The Program
We offer a two-year M.S. degree program for about 10-15 students at a time, in an active, research-oriented environment. We stress personalized, individual attention to student research. Our program provides a combination of classical geological training, involving a significant field component, together with applications of modern technology, such as remote sensing and GIS, to solve geological and environmental problems. Graduate students become proficient in a variety of computer techniques. We are closely linked with the Institute for Environmental Studies at TCU, and many students carry out research in environmental geology, earth surface processes, drainage basin hydrology and related topics. Faculty and students also are engaged in structural, tectonic, sedimentological, paleontological, paleovolcanological and petrological studies in Oklahoma and Texas, Scotland, southern Africa, Peru, the Baja Peninsula and the Sierra Nevada in California. Petroleum geology is a particular strength of the department, with many of our students working as interns for local oil and gas companies.

Fort Worth is centrally located relative to a wealth of diverse geological settings, in addition to the classic Paleozoic and Mesozoic successions of the southern midcontinent. Departmental field trips visit the complex Paleozoic structures of southern Oklahoma and Arkansas (Wichita, Arbuckle, and Ouachita Mountains), Cambrian and Precambrian igneous rocks in the Wichita and Arbuckle Mountains, Precambrian crystalline rocks in central and west Texas, and the spectacularly exposed geology of the Big Bend region.

The Center for GIS and Remote Sensing provides a venue for instructing students and area professionals in the use of ESRI’s ArcGIS (and its extensions) and other GIS software. We provide GIS training on Windows and Mac platforms. Training and research in remote sensing is performed with a variety of software. The Center is a focus for successful research by students from a variety of backgrounds. The Center houses computer and GPS units and a fiber optic visible-near infrared spectrometer for remote sensing research.

Financial Aid
Support is given in the form of two-year Departmental and Research Assistantships, which include a nine-month stipend ($13,000 per year in 2006-07), free tuition (30 credit hours), waiver of most university fees and up to $3,000 to defray costs of thesis research. In 2006-07, the total award for two years (tuition and stipend) was $50,000. Students receive additional support during the academic year and/or summer from other departmental funds, faculty research grants, internships with local firms or consulting projects.

Research Facilities
Extensive networked computing facilities, including scanners, digitizers and plotters; complete remote sensing facilities with computer workstations and image processing/GIS software; scanning electron microscope; environmental chemistry lab with absorption spectrophotometer and mercury analysis system; lab and field equipment for surface and groundwater hydrologic modeling and simulation; research microscopes with cathodoluminescence and fluid-inclusion stages; GPR for shallow subsurface research; wet and dry sediment lab; rock preparation lab. We also have extensive mineralogical, paleontological and oil-field core collections, and as well as the Oscar Monnig meteorite collection, one of the finest meteorite collections in the world.

In addition to the brief faculty summaries below, you may see more about the faculty on the Faculty page.

• Helge Alsleben, Structural geology. Research interests: Mesozoic tectonic and structural evolution of the Baja Peninsula and the southwestern Cordillera; accreted terranes; microstructural analysis; evolution of magmatic systems through time.
• John A. Breyer, Petroleum geology, exploration geophysics, sedimentary geology, sequence stratigraphy.  Research interests: petroleum geology and petrology of the Barnett Shale in the Fort Worth and Delaware basins; Middle Jurassic deep-water sands, Cotton Valley field, northern Louisiana; subsurface geology of the Wilcox Group, Texas; mining geology and coal geology; Precambrian trace fossils.
• Arthur B. Busbey, Vertebrate paleontology, stratigraphy, use of microcomputers in geology and remote sensing. Research interests: functional morphology and evolution of Crocodilia; Permian fossil vertebrates in Oklahoma; geology and vertebrate paleontology of the Big Bend area; application of statistical and computer modeling techniques to geological problems.
• R. Nowell Donovan, Provost, TCU. Basin analysis and sedimentary geology, carbonate petrology, structural geology and tectonics. Research interests: stratigraphic and structural development of the Southern Oklahoma aulacogen; petrology and sedimentology of Paleozoic carbonate rocks in southern Oklahoma, Texas and Scotland; Devonian basins in Scotland.
• Arthur J. Ehlmann, Emeritus Professor and Curator of the Monnig Meteorite Collection. Research interests: petrology and mineralogy of meteorites.
• Richard E. Hanson, Department Chair, Igneous and metamorphic geology, volcanology, tectonics, Precambrian geology. Research interests: evolution of orogenic belts as approached through tectonostratigraphic, structural, petrological and geochronological studies; island-arc rocks in the northern Sierra Nevada, California; Proterozoic geology and tectonics of southern Africa; process-oriented studies of ancient volcanic sequences.
• Ken M. Morgan, Associate Dean, College of Science and Engineering, TCU; Co-Director, Center for GIS and Remote Sensing. Environmental geology, hydrogeology, urban planning, remote sensing, geographic information systems. Research interests: application of remote sensing and GIS techniques to environmental geology, land-use monitoring and geological exploration and mapping; use of satellite data for lithological and structural mapping in Oklahoma and Texas.
• Ranjan S. Muttiah, Director, Center for GIS and Remote Sensing. Research interests: watershed hydrology; environmental contamination; Amazon drainage features; landslides; iron cycle in inundated soils; optical properties of vegetation.
• Leo W. Newland, Environmental chemistry, environmental mineralogy, soil science. Research interests: occurrence and fate of inorganic and organic toxic compounds in the environment; biotechnology of organic wastes; hydrogeochemistry; use of remote sensing techniques in environmental planning.
• Michael C. Slattery, Director, Institute for Environmental Studies. Fluvial and hillslope geomorphology, soils, drainage basin hydrology. Research interests: surface runoff generation and hydrological pathways; soil erosion and sediment delivery; mechanics of sediment transport, rill formation and the physical properties of transported sediments; variability of soil properties.

• Befus, K. (2006) Late Cretaceous and Eocene phreatomagmatic volcanism and magma-sediment interaction in the Big Bend area of West Texas.
• Bellamy, J. (2001) A test case of the “new stratigraphies” in the subsurface, Wilcox Group (Paleogene), South Texas.
• Berkebile, M. (2003) Geologic and paleomagnetic studies of a Pliocene volcanic debris-avalanche deposit in the northern Sierra Nevada, California.
• Dakshinamurthy, L. (2003) Quantifying the impact of impoundment on sediment transport in the lower Trinity River, Texas.
• Dollar, D. (2004) Land use, slope, and soil type and their control on sediment flux from two lower coastal plain basins, Trinity River, Texas.
• Dennie, D. (2001) Geology of Cottonwood Wash fan, Rosillos Mountains, Big Bend National Park.
• Horton, R. (2006) Geology and vertebrate paleontology of Cretaceous and Tertiary strata on the Pitcock Rosillos Mountain Ranch, Brewster County, Texas.
• Johnson, L. (2003) Spatial and temporal variability in soil moisture content as a control on runoff generation in a hillslope hollow in Parker County, Texas.
• Khanal, S. (2006) A GIS study of landslides in the lower Los Amigos foreland of Peru.
• Musselman, Z. (2001) A geomorphic analysis of alluvial fans on the Rosillos laccolith.
• Nader, J. (2005) Reconnaissance remote sensing and field study of the Dalquest Research Area, Presidio and Brewster Counties, Texas.
• Pancake, J. (2001) Paleomagnetic and geochronological studies of Mesoproterozoic mafic igneous rocks in Botswana.
• Philips, C. (2002) Carlton Rhyolite in the Blue Creek Canyon area, southwestern Oklahoma
• Seidel, E. (2004) Paleomagnetic and geochronological study of parts of the 1.1 Ga Umkondo igneous province in South Africa.
• Sevier, D. (2002) High-resolution facies analysis and hydrocarbon production, Pointe ala Hoche field, Louisiana.
• Wellmeyer, J. (2004) Historic planform change of the Trinity River channel below Livingston Dam, Liberty County, Texas.
  

Dr. Helge Alsleben
Graduate Advisor
Department of Geology
Box 298830
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas 76129
TEL: (817) 257-7270
FAX: (817) 257-7789
EMAIL:h.alsleben@tcu.edu

Graduate Courses Include

50233 Optical Mineralogy and Petrography. Prerequisites: GEOL 3223 or permission of instructor Two hours of lecture and one three hour laboratory period per week. Analysis of the behavior of light in crystalline substances, complete treatment of crystal optics and the identification of non-opaque, rock-forming minerals using immersion media and thin section techniques. Intensive use of the microscope required.

50251 Scanning Electron Microscopy. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. Use of the SEM in geological applications.

50331 Basic Seismics. Prerequisites: GEOL 30423 and GEOL 40223. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. An introduction to techniques of gathering, processing and interpreting seismic data.

50341 Interpreting Seismic Data. Prerequisites: GEOL 5331 or equivalent. Three hours of laboratory per week for five weeks. A Practicum in interpreting seismic data.

50351 Seismic Stratigraphy. Prerequisites: GEOL 50331 or equivalent. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. An introduction to the principles of seismic stratigraphy and their application in oil and gas exploration.

50361 Basic Well Log interpretation. Perquisite: GEOL 40223. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. An introduction to the use of borehole geophysical logs in formation evaluation, correlation and subsurface facies analysis.

50413 Global Tectonics and Basin Analysis. Three hours of lecture per week. Explores the relationship between plate motion and the evolution of sedimentary basins.

50423 Petroleum Geology. Origin, migration and entrapment of hydrocarbons, exploration and production techniques used in the petroleum industry.

50493 Physical Hydrology. Prerequisite Geol 10113 and Math 10524. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Designed to introduce upper-undergraduate/first-year-graduate students in earth sciences and natural resources to the study of hydrologic science. Provides a comprehensive treatment of modern conceptual and methodological approaches to answering hydrologic questions by combining (1) a qualitative, conceptual understanding of hydrologic processes; (2) an introduction to the quantitative representation of those processes; and (3) an understanding of approaches to hydrologic measurements and the uncertainties involved in those measurements.

50543 Sedimentary Environment and Facies. Three hours of lecture per week. Facies analysis and facies models applied to the problem of interpreting stratigraphic sequences and reconstructing paleogeography.

50602 Preparation of Environmental Impact Statements. Two laboratory periods per week. The methodology of environmental impact statement preparation from initial collection of data to final report drafting is covered. The course offers problem-oriented exercises where students are trained to take the initiative in EIS preparation. (Also offered as Biology 5602).

50603 Introduction to Geochemistry. Prerequisite: GEOL 3023, CHEM 10114-10124 or permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week. Application of basic chemical principles to understanding the origin, distribution and migration of chemical elements in the earth's lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.

50613 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prerequisite: GEOL 50233. Two hours of lecture and one three hour laboratory period per week. Petrogenesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks based on field, petrographic, chemical and isotopic data. Inferences on the evolution and dynamics of the crust and mantle. Involves use of microscope.

50623 Volcanology. Prerequisites: GEOL 50233. Two hours of lecture and one three hour laboratory period per week. Types and processes of volcanic eruptions; characteristics of modern volcanic products; recognition and significance of ancient volcanic deposits in the stratigraphic record. Involves use of microscope. Field trip required.

05712 Environmental Geology. Prerequisites: GEOL 10413; GEOL 30223 recommended. Three hours of lecture per week for ten weeks. Geologic processes, earth resources and engineering properties of crustal materials in the activities of society.

50721 Geographic Information Systems. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. An introduction to computer systems for creating and managing large data bases and to techniques for displaying ind interpreting layered environmental geologic data.

50731 Remote Sensing Technology. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. An introduction to the technology used in remote sensing, including MSS, TM and SPOT, thermal scanners and radar imaging.

50741 Image Processing. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. An introduction to processing techniques used to enhance the display of remote sensing images with emphasis on those techniques useful in resource mapping.

50751 Image Interpretation. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. Geologic and resource mapping and environmental monitoring using satellite images.

50773 Introduction to Environmental Law. Prerequisite: Enrollment in Environmental Sciences, Master of Sciences program or senior with appropriate major (biology, geology, chemistry or other sciences; engineering; pre-law; business management. Three hours of lecture per week. Introduction to and analysis of selected federal statutes regulating environmental degredation and environmental clean-up, including National Environmental Policy Act and regulation of air quality, water quality, wastes, hazardous and toxic substances and enforcement.

50783 Environmental Chemistry. Prerequisites: GEOL 10413 or GEOL 10113, CHEM 10114-10124 or permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week. Chemistry of water soil energy, and air as related to environmental problems. Subjects include: nutrients and eutrophication, fluorocarbons, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, Eh-pH relationship, natural carbonate reactions, and cation exchange phenomena.

50883 Introduction to Environmental Engineering Technology. Introduction to fundamentals of pollution control technology; impact of federal and state legislation on the construction, modification and control of industrial plants. Other topics include hazardous pollutants, modification to ambient quality, and basic pollution modeling. (Also sited as Biology.)

50901 Computer applications in Geology. Prerequisites: COSC 10403 or equivalent. Three hours of lecture per week for five weeks. The use of microcomputers in Geology.

50912 Statistical applications for microcomputers. Prerequisite Geol 50901. Three hours of lecture per week for ten weeks. Statistical treatment of directional data and the use of multivariate and special regression techniques analysis of variance, discriminate function analysis and factor analysis in solving geologic problems.

50922 Mapping applications for Microcomputers. Prerequisite: GEOL 50901. Three hours of lecture per week for ten weeks. Selecting and using mapping and drafting software.

60213 Environmental Analysis. Two hours of lecture and one laboratory period per week. Techniques of analysis usingX-ray, atomic absorption, differential thermal, infrared absorption, chromatography and liquid scintillation.

60413 Advanced Map Interpretation. Three hours lecture per week. Techniques used in the analysis of geological structures.

60513 Carbonate Petrology. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. An examination of the chemical sedimentary rocks: limestones, dolomites, evaporites, chert, ironstones and phosphates, including their classification, genesis and diagenesis. The course has a large component of laboratory and fieldwork.

60523 Sandstone Petrology. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Study of provenance, diagensis and classifcaiton of standstone using the petrographic microscope; consideration of the relationship between tectonics and sedimentation, especially sandstone composition.

60710 Geology Seminar. Formal presentation and discussion of controversial topics with emphasis on geologic principals involved.

70980 Thesis

70970 Thesis. Continuation of 70980.