Xiaobing Zhou, Montana Tech of The University of Montana: GEOP 3020

GEOP 3020

Xiaobing Zhou, Associate Professor of Geophysics

Elements of Geophysics

Appolo 17 Lunar Surface Gravimeter Experiment

Lecture: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:00am-11:50am at ELC 106

Instructor: Dr Xiaobing Zhou, Email: xzhou@mtech.edu, Tel: 496-4350

Office Hours: M/W/F 4:00 pm -5:00, ELC 304

Textbook (required):
Burger, R. H., A. F. Sheehan, and C. H. Jones, Introduction to Applied Geophysics: Exploring the Shallow Subsurface, W W Norton & Company, June 2006. Errata from the textbook are here. You can purchase it at Montana Tech bookstore or online.

References (recommended):
Kearey, P., and M. Brooks, An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration, 3rd edition, Blackwell Science, Inc., 2002.
Mussett, A. E., and M. A. Khan, Looking into the Earth : An Introduction to Geological Geophysics, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Reynolds, J., An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd., 1997.
Parasnis, D. S., Principles of Applied Geophysics, 5th Edition, Kluwer Boston, Inc., 1997.
Telford, W. M., L. P. Geldart, R. E. Sheriff, and D. A. Keys, Applied Geophysics, 2nd Edition, Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Milsom, J., Field Geophysics, Open University Press, 1989.
Robinson, E. S., C. Coruh, Basic Exploration Geophysics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1988.
Griffiths, D. H., and R. F. King, Applied Geophysics for Geologists & Engineers, 2nd edition, Oxford ; New York : Pergamon Press, 1981.
Introduction to Geophysical Exploration
Glossary of geophysics

Course Description:
Principles of physics applied to geology, earth and environmental sciences, with emphasis on exploration of the shallow subsurface (~500 m). Topics include seismic method, electrical resistivity and electrical method, gravity, magnetic method, ground penetrating radar, and remote sensing. Geophysical instrumentation, data acquisition and analysis, and geologic interpretation of geophysical data. This course is for students who want to be practicing civil engineers, geologists, archaeologists, and environmental practitioners and/or scientists who need an knowledge and skills of modern geophysical methods relevant to their disciplines.

Topics:

Probing the subsurface
Fundamentals of seismic exploration
Seismic refraction method
Seismic reflection method
Electrical resistivity method
Exploration using gravity
Magnetic field method

Objectives:

1) To develop an understanding of the basic theory of each geophysical methods: seismic, electrical, gravitational, magnetic, and ground penetrating radar methods;
2) To develop an understanding of the principles of instrumentation for each method;
3) To develop the skills to measure the physical properties of the Earth materials using these methods;
4) To develop the capability to interpret the field data and apply these methods.

Course outcomings (complying with ABET A-K):
After this course, you should have

B. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
C. an ability to analyze and interpret data
F. an ability to communicate effectively
G. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
J. a knowledge of issues facing contemporary society
K. a recognition for the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning

Grade Policy: The final grade for the course will be determined approximately as follows:

Homework: 20%

Lab: 10%
3-5 Tests: 70%

Grading scale observes: A=(92,100], A-=[90, 92], B+=(87, 90), B=[83, 87], B-=[80, 83), C+=(77, 80), C=[73, 77], C-=[70, 73), D+=(67, 70), D=[63, 67], D-=[60, 63), F=[0, 60). [ or ] means inclusive, ( or ) means exclusive. Also: A= 4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7, C+=2.3, C=2.0, C-=1.7, D+=1.3, D=1.0, D-=0.7, F=0.

Homework:

Homework will be assigned on Wednesday and due the following Wednesday. Some assignment will involve the use of computer programs. Group discussing is encouraged but copying answers from others is prohibited. Copied homework will be graded as “zero” or “F” for both parties.

Instruments:
1. Gravimeter; Micro-g LaCoste;
2. Magnetometers (1, 2, 3,);
3. Electrical/electromagnetic equipment for resistivity (resistivity meter or electrode, ammeter, voltmeter,EM34-3 etc.);http://www.geonics.com/html/em34-3.html
4. Seismic systems (geophone or seismometer, seismic cable, seismograph unit, etc.)
5. Geophysical Instrument Instructions

Tentative schedule:

Date	Day	Lecture/Lab No.	Topic	Homework Read assignment pages
Agu-26-09 Agu-28-09	Wednesday Friday	Lecture 1 Lecture 2	Introduction to geophysical methods Wave propagation/Elastic coefficients	1-6 (HW#1) 7-14
Agu-31-09 Sep-02-09 Sep-04-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 3 Lecture 4 Lecture 5	Seismic waves/wave velocities Huygen's/Fermat's principles/Snell's law Critical refraction/ waves measured by a geophone	14-21 (HW#2) 21-28 28-39
Sep-07-09 Sep-09-09 Sep-11-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Labor day Lecture 6 Lecture 7	No class Energy partition/sources/equipment Refraction method - single interface	39-59 (HW#3) 65-78
Sep-14-09 Sep-16-09 Sep-18-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 8 Lab#1 Lecture 9	Refraction method - two/multiple interfaces Lab#1: Using REFRACT program Dipping interfaces	81-91 78-79, A1-A5 (HW#4) 91-106
Sep-21-09 Sep-23-09 Sep-25-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 10 Lecture 11 Lecture 12	Nonideal subsurface Field procedures/applications TEST 1	106-126 129-141 (HW#5) 149-167
Sep-28-09 Sep-30-09 Oct-02-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 13 Lab #2 Lecture 14	Reflection method - single interface Lab#2: Using REFLECT program Reflection method - multiple interfaces	167-182 150-151, A6-A12 (HW#6) 182-199
Oct-05-09 Oct-07-09 Oct-09-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 15 Lecture 16 Lecture 17	Reflection method - dipping interface Recognizing reflections/field procedures Data processing/applications	200-229 229-253 (HW#7) 265-279
Oct-12-09 Oct-14-09 Oct-16-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 18 Lab#3 Lecture 19	Electrical method – introduction Lab#3: Using RESIST program Single interface/apparent resistivity	280-297 297-302, A13-A16 (HW#8) 302-314
Oct-19-09 Oct-21-09 Oct-23-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 20 Lecture 21 Lecture 22	Multiple interfaces/vertical contacts & others Field procedures/interpretation Applications/other electrical methods	314-331 331-340 (HW#9) 349-356
Oct-26-09 Oct-28-09 Oct-30-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 23 Lecture 24 Lecture 25	TEST 2 Gravity measurement/instrumentation Data reduction/field procedures	356-378 378-388 (HW#10) 388-399
Nov-02-09 Nov-04-09 Nov-06-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 26 Lab#4 Lecture 27	Gravity of simple bodies (1) Lab#4: Using GravMag program for Grav Gravity of simple bodies (2)	399-409 397-399, A17-A23 (HW#11) 409-415
Nov-09-09 Nov-11-09 Nov-13-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 28 Lecture 29 Lecture 30	Analyzing anomaly Gravity data interpretation Gravity method applications	415-420 420-438 (HW#12) 438-446
Nov-16-09 Nov-18-09 Nov-20-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 31 Lecture 32 Lecture 33	Magnetic method - introduction Geomagnetic field Magnetic field measurement -instrument	446-450 450-454 (HW#13) 454-465
Nov-23-09 Nov-25-09 Nov-27-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 34 Thanksgiving break Thanksgiving break	Magnetic survey procedure	465-482
Nov-30-09 Dec-02-09 Dec-04-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 35 Lab#5 Lecture 36	Magnetic field of simple bodies (1) Lab#5: Using GravMag program for Mag Magnetic data interpretation (1)	478-482 A17-A23 (HW#14) 482-488
Dec-07-09 Dec-09-09 Dec-11-09	Monday Wednesday Friday	Lecture 37 Lecture 38 Lecture 39	Magnetic data interpretation (2) Magnetic applications TEST 3	488-494 (last HW due)

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Last Updated: August 20, 2009