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Physical Geology
2011-2012
Geology Course of Study
Course Description
Physical Geology incorporates chemistry, physics, and environmental science, and introduces
students to key concepts, principles and theories within geology. Students will engage in
investigations to understand and explain the behavior of nature in a variety of inquiry and design
scenarios that incorporate scientific reasoning, analysis, communication skills, and real world
applications.
Prerequisite: Students enrolled in Math 2112 or higher level math classes. Students must have
successfully completed at least (C average or better) in Physical Science and Biology.
Credit: 1 Credit
Physical Geology
2011-2012
Geology Course of Study
CONCEPT:
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Explore the building blocks of the lithosphere, minerals, and rocks.
TOPICS: Minerals
 The crystalline structure of molecules contributes to its physical properties.
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Atoms, elements and chemical bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic)
Crystallinity (crystal structure)
Criteria of a mineral (crystalline solid, occurs in nature, inorganic, defined chemical
composition)
Physical properties of minerals (hardness, luster, cleavage, streak, crystal shape,
fluorescence, flammability, magnetism, density/specific gravity, malleability)
Rocks
The characteristics of a rock reflect its geologic history.
Igneous
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Mafic and felsic rocks and minerals
Intrusive (igneous structures: dikes, sills, batholiths, pegmatites)
Extrusive (volcanic activity, volcanoes, cinder cones, composite, shield)
Cooling rate and Bowen's Reaction Series (continuous and discontinuous branches)
Metamorphic
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Pressure, stress, temperature, and compressional forces
Foliated (regional), non-foliated (contact)
Parent rock and degrees of metamorphism
Metamorphic zones (where metamorphic rocks are found)
Sedimentary
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Division of sedimentary rocks and minerals (chemical clastic/physical, organic)
Depositional environments
Physical Geology
2011-2012
Geology Course of Study
VOCABULARY: atoms, elements, compounds, chemical bonding (ionic, covalent,
metallic),crystallinity, mineral, hardness, luster, cleavage, streak, crystal shape, fluorescence,
flammability, magnetism, density/specific gravity, malleability, igneous, mafic, felsic, intrusive
(igneous structures: dikes, sills, batholiths, pegmatites), extrusive (volcanic activity, volcanoes,
cinder cones, composite, shield), metamorphic, foliated (regional), non-foliated (contact),
sedimentary (chemical clastic/physical, organic), deposition
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Identify minerals based upon physical properties of minerals (hardness, luster, cleavage,
streak, crystal shape, magnetism, density/specific gravity, malleability)
Sort or identify rocks and classify them as:
o Igneous
 Mafic or Felsic
 Intrusive or Extrusive
o Metamorphic
 Foliated or Non-foliated
o Sedimentary
 Clastic, physical, or organic
CONCEPT:
 Based upon the individual smaller units of the lithosphere students will investigate the
lithosphere to see how the characteristics and formation of rocks and minerals can be used to
determine Earth’s history and to understand the varying geologic processes of Earth.
TOPICS: Geologic Time
 The history of the Earth is broken up into a hierarchical set of divisions for describing
geologic time.
Relative and Absolute Age
Principles to determine relative age
 Original horizontality, original lateral continuity, superposition, cross-cutting
relationships, unconformities (nonconformity, angular unconformity,
disconformities), Principle of Inclusions, guide fossils
Determining absolute age
 Radiometric dating (isotopes, radioactive decay)
 Appropriate applications of radiometric dating (which isotopes to use in which
situations, rock types)
Physical Geology
2011-2012
Geology Course of Study
The Geologic Time Scale
 Comprehending geologic time based on Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs, Ages
 Climate changes evident through the rock record
 Fossils
o Fossil Identification
 Body fossils (macroscopic and microscopic) and trace fossils
(ichnofossils)
 modes of preservation (unaltered soft parts, altered soft parts,
carbonization,
charcoalification,
recrystallization,
replacement,
silification, calcification, pyritization, permineralization authigenic
cementation), casts, molds, steinkerns, trace fossils, corpolites
Plate Tectonics
Evidence for structure of the Earth
 Seismic waves, S and P waves, velocities, reflection, refraction of seismic waves
 Structure of Earth
o Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, Mohorovicic discontinuity (Moho)
o Composition of Earth’s core
o Gravity, magnetism and isostasy
o Thermal energy (geothermal gradient and heat flow)
Historical data and observations
 Paleomagnetism and magnetic anomalies
 Paleoclimatology
o Evidence of Paleoclimates (evaporates, eolian sandstones, alluvial fan,
peat, paleosols, carbonates, oxygen isotopes, ice cores, Milankovitch
Cycles (eccentricity, axial precession, obliquity cycle)
Plate motion
 Causes, evidence and measuring of plate motion
 Characteristics of oceanic and continental plates
 Relationship of plate movement and geologic events and features
Physical Geology
2011-2012
Geology Course of Study
VOCABULARY relative, original horizontality, superposition, cross-cutting relationships,
absolute age, radiometric dating (isotopes, radioactive decay), seismic waves (S and P waves,
velocities, reflection, refraction), lithosphere, asthenosphere, Mohorovicic discontinuity (Moho),
isostasy, thermal energy (geothermal gradient and heat flow), paleomagnetism (magnetic
anomalies), paleoclimatology, unconformities (nonconformity, angular unconformity,
disconformities), Principle of Inclusions, evaporates, eolian sandstones, alluvial fan, peat,
paleosols, carbonates, oxygen isotopes, ice cores, Milankovitch Cycles (eccentricity, axial
precession, obliquity cycle guide fossils, macroscopic, microscopic, ichnofossils, unaltered soft
parts, altered soft parts, carbonization, charcoalification, recrystallization, replacement,
silification, calcification, pyritization, permineralization authigenic cementation), casts, molds,
steinkerns, trace fossils, corpolites
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Determine relative age based upon original horizontality, superposition, and cross-cutting
relationships.
Determine absolute age based upon radiometric dating (isotopes, radioactive decay).
Classify geological events into Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs, and Ages by utilizing the
geologic time scale.
Determine the paleoclimate by observing rock and mineral types within a region.
Identify fossils by (macroscopic and microscopic), trace fossils (ichnofossils), and their
modes of preservation.
Collect data from a seismic event and identify the S and P waves, velocities, reflection, and
refraction of seismic waves.
Given a visual representation of the Earth’s layers, students will identify Lithosphere,
Asthenosphere, and the composition of the earth’s core.
Describe how the relationship of plate movement and geologic events affects features of the
Earth.
CONCEPT:
 The Earth is dynamic, continually changing and cycling. There are four basic spheres of
Earth: the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. There is no process or
phenomenon that occurs in complete isolation within each sphere; each interacts with
another.
Physical Geology
2011-2012
Geology Course of Study
TOPICS: Earth Systems
 This section is a culmination of the material from earlier in the course and concentrates on
the interaction between the spheres as they relate to geologic processes.
The Ocean
 Tides and currents
 Thermal energy and water density
 Waves and coastal processes
 Ocean features (ridges, trenches, island systems, abyssal zone, shelves, slopes, reefs,
island arcs, alluvial fans, deltas)
Surface and Ground water
 Streams (tributaries, channels, streambeds, floodplains, cross-bedding, meandering
stream, shallow braided stream, oxbow lake, cut bank, point bar, dendritic drainage,
radial drainage)
 Potable water
 Wetlands
 Flood hazards
Soils
 Weathering, erosion and mass wasting
Earth’s Mineral Resources
Climate and Climate change
 Koppen Climate Classifications
 Milankovitch Cycles
Glaciers and Glaciations
 Evidence of past glaciers (including features formed through erosion or deposition)
 Glacial deposition and erosion (including features formed through erosion or deposition)
 Data from ice cores
o How to determine glacial age
o Historical changes (amounts, locations, particulate matter)
o Climate changes evidence
o Fossil record
o Glacial distribution and causes of glaciation
o Types of glaciers - Continental (ice sheets), alpine/valley (piedmont, valley,
cirque, ice caps)
o Glacial structure, formation and movement
Physical Geology
2011-2012
Geology Course of Study
VOCABULARY: hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, thermal energy, density, Ocean
features (ridges, trenches, island systems, abyssal zone, shelves, slopes, reefs, island arcs,
alluvial fans, deltas), Streams (channels, streambeds, floodplains, cross-bedding, meandering
stream, shallow braided stream, oxbow lake, cut bank, point bar, dendritic drainage, radial
drainage), potable water, wetlands, weathering, erosion, mass wasting, glaciation (zone of
accumulation, zone of ablation, terminus, drift, till, crevasses, transverse crevasses, longitudinal
crevasses, cirque, arête, col, horn, headwall, glacial trough, piedmont, valley, ice caps, hanging
valley, glacial striations and grooves, glacial polish, ground moraine, terminal moraine
recessional moraine, lateral moraine, medial moraine, drumlin, kame, esker, erratic, outwash,
outwash plain, loess, tarn, finger lake, kettle lake)
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
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Identify the four basic spheres of Earth: the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and
biosphere and their interaction between the spheres as they relate to geologic processes.
Identify on a map of the ocean floor the ocean features (ridges, trenches, island systems,
abyssal zone, shelves, slopes, reefs, island arcs, alluvial fans, deltas)
Identify the features associated with ground and surface water.
Identify features that are a result of glaciation.
List the processes that affect weathering, erosion, and the different types of mass wasting.
Identify the locations of some of the earth’s major mineral resources and relate them to their
depositional environments.
Relate how cyclical patterns associated with the Milankovitch Cycles effect the earth’s
climate change.
Identify the different climate zones of the earth and how they relate to their location on the
earth’s surface.
Predict how an increase in particulate matter influences the climate both short term and long
term.
Identify and label evidence of past glaciers (including features formed through erosion or
deposition).
Identify and label glacial deposition and erosion (including features formed through erosion
or deposition).
List three causes of glaciation.
Locate current and past glaciations and give rationale for the distribution of the glaciers.