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ESC-30025 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

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 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

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 academic and industrial purposes.

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 hours lectures,
12 hours additional background information
36 hours practicals,
30 hours of practical work completion outside practical classes, 22 hours independent report and essay writing and 38 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.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024