour of discontinuous rock masses, introductions to analytic and numerical methods for rock mechanics. Case studies, term project.

Discussion of current topics in Quaternary ecology at the advanced level. Emphasis will be on application and significance of Quaternary ecological techniques to paleoenvironmental reconstructions, climatic change, land-use history, anthropogenic disturbance, and environmental modelling.

Nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), silica (Si) and carbon (C) are vital to organisms, and play an essential role in our everyday life. Used in excess, they can also become a nuisance with unwanted effects on the environment. This course focuses on nutrients from a hydrological perspective, using a river basin based viewpoint. The course covers general nutrient cycles, then nutrient budgets in watersheds, and how to model nutrient fluxes in catchments, using different approaches. We will also discuss pollution history, using nutrients and metal pollution in river basins over the last centuries. This will enable students to understand challengers that might arise from a variety of issues, from pollution history to current practices. Individual student projects will be based on either a particular element or a particular model.

Selected topics dealing with the stratigraphy, paleontology, tectonic development, and economic geology of the Great Lakes Basin. Approximately one third of the course will be devoted to each of Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Quaternary geology.

This course aims to deepen the student's understanding of physical processes occurring in natural groundwater systems. Flow and transport processes and their interrelationships with the characteristics of the porous medium are studied and the governing equations developed. Topics covered include the fundamental concepts of physical hydrogeology, flow in the saturated and unsaturated zones, flownet analysis, immiscible flow of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs), contaminant transport in porous and fractured media, stochastic principles of transport in heterogeneous media, coupled nonlinear processes, and applications in groundwater contamination/remediation. Recommended: EARTH 456 (can be taken concurrently with EARTH 650).

Physical and chemical processes influencing contaminant behaviour in groundwater with emphasis on field approaches. Interpretation of process effects in the context of various causes of groundwater contamination such as those related to landfills, chemical spills, mining and agriculture. Field experiments and case studies. (EARTH 621 and EARTH 657 or equivalent are recommended).

This course is an enriched version of EARTH 456 for graduate students. It introduces the student to numerical modelling techniques in groundwater science, with an emphasis on a sound understanding of the fundamental principles as a basis for developing and using models in a research environment. Numerical techniques including finite difference, finite element, and particle tracking methods are studied and applied to the solution of problems in groundwater flow, aquifer mechanics, flownet generation, and advective-dispersive transport. Proper modelling approaches, error analysis, stability, discretization constraints, pitfalls, and model misuse are discussed. Students will be developing some of their own groundwater models, and will be obtaining hands-on experience with state-of-the-art interactive groundwater models in the PC laboratory. Prior experience with FORTRAN is essential. Recommended: MATH 111B or equivalent. Students without the required prerequisite may seek consent of the instructor.

An introduction to the physical hydrogeology of fractured rock. Topics will include a review of the structural geology of fractured rocks, development and validity of the cubic law, groundwater flow and contaminant transport in discrete fractures and fracture networks, hydraulic testing methods and the hydrogeology of low-permeability environments. Recommended: Differential Calculus.

A course intended to provide MSc and PhD students with a working knowledge of analytical techniques for solution of differential equations governing flow and mass transfer in hydrogeologic systems. Use of various transform methods such as Fourier and Laplace will be covered and applied to a variety of problems of hydrogeological interest. The course will consist of lectures, selected problem assignments and/or individual projects. Recommended: Second Year Calculus.

A course dealing with the theory and applications of field techniques in hydrology. Physical, chemical, and isotopic methods are included with applications to groundwater and surface water hydrology. The course will consist of lectures, field activities, projects and assignments. All will be conducted over a 3-week time period at the end of the Winter term in April. Students without the required prerequisite may seek consent of the instructor.

Course credit may be given for special studies related to the research interest of a student and a member of the faculty by special arrangement.