Dear Students,
Welcome to paleontology which is multidisciplinary course. You are going to enjoy a wonderful class discussion and memorable fieldworks.
Aims of the module
This module aims to equip students basic skills in paleontological and stratigraphic research to answer the problems related to the discovery of history of the earth.
Description of module content
This module aims to provide an overview on fundamental paleontological principles such as the nature of fossils, modes of preservation, various fossil groups, biostratigraphy and paleoecology.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, students should be able to :
- understand basic concepts in paleontology
- Understand the theory of preservation process and fossils formation mechanism.
- Identify fossils in the field
- Use morphological characteristics to classify plants and animals
Indicative Content
Nature of fossil record, kinds of fossils, chemical and mineralogical composition of the hard skeleton, conditions of fossilization, modes of preservation, fossils and environment, uses of fossils, taxonomy, carbonization, recrystallisation, permineralization, rules of species nomenclature, fossil identification, use of fossil assemblages in determining age.
Your tutor is
Dr. Theophile Mugerwa, PhD
0727457707
t.mugerwa@ur.ac.rw
luanmugerwa@gmail.com
This module aims to provide understanding on behaviour of different earth envelopes, their composition and their interaction. It also introduces geochemical cycles which describe quantitatively the earth reservoirs and their mutual interactions. The course provides the fundamentals of geochemistry necessary as prerequisite for the module of Applied Geochemistry which will be taken in 3rd year.
The great advantage of geophysics to the geology and mining sector is that it can be used to make a measurement taken at the surface. In fact, geophysics is the only branch of the earth sciences that can truly look into the Earth’s interior, that is remotely detect the presence of buried bodies and structures. In contrast, geology can only infer them. For example are there at depth unsuspected structures such as faults, intrusion, salt domes, mineral deposits, oil and gas reservoirs, all of them can be detected by appropriate geophysical measurement at the surface. Therefore, geophysics is able to add the third dimension, depth, in a way that traditional geologist often cannot. etc..