Download Introduction to Geology

Introduction to Geology
Week 1
Geology is..

The scientific study of the Earth and its
processes.

the physical earth
 composition
 processes
the historical earth
 the interactions between humans and
the earth

Observe this scene.
What do you see? How did this landscape form?
01.02.b1
What would a geologist look for?
Various colors
Some color looks
to be a stain on
outside of rock
Hill has different
parts
Ledges that reflect layers
Rounded versus
angular corners
Fractures
Loose pieces
versus solid
bedrock
Loose pieces
cover slope
02.01.a1
Observe this scene and think about the processes going on
and how geology influences the scene…
01.04.a1
How does a
geologist see the
Black Hills?
Isolated mountains
near Great Plains
Rapid City is on
east side
Uplift of older rocks,
with younger rock
layers tilted away
from range
01.09.a
What would a geologist observe in this landscape?
Active fault
along cliffs
River
Reservoir
Volcano
Nearby oil
field
Farms
Mountains and
drainages toward
town
01.10.a1
City of St.
George
River
Steps in Investigation
What Was Discovered
Observation
Gasoline in groundwater
Questions from
observation
From leak in buried tank?
Proposed explanations
From tank
Not from tank
Make predictions for
each explanation: if tank
is cause, leak should be
found in tank
Collect data to test
predictions
No leak in tank; wrong kind of
gasoline in tank
Conclusion
Contamination is from elsewhere
02.04.a1-6
Types of data…is one type better?
Qualitative data: descriptions
(conveyed with words or
sketches)
Quantitative data: numeric
measurements (conveyed
with numbers)
02.07.a
Examining an area
from various
viewpoints
see text:
p. 45
02.10.c1-4
Exploring for
petroleum
Flow of
groundwater
Earthquake
hazards
What Formed This Crater?
Observe
this
scene
and then
think of
options
for all the
ways in
which a
crater
could
form
see text
sec. 2.12
02.12.a1
Observe the rocks in the rim of
the crater
Rim of crater has angular blocks of fractured rock
02.12.a2
Observe this geologic cross section
across the crater. The crater is within
sedimentary layers.
02.12.b1
Models for Formation of the Crater
Volcanic explosion
Meteoroid
impact
Rising salt
02.12.c1-3
Consider the predictions that arise from each model
How you could test each prediction?
What type of data would you like to have?
Questions to consider:
How does science examine things?
 How does science differ from other
ways of knowing?
 What makes science so special?


How does science develop explanations
for natural processes?
What do you hope to gain?
How does geology relate to your field of
study? (be creative)
 How has geology impacted your life?
 What are you curious about?


If you can relate this subject to
something that interests you…you will
be more successful in this class.