Download GEOL 1403 Physical Geology Lecture Topics

9/10/2010
GEOL 1403
Physical Geology Lecture Topics
This course is designed to introduce the science of geology, emphasizing plate tectonics, rocks,
minerals, geological processes, structural geology, and landforms. The following is a list of topics
that should be covered as part of the lecture component of the course. Please refer to the GEOL 1403
Physical Geology Laboratory Topics for the list of topics expected to be covered during the laboratory
component of the course.
Topics in italics are optional parts of the curriculum.
1. INTRODUCTION
a) Scientific method
b) Formation of the Solar System
c) Basic features of Solar System
d) Formation of the Moon
e) Origin and structure of the Earth
f) Composition of the Earth
g) Earth systems (geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere)
2. PLATE TECTONICS
a) Evidence for continental drift
b) Structure of tectonic plates
c) Major plates
d) Plate boundaries and related processes
e) Continental structure
f) Hot spots & mantle plumes
3. EARTHQUAKES
a) Elastic rebound theory
b) Seismic waves
c) Magnitude
d) Intensity
e) Epicenter vs. hypocenter/focus
f) Earthquake hazards
4. BASIC CHEMISTRY
a) Atomic components
b) Atomic weight
c) Atomic number
d) Isotopes
e) Types of atomic bonds
f) Ions
g) Common elements and symbols
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5. MINERALOLGY
a) Features of minerals
b) Physical properties of minerals
c) Mineral recognition
d) Polymorphs
e) Factors affecting crystal growth and stability
f) Major mineral compositional groups
g) Silicate minerals
i) Silicate tetrahedron
ii) Silicate tetrahedron arrangements
iii) Important silicate rock-forming minerals & formulae (quartz [SiO2], feldspars, micas,
ferromagnesians, clay minerals)
h) Important non-silicate rock-forming minerals & formulae (calcite [CaCO3], dolomite, halite
[NaCl], gypsum CaSO42H2O])
6. IGNEOUS ROCKS & VOLCANISM
a) Rock cycle
b) Origin of magma
c) Igneous rock textures
d) Igneous rock compositions
e) Igneous rock classification
f) Intrusive vs. extrusive igneous processes
g) Magmatic differentiation
h) Plutons & intrusive igneous structures
i) Volcanoes & volcanism
i) Characteristics of lava
ii) Types of volcanoes
iii) Eruptive styles
j) Relationship of igneous activity to plate boundaries
7. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
a) Sediment and sedimentary rock textures and classification
b) Clastic sediment and sedimentary rocks
c) Chemical sediment and sedimentary rocks
d) Biogenic sediment and sedimentary rocks
e) Formation of sedimentary rocks
f) Depositional environments
g) Formation and recognition of sedimentary structures
i) Stratification
ii) Cross bedding
iii) Ripple marks
iv) Mudcracks
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8. METAMORPHIC ROCKS
a) Causes of metamorphism
b) Types of metamorphism (e.g., regional, contact, burial, etc.)
c) Mineral stability relative to temp./pressure conditions
d) Metamorphic grade
e) Metamorphic facies
f) Metamorphic rock textures
g) Metamorphic rock classification
9. STRATIGRAPHY AND TIME
a) Fossils
b) Geologic time scale
i) Time Units (i.e. eon, era, period, epoch)
ii) Eons (Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic)
iii) Eras of the Phanerozoic (in order)
iv) Dates of the Phanerozoic era boundaries
c) Principles of Stratigraphy
i) Original horizontality
ii) Original lateral continuity
iii) Superposition
iv) Cross-cutting relationships
v) Inclusion
vi) Faunal succession
d) Unconformities
e) Interpreting sequence diagrams (relative dating)
f) Absolute age dating (radiometric dating)
10. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
a) Stress
b) Strain
c) Fractures
i) Joints
ii) Faults
(1) Characteristics of dip-slip faults
(2) Characteristics of strike-slip faults
d) Folds
i) Anticlines
ii) Synclines
iii) Basins
iv) Domes
v) Plunging folds
e) Strike & Dip
11. FLUVIAL PROCESSES
a) River systems
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b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Fluvial characteristics (e.g., gradient, discharge, etc.)
Sedimentary load
Fluvial erosion & deposition (e.g., valley formation, floodplains)
Floodplain development
Drainage basins
12. GROUNDWATER PROCESSES
a) Hydrologic cycle
b) Permeability and porosity
c) Confined and unconfined saturated zones
d) Groundwater gradient & groundwater flow
e) Aquifers
f) Aquitards
g) Karst terrain development
13. MASS WASTING/MASS MOVEMENTS
a) Factors controlling mass wasting (e.g., gravity, water content, cohesive strength, slope)
b) Types of mass wasting
i) Slides
ii) Falls
iii) Flows (including creep)
c) Safety factors / mitigation
14. ARID LANDSCAPES / EOLIAN PROCESSES
a) Characteristics of deserts
b) Factors controlling formation of arid environments (e.g., rain shadows, cold ocean current,
etc.)
c) Alluvial fans
d) Wind erosion & modes of sediment transport
e) Controls on dune formation
f) Types of dunes
15. COASTAL PROCESSES
a) Ocean waves (formation, wave characteristics, direction of motion)
b) Wave refraction
c) Longshore current / drift
d) Wave erosion & deposition
e) River deltas
f) Coral reefs
g) Tides & ocean currents
h) Primary vs. secondary coastlines
i) Emergent vs. submergent coastlines
16. GLACIAL PROCESSES
a) Glacier formation
b) Ice budget (e.g., accumulation vs. wastage [ablation])
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c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
Glacial movement
Glacial erosion
Glacial deposition
Alpine vs. continental glaciation
Glacial landforms
Ice Ages
Glaciers and human-caused climate change
i) Evidence and cause
ii) Consequences of global warming
17. HUMAN INTERACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
a) Energy resources
i) Oil and gas formation and accumulation
ii) Coal formation
iii) Fossil fuel alternatives (e.g. nuclear, geothermal, solar, wind, hydropower, biofuels)
b) Mineral resources
i) Concentration factor and metallic ores
ii) Formation of metallic mineral deposits (e.g. hydrothermal, igneous and sedimentary processes)
iii) Nonmetallic mineral deposits (e.g. sand and gravel, clay/shale, limestone, sandstone, granite,
gypsum, rock salt)
18. EVOLUTION OF CONTINENTS
a) Physiographic provinces
i) Craton
ii) Coastal plain
iii) Orogenic belts
b) Global distribution of physiographic provinces
c) Origin of continental crust
d) Growth of continents - continental accretion
19. LANDFORMS AND LANDSCAPES
a) Geologic vs. topographic mountains
b) Plateaus
c) Ridges and hogbacks
d) Regional topographic basins (Great Basin, Great Divide Basin)
e) Badlands
f) Uplift vs. erosion
g) Landscape rejuvenation
20. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
a) Electromagnetic radiation and Earth’s energy balance
b) Greenhouse gases and global warming
c) Evidence of recent climate change
d) Major consequences of global warming
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