GEOLOGY 304

1
GEOLOGY 304
http//www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/ashworth/webpag
es/g304/
2
http//www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/ashworth/webpag
es/g304/
3

• NOTICES
• SIGN ATTENDANCE FORM
• PROVIDE AN EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER
• FILL IN TRIP RELEASE FORM
• DOWNLOAD A GLOSSARY OF TERMS FROM WEBPAGE
• FIELD WEEKEND - SEPTEMBER 20-21 - LOAD BUS AT
• 745 A.M., DEPART  800 A.M., SATURDAY
  MORNING,
• STEVENS HALL PARKING LOT.
• RETURN BY 530 P.M. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
• PAY FIELD TRIP FEE OF 40 (FOR VEHICLE, CAMPING
• COSTS, FIELD GUIDE)  TO MRS. PHYLLIS MURRAY,
  ROOM

4
GETTING READY

• Personal change of clothing hat, sun glasses
  sun
• screen lip gloss headlamp/flashlight
• Mealsfood for dinner/breakfast/bag lunches (2 of
  
• each) possibility of Saturday lunch in Tower
  City or Valley City.
• Camping tent/ground sheet or tent space
  arranged
• sleeping bag and pad.
• Gear day pack water bottlecamera and film
  field
• notebook / pencils rock hammer (borrow from
• Department) Safety glasses.

IMPORTANT EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE DAY
SHOULD BE WORN OR IN YOUR DAY PACK. ONCE THE BUS
IS LOADED YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO YOUR BAG
UNTIL THE EVENING
5
Release Form
STUDENT FIELD TRIP INFORMED CONSENT, ASSUMPTION
OF RISK AND RELEASE FORM This document sets out
a description of a student field trip (the
"Program") and provides for a certification of
certain obligations and a release and waiver of
liability against North Dakota State University
("NDSU" or "University"). Please read before
signing. The Field Course I will be spending
September 20-21 in southeastern North Dakota with
a group of NDSU students and Dr. Allan Ashworth,
faculty member, on the Geology 304 field course.
Travel, camping and meal
arrangements, including financial
responsibilities, have been explained to
me. Risks of field trips I understand that
participation in the Program specified above
involves risk not found in normal study at the
University. This includes risks involved in
traveling to, within and returning from the
location. This also includes risks of unique
educational activities organized by University or
its representatives as part of the Program. I
have made my own investigation and am willing to
accept these risks. Institutional arrangements
I understand that the University does not
represent or act as an agent for, and cannot
control the acts or omissions of, any host
institution, host family, transportation carrier,
hotel, tour organizer or other provider of goods
or services involved in the Program. I understand
that the University is not responsible for
matters that are beyond its control. Health and
Safety I recognize that I am responsible for my
personal medical needs. There are no
health-related reasons or problems which restrict
my participation in this Program or, if there
are, I have informed Dr. Allan Ashworth (Faculty)
of same and we have agreed upon a reasonable
accommodation (attach separate statement in
writing). It is my responsibility to notify
Employee if there are any medications that I am
allergic to or medical treatments I do not want
performed. I understand that accident/health
insurance is my responsibility. I am covered by
health insurance to meet any and all needs or
payment of medical costs while I participate in
the Program. I recognize that the University is
not obligated to attend to any of my medical or
medication needs, and I assume all risk and
responsibility therefore. If I require medical
treatment or hospital care during the Field Trip,
the University is not responsible for the cost or
quality of such treatment or care. I
hereby authorize Dr. Allan Ashworth (Faculty), in
the event of medical emergency, to authorize
emergency medical treatment on my behalf if
I am unable to do so or if there is insufficient
time to contact members of my immediate family
or, if after a reasonable attempt to do so, they
are unable to do so. In the event of such
medical emergency, I authorize NDSU to contact
______________________________
____________ (Name)
__________________________________________
(Relationship)
__________________________________________
(Phone) ____________________
______________________ (Address) Standards
of Conduct. . I understand that as a North
Dakota State University student, I will be viewed
as a representative of my University. It is my
intention to act as a good-will ambassador and
conduct myself in a fitting manner. I recognize
that behavior which violates laws or University
standards could reflect negatively on myself and
the University, as well as be adverse to my own
health and safety. If I should fall into legal
problems while in the Program, I will attend to
the matter personally with my own personal funds.
NDSU does not guarantee what, if any, assistance
it can provide under such circumstances.
I also will comply with the laws of the
United States and with the University's rules,
standards and instructions for student behavior.
I agree to abide by all the rules and regulations
of NDSU with regards to my participation in the
above activity including, but not limited to,
those rules relative to use of alcohol or illegal
drugs. I also understand that NDSU can revoke its
consent to my participation in this activity at
any time for cause or in the event of
cancellation of the trip. Should I violate these
standards of conduct, I may be sent home at my
own expense. Release. I understand that the
University, its faculty are not responsible for
any injury, loss, damage, delay, irregularity, or
expense arising from the use of any common
carrier vehicle, accommodations, or services as
the result of accidents, strikes, war, weather,
sickness, quarantine, governmental restrictions,
and other matters beyond the University's power
to control. I waive and release all claims
against the University and its faculty that arise
at a time when I am not under the direct
supervision of the University or that are caused
by my failure to remain under such supervision or
to comply with such rules, standards, and
instructions. __________________________
_____________ Signature of Participant

Date ____________________________________
___ Print Name
6
(No Transcript)
7
Geological cross-section of eastern North Dakota
Sheyenne meltwater trench
Moraines
Moraines
Lake Agassiz beds
Glacial drift
Pierre Formation
PreCambrian metamorphic rocks
Niobrara Formation
8

• OLDEST ROCKS IN THE REGION AT THE SURFACE
• CRETACEOUS PERIOD ( ABOUT 90 Ma)
• TWO FORMATIONS
• Pierre Formation
• dark grey and black shales with bentonites
• Niobrara Formation
• pale yellow limestones
• Fossils include fish remains (teeth and scales),
  mosasaur
• remains (bones and teeth), ammonites (shells),
  gastropods
• (shells), bivalves (shells).
• Deposited in a shallow sea (Cretaceous Interior
  Seaway). The
• eastern shoreline was in central Minnesota and
  the western
• shoreline was in western North Dakota

GEOLOGY 304 Presentation 1
9
bentonite
Cretaceous - Pierre Shale with bentonites
Buffalo Gap, South Dakota
Pierre Shale with layers of bentonite
Bentonite is weathered volcanic ash
10
Cretaceous - Niobrara Formation - chalk
Fort Ransom, North Dakota
11
Types of Cretaceous marine invertebrate fossils
Planktonic foraminifera (single-celled organisms)
12
Cretaceous - Inoceramus - bivalve (clam)
Inoceramus Cretaceous bivalve (clam) - mollusc
Gregory member, Pierre Shale, near Kathryn, North
Dakota
13
Pierre Shale mollusks
Ammonite fragment
Inoceramus bivalve (clam)
Ammonite
14
5 cm
Coiled ammonite swimming mollusc similar to a
snail in shape but possess septal sutures
Cretaceous Pierre Shale Didymocerus A
differently coiled ammonite
Late Cretaceous Ammonite - Acanthoscaphites
Pierre Shale, nr. Glendive, Montana.
Photo by A.C.Ashworth
15
Squid - Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco
Box of squid Fishermans Wharf, San Franscisco
16
Cretaceous sea floor - ammonites and other
molluscs
The cone-like shells are the ammonite Baculites
17
0.5 inches
Mosasaur tooth
2 inches
Mosasaur vertebra
Cretaceous vertebrate fossils
1 inch
Fish scale
18
Cretaceous mosasaur - major predator
19
Western North Dakota in the Upper
Cretaceous Tyrranosaurus terrorizing giant sea
turtles Archelon
20
(No Transcript)
21
Cretaceous Interior Seaway