Modern Carbonates

This course will provide an overview of the major concepts and actualistic and non-actualistic models underlying carbonate geology, and will focus on carbonate deposition through geologic time, emphasizing feedbacks in the Earth system. Students will learn about the latest approaches to the study of carbonate systems in Earth system research through (1) a seminar in which each student will present a self-researched topic from selected case studies from various intervals in Earth History and (2) a field trip to the Red Sea (Egypt) where we will demonstrate concepts and applications both on land and under water and will compare modern and fossil record.