Earth Science II - Spring 2008
Professor: Dr. Julie Westerlund, email [email protected]
Lab Instructor: Dorothy Ibes, email: [email protected]
Office: SCI Bldg. 214
Phone: (512) 280-1419 (voice mail); or (512) 560-8276 (cell), or (512) 245-3361
Class: Biol. 4403, Tues., Lec. 5:00-7:45 pm, Thurs, Lab: 5:00 – 7:45 pm
Office Hrs T: 4:00- 5:00 or by appointment
CAMels Often Sit Down CARefully, PERhaps Their Joints CREak Too Quickly
(Please learn the geologic periods, p.337, with this mnemonic device.)
Mark your calendars and please make work/family arrangements. Transportation will be provided.
Field Trip: Sat, April 12 (Half-Day to Blanco Region) (Tentative)
Field Trip: Sat, April 26 (Full Day to Llano Region) (Tentative)
"I cannot promise to teach you all geology; I can only fire your imaginations."
Professor Adam Sedgwick, Geology Professor, Cambridge, England, 1820's
Jan. 15
Tues
Places to go this semester!
First Reading Guide - Tarbuck
Texas Natural Science Center at
University of Texas - New exhibits
Free Admission!
Semester Assignment: Due April 22nd
Scavenger Hunt for Students
Handwritten, 3 pages, single spaced
Provide interesting questions and answers that
will guide students through the museum.
Make it fun!
Before the first laboratory this Thursday,
take a peek at the Texas Watch Home page
at
http://texaswatch.rivers.txstate.edu/
and
http://texaswatch.rivers.txstate.edu/Publica
tions/Curriculum.html
Floor 1 - Hall of Geology
(Dinosaurs, Fossil Animals, Gems and
Minerals) Be sure to check out the Onion
Creek Mosasaur, a marine reptile, that swam
in the Cretaceous Seas when Texas was under
water 80 million years ago.
Semester Assignments:
Texas Memorial Museum at
University of Texas Required Self-Guided Field Trip
Go one time during the semester
Due: April 22nd
Student Signup Sheet for
Floor 2 - Exhibit: Natural Wonders: Treasures Era Presentations: Feb 26th
of the TMM, UT Scientist Research
Geologic Time Scale is on page 328
Floor 4 - New Virtual Reality Exhibit
__________________________________
featuring 3-D images of fossils scanned
PreCambrian (Proteozoic) Era
88% of Geologic History
For directions: Go to web site at
4500 mya to 550 mya
Google: Texas Natural Science Center
___________ ____________
Or the URL is www.utexas.edu/tmm.org
___________ ____________
_______________________________
Paleozoic Era
Extra Credit Projects: Due End of Semester 7% of Geologic History
1. Observe Saturn at the Texas State
550 mya to 250 mya
Observatory 3 hand-written pages, single
_________ ___________
sided, single spaced, college ruled of
_________ ___________
observations, discussions, interactions, what
else observed
Meosoic Era
(Call ahead for Viewing Time of Saturn)
4% of Geologic History
250 mya to 65 mya
2. Go to The 11th Hour movie when it comes ___________ _________
to our area or in video stores. Write 3 page
___________ _________
report. Include when and where you attended Cenozoic Era
the movie.
1.4% of Geologic History
Leonardo DiCaprio talks about the upcoming 65 mya to present
The 11th hour movie in the link below:
________ _________
________ _________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0LCFNZ _____________________________
29YM&NR=1
Period within Mesozoic
Cretaceous Period
The 11th Hour movie trailer link below :
1.7% of Geologic History
http://www.apple.com/trailers/warner_indepen (surface rock age in Central Texas)
dent_pictures/the11thhour/trailer1/
144 mya to 65 mya
3. Read Plan B and write a 3 page book
Review
http://www.earthpolicy.org/Books/PB2/index.htm
Bring Planispheres to Lab on
Thursday
Read Plan of Hope from Plan B
http://www.earthpolicy.org/Books/PB2/PB2ch1_ss7.htm
Semester Assignment:
Geologic Era Presentations (approx 45 min)
(Due Feb 27th, Mar - 6th)
In groups of four, students present
characteristics of particular eras
Each interactive presentation should contain:
1. Plate tectonics
2. Atmospheric Composition
3. Major Plant Forms (two examples)
4. Major Animal Forms (two examples)
5. Unique features of the era "something to
remember it by" (i.e. Mesozoic Era is the Age
of the Dinosaurs, Permian Extinction in
Paleozoic Era)
6. Inquiry Activity
Thur 17
Tues 22
Thur 24
Tues 29
Wed 30
31
Thur
Feb
2
Tues 5
Water, Aquifers
Introduction to Texas Watch Monitoring
Program
January Skies (Orion is seen!) - Planispheres
Lecture Topics:
1. Water
2. Running and Ground Water
3. Edwards Aquifer Movie & Mural
Quiz over Geologic Time Periods
DO NOT MEET IN CLASSROOM
Meet at Aquarena - The Landing
Texas Watch Training Phase I
Location: The Landing at Aquarena
Lecture Topics
Water, Aquifers, Texas Watch,
Edwards Aquifer Movie & Mural
Reading: Second Reading Guide –
Tarbuck, (Chapter One only, get started on
Chapter 2,)
Homework:Second Reading Guide Tarbuck , Chapters 2
Last day to drop with refund
DO NOT MEET IN CLASSROOM
Meet at Aquarena - The Landing
Texas Watch Training Phase II
Location: The Landing at Aquarena
Last day to drop with automatic W on record
Minerals versus Rocks
Homework:
Atoms
Bonding
Periodic Table
Characteristics of Minerals
Mineral Resources
Thur 7
Tues 12
Thu
14
Tues 19
Thur 21
Tues 26
Feb 28
Thur
Tues 4
Thur 6
Lab
Follow-up on Texas Watch Monitoring
Students present initial results
Introduction to Minerals
Rocks
Igneous and Sedimentary
Lab - Minerals, Rocks
MetamorphicRocks
Geologic Time Assignment Quiz ,
Geologic History, Plate Tectonics
Third Reading Guide - Tarbuck
Chapter 3
Geologic Time Assignment
Assignment: Know the Geologic Time
Scale (p.328, 337) by Tuesday Feb 19
1) Dates of Eras
2) Period within Eras
3) Major Events within Era
(see Chapter 12 and GEODe,
Deciphering Earth's History, Parts
A-D)
Homework:
Fourth Reading Guide Tarbuck Chapters 3,11
Homework:
1. Read Chapter 12,
Answer Questions 1-4, 6, 7 on page 356
2. GEODe CD ,
Unit 3 B Plate Tectonics, Take Quiz
Lab
Rocks & Fossils
Group Presentations over Geologic Eras
Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic
Lab Relative Dating
Radiometric Dating
Geologic Time
Group Presentations over Geologic Eras
Mesozoic, Cenozoic
Group Presentation over Cretaceous Period
from the Mesozoic Era
Homework:
Fifth Reading Guide
Chapters 4 & 6
Test One - (Take Home) includes
Reading Guides: 1, 2, 3, 4, Chapter 12
GEODE Assignments - Geologic History and
Plate Tectonics
Lab - Plate Tectonics, Soil I
Spring Break!
Tues 18
Thur 20
Turn in Take Home Test
Homework
Weathering
Sixth Reading Guide
Glaciers, Deserts, Wind
Chapters 7, 8
Lab
Weathering, Soil II, Automatic “W” Deadline,
Last day to drop a class, ends at midnight
Tues 25
Earthquakes
Plate Tectonics
Thur 27
Lab
Plate Tectonics
Earthquakes
Volcanoes and Mountain Building
Test Two (5th, 6th & 7th Reading Guides)
April 1
Tues
Thu
3
Tues 8
Thur 10
Sat
12
Tues 15
Thur 17
Tues 22
Thus 24
Sat
26
Sun
27
Follow-up on Water Monitoring
Texas Fossils
Geology of Texas
Texas Fossils
Lab
Volcanoes
Field Trip Preparation
Road Log Quiz
Texas Fossil Quiz
Mandatory Half-Day Field Trip - Local
Region
Meet in front of Supple Bldg on First Floor
Texas Geology and Gulf Coast
Ocean Floor, Coastal Processes
Lab – Texas Watch Kits
Meet at Aquarena Center
Texas River Center Tour "Self-Guided Tour of "Texas - A State of Water", New exhibit at
the Texas Rivers Center at Aquarena
Last day to drop class
Geologic History of Texas Central Mineral
Region
Full-Day Road Log Quiz
Preparation for Full-Day Trip to Llano
Rock/Mineral Identification / Collection
Boxes
Texas Watch Results
Mandatory All Day Field Trip to Llano
Meet in front of Supple Bldg on First Floor
Do not be late, Vans leave promptly
Earth Day Aquarena Celebration
Volunteer for Extra Credit
(see Aquarena Education Director (Sonja) for
volunteer opportunities. (optional)
Homework :
Seventh Reading Guide
Chapters 9, 10
Test Two Review Questions
Homework
Reading Guide On-line
Texas Fossils and Geology
Homework:
Half-Day Road Log
Do GEODe -The Global Ocean
Go through A. Floor of the Ocean
B. Coastal Processes
Leaves at 8 AM
Returns at 1 PM
Homework:
Full-Day Road Log Questions
Leaves at 7, Returns at 7
Thu
May
1
Comprehensive Final Examination
5:00 to 7:30 PM
Rm 224
Mandatory Field Trips - Dates and times
1. Texas Memorial Museum Field Trip (Self-guided) in Austin, TX
2. Blanco Field Trip (Guided) - Sat. April 12, half-day (8:00 – 1:00)
3. Llano Field Trip (Guided) -Sat., April 26, all day, (7:00 – 7:00)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Earth Science II is an overview of geology and oceanography. The course
emphasizes significant science concepts in these subject areas and develops these with hands-on activities,
lecture, discussion, laboratory and field work. Results of a special project completed during the course
are presented orally to the class.
GOALS: The goals of Earth Science II are:
• to increase students' awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the physical world;
• to show how knowledge about the physical world is built upon the work of others;
• to provide opportunities for students to learn about the physical world through observation, data
gathering, organization and interpretation of data;
• to promote questioning and critical thinking about the physical world and how we go about
understanding it.
Grades are based on the following scoring:
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
F
Below 60
GRADING:
Tests
Quizzes, Field Trips
Final Examination
Laboratory average
Earth Science Notebook
20%
25%
25%
25% (with a passing average)
5%
A student must pass the laboratory and the lecture with an average of 59.9% or better in order to pass the
course.
Earth Science NOTEBOOK (5%) A very large spiral bound notebook used only for earth science that
contains homework assignments in increasing order. Every homework assignment should be numbered
and neatly written. The last section of the notebook should be devoted to dated lecture material. Only
the syllabus and lecture handouts should be placed in the pocket folders. Label your notebook Earth
Science Notebook with your name and telephone number. Also write this statement on it in large letters.
If lost, please contact (insert your name) at (insert your cell phone).
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is required at all class meetings and is the responsibility of the student.
The attendance policy of the Biology Dept. will be followed (9 absences allows the instructor the option
of failing the student). Good/poor attendance will be considered in determining final grades for
borderline averages.
QUIZZES (30%): DAILY QUIZZES OVER ASSIGNED READING GUIDES, 5 QUESTIONS OR
FEWER, MULTIPLE-CHOICE OR SHORT ANSWER. YOU MAY USE ONLY SPIRAL
NOTEBOOK CONTAINING YOUR HAND-WRITTEN NOTES. You may only use your handwritten notes that are contained within (not torn off) your spiral notebook and loose pages may not
be used.
TESTS (20%): Tests will cover material from reading guides, in-class activities and lectures.
FINAL EXAMINATION (25%): This will be a comprehensive examination consisting of objective
(multiple choice, T-F questions, short answer) over all topics and readings covered in the course.
LABORATORY (25%) A student must pass the laboratory with a 59.9% or better in order to pass the
course.
MAKE-UPS: Students are responsible for taking tests and quizzes as scheduled. NO MAKE-UP TESTS
OR QUIZZES WILL BE GIVEN. Instead, the following procedure is substituted for the make-up test or
quiz. If one test is missed, it will be dropped. This applies only to legitimate absences and for one missed
test only. You must provide documentation for any missed test. Students who take all of their tests can
drop their lowest test grade provided they have passed all of their tests. If one quiz is missed, it will be
dropped. Students who take all quizzes as scheduled will have their lowest quiz grade dropped.
DROPPING WITHOUT PENALTY: The University specifies a deadline for dropping a course with an
automatic W (see syllabus). Since that date falls before the first Bio 4403 examination, I have extended the
automatic W for this class until the last day of the week that the grade on the first exam is received. After that
date, a W will be given if a student is passing the course at the time the course is dropped; an F will be given if
the student is failing at the time the course is dropped. The last date to drop the course is specified by the
University and in the syllabus schedule.
INCOMPLETES: Incomplete (I) grades can only be given if one requirement of the course has not been
completed (ex: missing the final examination due to hospitalization). Students receiving the incomplete grade
must complete the requirement by the end of the next semester or receive an F grade in the course.
Academic Integrity
It is expected that students will discuss homework with each other, but any assignment turned in
should be your own work. Students are expected to abide by the following statement on academic
honesty:
Learning and teaching take place best in an atmosphere of intellectual fair-minded
openness. All members of the academic community are responsible for supporting
freedom and openness through rigorous personal standards of honesty and fairness.
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty undermine the very purpose of
the university and the value of an education.
Complete information on the academic integrity policy can be obtained from the Dean of Students.
TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
LECTURE:
Required text for all students:
Tarbuck, E. and Lutgens, F. 2006. Earth Science, Eleventh Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Required for Graduate Students
Read Plan B 3.0 by Lester Brown and prepare a reading journal of your thoughts as you read each section
in small spiral bound notebook. Relate your readings in Plan B to the readings in your Tarbuck textbook.
As a group, prepare a powerpoint presentation of the ideas expressed in Plan B.
On-line version of Plan B is at
http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB2/index.htm
__________________________________________________________
LAB:
Required Texts and Materials:
Tarbuck, E. ,Lutgens, F, Pinzke Applications & Investigations in the Earth Sciences, Lab Manual
Geological Highway Map of Texas, AAPG, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Finsley, Charles. A Field Guide to Fossils of Texas, Second Edition. Austin: Texas Monthly Press, 1996.
Girard, Roselle M. Texas Rocks and Minerals, Guidebook 6. Austin: Bureau of
Economic Geology, reprinted 1972.
Planisphere (Star Chart, circular wheel)
First Reading Guide
11th Edition - Tarbuck
Read pages 116-148
1. Examine Figure 5.2 on page 117. Of the amount of precipitated water (rainfall), approximately
what percent runs off and what percent is evaporated? Does that surprise you? Why or Why not
2. Does runoff always occur?
3. How does transpiration affect the water cycle?
4. Does moving currents of air or moving currents of water carry more water?
5. Why does the average annual precipitation over Earth equal to the quantity of water evaporated?
6. What is the single most important agent sculpturing Earth’s land surface?
7. Describe the speed of water in different places in a stream channel.
8. When a stream is curving, where is the maximum speed?
9. Describe three stream characteristics.
10. What is the largest river in North America and where does it originate?
11. What is a stream profile?
12. Where is there more discharge of water along the stream profile? Why?
13. What is the relationship between gradient and discharge?
13. What occurs when the base level of a stream changes?
14. How does water erode?
15. Describe the three ways water can carry or transport sediment. What types of rocks are carried in
these ways?
16. When does the greatest erosion by water occur ? Why?
17. What is alluvium?
18. Examine Figure 5.17. Why do deltas occur?
19. Describe the two different types of stream valleys.
20. What type of valley contains waterfalls?
21. What are features of streams in a floodplain?
22. Why is channelization of rivers not an effective flood-control measure over a long period of time?
23. You have heard of the Continental Divide. What does that mean in terms of the flow of water?
24. Where is the largest reservoir of freshwater that is available for human consumption found?
25. How does porosity and permeability apply to aquifers?
26. Diagram the zones of saturation and aeration and the water table. Add a spring and an artesian
well to your diagram. Examine Figure 5.25.
27. What is the role of aquitards in an artesian well?
28. Do you know that Texas State has its own artesian well next to the Edward’s Aquifer Research
Center?
29. Why do springs occur?
30. What are some of the environmental problems that concern groundwater? What happened in
Figure 5.33, Figure 5.38 and Box 5.3?
31. How do caverns form?
32. Have you ever been to Natural Bridge Caverns near New Braunfels?
33. What is travertine? How does it form?
34. How are caves decorated with dripstone and stalactites?
35. What is karst topography?
Second Reading Guide
Tarbuck and Lutgens, 11th Edition
Chapter One, pages 2 - 24
The pictures in this textbook are beautiful and very informative. Take time to carefully examine them.
Also, look at the diagrams with a critical perspective.
Try to figure out the diagrams. What is the author trying to convey in the diagram.
Examine the following diagrams. 1.5, 1.6, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.15, and 1.17 in Chapter 1. Write a short
description of each.
1. How does theory differ from hypothesis?, from law?
Read Chapter 2, pages 30-47
Begin by looking over the beautiful mineral samples on page 30.
]Minerals vs. Rocks
1. Examine the granite rock in Figure 2.3 Is it a mineral? Why or why not?
2. What is a mineral? State an example of a mineral.
3. State examples of objects that are not considered minerals.
4. Are clam shells minerals?
Composition and Structure of Minerals
5. What are minerals made up of?
6. What is the difference between an atom and a mineral?
7. Describe the basic structure of an atom. Include in your description the protons, neutrons and
electrons.
8. Is Figure 2.5 an accurate picture of an atom? Why or why not?
9. Examine the periodic table on page 33. What is the atomic number of silicon? What does that mean?
10. Approximately how many neutrons are in a silicon atom?
11. How many electrons orbit the outer shell of the silicon atom?
12. Why are atoms that are "free" or not combined with other atoms electrically neutral?
13. How are ions formed?
14. How is a compound different from an element?
15. What is an example of a compound?
16. Figure 2.8 is an illustration depicting ionic bonding between sodium and chlorine atoms. Why do
these atoms join together?
17. Most compounds that are found in nature are not ionic compounds, but rather covalent compounds.
Covalent compounds occur when two atoms share electrons. How does covalent bonding differ from
ionic bonding?
18. Figure 2.9 is an illustration depicting covalent bonding between _____ atoms and _____ atoms.
19. Figure 2.18 is an illustration depicting the various silicate minerals that are built upon the basic
silicon-oxygen tetrahedron. Have you ever seen and recognized quartz before? What type of silicate
structure does quartz possess?
20. What is the mass number of an atom?
21. Does the mass number change for different atoms of the same element?
22. What are variants of the same element called that differ in the number of neutrons?
24. Do different isotopes of the same element react the same?
25. What does a decaying atom do?
26. Examine Figure 11.13 on page 324. Uranium-238 is a unstable isotope of the uranium atom. It will
decay emitting radioactive particles (alpha and beta particles) thereby changing into a different element.
In the radioactive decay series, what is the first element that is formed from the radioactive decay of
uranium? You may need to consult the periodic table on page 33.
Properties of Minerals
27. A mineral that is allowed to form without space restrictions will develop _______________.
28. Do most minerals have well-developed crystal faces?
29. Describe the properties of minerals?
30. Why is the streak of a mineral a better way to identify minerals than color?
31. How does the streak property distinguish minerals with metallic lusters from those without
nonmetallic lusters?
32. How does cleavage differ from fracture?
33. Will quartz scratch topaz? Examine Table 2.12 on page 38.
34. Gold has a specific gravity of almost 20. If a 25 liter pail of water weighs about 25 kilograms, how
much would a 25 liter pail of gold weigh?
35. Describe special physical and chemical properties that are useful in identifying particular minerals.
Mineral Groups
36. How many minerals have been identified?
37. How many minerals are abundant in nature?
38. What is the significance of Figure 2.16?
39. What is the common mineral group? (Silicates!!)
What types of elements are found in this group?
40. In what forms does the silicon tetrahedron take to form the varying silicate minerals?
41. Why does muscovite exhibit cleavage but quartz does not exhibit cleavage?
42. The environment in which the rock-forming silicates were formed can be determined. How?
Examine the mineral makeup of rocks.
Important Nonsilicate Minerals
43. What percentage of the continental crust is made up of nonsilicate materials?
44. Describe the carbonates and provide examples.
45. How can the carbonates be identified? (see page 43)
46. Describe the halides and sulfates and provide examples.
47. Examine Table 2.1. List other nonsilicate mineral groups.
48. What is an ore?
49. How many elements make up 98% of Earth's crust? What are they?
Box 2.2 Gemstones
50.. The mineral corundum produces red rubies and blue sapphires which look very different. How is
that possible?
51. How does a precious gem differ from a nonprecious gem?
52. Which gemstones are considered precious?
Third Reading Guide
Earth Science II - Tarbuck 11trh Edition
Rocks: Minerals of the Solid Earth
Chapter 3 - Read : p.52-69. Rock cycle, igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks
1. How do geologists divide the different rock types?
.Diagram the rock cycle. Define the major rock types in the cycle and how they can change into
other rock types.
2. How does a sedimentary rock change into an igneous rock? An igneous rock into a sedimentary
rock?
3. Describe the lithification process. How is weight involved in the process?
4. What environmental conditions cause sedimentary rock to change into metamorphic rock but not
into igneous rock?
5. What energy source creates igneous and metamorphic rock?
6. How does magma differ from lava?
7. What energy source creates sedimentary rocks?
8. What types of elements are found in igneous rock?
9. Examine page 56, Where does the igneous rock originate?
10. Why does molten rock rise through the rock layers to the surface?
11. How does extrusive and intrusive volcanic rock differ in origin and texture?
12. Examine Figure 3.4 on page 56. What types of environments produced these rocks. How would
you describe the texture of these rocks?
13. Why does rhyolite have a fine-grained texture but granite has a coarse-grained texture?
14. FIND A SEDIMENTARY ROCK AND AN IGNEOUS ROCK AT OR NEAR YOUR LIVING
SITE. BRING TO CLASS. What evidence indicates that the rock is sedimentary? igneous?
15. When molten rock is crystallized, does all of the rock material crystallize at the same time?
16. Describe the crystallization process. What conditions facilitate different sizes of crystals?
Examine Figure 3.9, 3.10
17. Could a rock have small and large crystals? If so, how?
18. How long does it take for a rock to solidify beneath the Earth’s surface?
19. What is an example of a rock with a glassy texture?
20. Why does pumice float in water?
21. Why do potassium feldspar, muscovite mica and quartz occur together often in the formation of
the igneous rock, granite?
22. Examine Figure 3.5, 3.6 on page 57. What types of environments produced these rocks. How
would you describe the texture of these rocks?
23. Examine Figure 3.4 D on page 56. How is it possible to have both large and small crystals in the
same rock? What conditions produced this rock?
24. All of the rocks shown on pages 56 and 47 originated from a magmatic eruption on the surface
(except 3.4C) . Why do they look different?
25. Examine Bowen’s reaction series on page 58. What is the first mineral to crystallize at high
temperature? the last to crystallize?
26. Why is Bowen’s reaction called a series?
27. Why do certain minerals end up together in the same rock?
29. If minerals just change into other minerals as the magma cools, then why does olivine, pyroxene
etc. minerals exist? Examine Figure 3.9
30. Examine Figure 3.9. Ultramafic rocks differ from granitic rocks in their crystallization time.
Explain.
31. Examine Figure 3.7. All igneous rocks classes have rocks of different textures. Why? Which
rocks have more silica content?
32. Ultlramafic rocks are found usually in the upper mantle and not on Earth’s surface. Describe how
peridotite and komatiite may have formed.
33. What is a common mafic igneous rock?
34. How are granite and rhyolite similar?
35. How does crystal settling affect the variety of igneous rocks.
36. Examine Figure 3.7. How are igneous rocks classified? How does the right side of the chart differ
from the left side of the chart?
37. Describe basalt in composition and in texture.
38. Where is basalt found?
39. Which is the best-known igneous rock?
40. Granite is very resistant to weathering. Why?
41. Can two rocks be made of the same mineral composition but look different?
42. How does weathering differ from erosion?
43. How does compaction of sedimentary rocks occur?
44. How does cementation of sedimentary rock occur?
45. What percent of rocks at Earth’s surface is sedimentary rock? Will this affect your search for
igneous rocks?
Why do sedimentary rocks serve as valuable resources?
46. Describe the two main types of sedimentary rocks.
47. When feldspar is weathered, what types of weathered particles result?
48. When granite is weathered, quartz is released as a free particle? Why?
49. Examine Figure 3.12. How does clay differ from silt?
50. How does shale differ from siltstone?
51. How does conglomerate sedimentary rock differ from a breccia sedimentary rock?
52. Describe how the environment determines the particle size characteristics of detrital rocks?
53. How do chemical sedimentary rocks differ in their origin than detrital sedimentary rocks?
54. What is an example of a chemical sedimentary rock that was derived from physical processes?
55. Examine the White chalk cliffs of Dover on page 65. How was this chemical sedimentary rock
formed?
56. What is the chemical composition of limestone and how is it formed?,
57. How are chert, flint, jasper and agate formed?
58. How does coal differ from other chemical sedimentary rocks?
59. What type of 3.17. How does coal develop?
60. Detrital sedimentary rocks are classified according to ____________ size.
61. Chemical sedimentary rocks are classified according to ____________ .
62. How does cementation occur and what are common cementing agents?
63. How can the different cementing agents be identified in a sedimentary rock?
64. What is the cementing agent in the sedimentary rock in Figure 3.11 on page 62.
65. What is the most characteristic feature of sedimentary rocks?
66. How are individual bedding planes formed?
What are the major clues sedimentary rocks provide about past environments.
Fourth Reading Guide
Earth Science II - 11th Edition Tarbuck
Read Chapter 3, page 69-81.
1. What types of environmental conditions will cause rocks of all types to change into metamorphic
rocks?
2. Are there different types of metamorphism? If so, give examples.
3. How does igneous rock formation differ from metamorphic rock formation?
4. Where are metamorphic rocks formed in the Earth?
5. In what types of settings does metamorphism occur?
6. Do different types of rock react differently to heat, pressure and chemically active fluids? If so,
provide examples.
7. How does depth in the Earth affect the pressure and temperature of a rock?
8. What is the major metamorphic change agent and how does it affect different types of rocks at
different depths in the Earth?
9. Examine Figure 3.20. on page 71. What is the diagram depicting?
10. Examine Figure 3.21. Why do the rock layers form wave-like features?
11. What is the effect of chemically active fluids?
12. How does low-grade metamorphism change the appearance of a rock?
13. How does high –grade metamorophism (i.e. extreme pressure/temperature) affect the appearance
of a rock? Examine Figure 3.22.
14. What is foliation? Provide an example.
15. When does rocks not undergo foliation during metamorphic changes? Provide an example.
16. Describe examples of foliated rocks.
17. Describe examples of nonfoliated rocks.
18. What is an ore?
19. How does a metallic mineral that can be mined for profit become concentrated in an area?
20. How was the rock in the sculpture shown in Figure 3.26 produced?
21. What are some examples of non-metallic minerals and their uses?
22. Last week, we saw the Harris Mine in Utah on the video. One of our questions was how did such
large Red Beryl crystals grow. You have now read about pegmatites on page 77. Do you have
any ideas now? By the way, we sill visit a pegmatite dike on our Llano trip!!
Read Box 3.2 on page 75. What does "per capita use of energy resources mean?" How does this apply to
you?
Read Chapter 11 – Tarbuck , pages 310-322.
1. What is uniformitarianism and how does it affect our understanding of Earth’s history today?
2. What is meant by “the present is the key to the past”?
3. Have you been to the Grand Canyon? Look at Chapter 10 cover pages on pages 308-309.. Did you
know that it is Earth’s greatest gash? The Grand Canyon and the Great Wall of China both can be
seen from outer space. What would the rock layers suggest to you about Earth’s history if you
traveled down into the Grand Canyon?
4. Read Box 11.1 How did the discoveries of Louis Agassiz support James Hutton's principle of
uniformitarianism?. Why is James Hutton condsidered the founder of modern geology?
5. Is it possible to date the actual age of rocks? How?
6. What is relative dating?
7. Examine Figure 11.2. What principle can be applied here which indicates that the Supai Group is
the oldest layer?
8. Examine Figure 11.4 on page 314. List the dikes, faults and the batholith in order of their
appearance. Which principle is being applied here?
9. The rock mass containing inclusion is the ____________ of the two adjacent rock layers.
10. Are the sedimentary rock layers in Figure 11.4 conformable?
11. Are the sedimentary rock layers in Figure 11.6 conformable?
12. What is an unconformity?
13. Describe the three types of unconformities. Describe them in terms of Figure 11.7.
14. Using the principles of relative dating, place in proper sequence the rocks and the events they
represent.
15. What is correlation in geology? How are the sedimentary rock layers from different regions in
Utah correlated? (Examine Figure 11.9). Which region in Utah has the youngest rock layers?
16. How is correlation conducted across continents?
17. How are fossils turned to stone?
18. How does a mold differ from a cast in fossils? Examine Figure 11.10B.
20. Examine Figure 11.10D. How did carbonization produce this imprint of bee?
19. Describe the types of fossilization shown in Figure 11.10.
20. Describe two conditions that favor fossilization?
21. Can you think of an example from lecture where a soft part of an organism was preserved? What
part was it and how was it preserved? (Willo dinosaur)
22. What is the principle of fossil succession?
23. What are the major ages of life that have been determined using fossil succession?
24. Are the ages that you specified in #23 in the same order on every continent?
25. What can fossils tell us about ancient environments?
Read page 322-331
1.Why does the atomic number of an element always stay constant?
1. What are isotopes? What are some examples?
2. What is radioactivity?
3. Describe the three common types of radioactive decay?
4. Could radon originate from uranium?
5. Why is radiometric dating a reliable time clock?
6. When does the radiometric clock start in a rock? Could we date sedimentary rocks?
7. What is a half-life? Examine Figure 11.14. What is the daughter to parent ratio after three half-lives
have passed?
8. Insert Geo-disk into your computer. Do the exercises concerning radioactive dating. Pay
particular attention to the graph that explains parent to daughter ratios and half-lives.
Examine the graph and the questions very carefully.
9. Examine Table 11.1. Which radioactive isotopes would be useful for measuring rocks that are 800
million years old?
10. Why is it important for a mineral to remain in a closed system for an accurate measurement of time?
11. Read Box 11.2. Describe radon. Where does it originate?
12. How does radon enter homes and buildings?
13. Has your home or apartment been inspected for radon levels?
14. How does nitrogen change into carbon-14 in the upper atmosphere?
15. How is carbon-14 incorporated into living things?
16. How does carbon-14 decay?
17. In carbon-14 dating, the remains of a plant or animal are the system. Is it a closed system, which
would allow for accurate radioactive dating?
18.When was the geologic time scale created? What was the evidence used to establish the time scale? In
the 1800’s
19. The Phanerozoic eon contains the Paleozoic, the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic eras. Why are these units
together?
20.The Precambrian eon is distinct from the Phanerozoic eon. Why? When did it occur?
21. How many periods in each of the Phanerozoic eras?
22. When did each of the eras of the Phanerozoic begin? Use approximate dates so that it is easier to
remember. Know them.
23. What are the periods of the eras? Know them and the approximate dates of the eras.
Remember from first day:
CAMels Often Sit Down CARefully, PERhaps Their Joints CREak Too Quickly
(Please review the geologic periods, p.337, with this mnemonic device.)
Paleozoic (550 mya to 250 mya) - Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Mississippian, Permian
Mesozoic (250 mya to 65 mya) – Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous
Cenozoic - (65 mya to present) Tertiary, Quaternary
24. Why can’t sedimentary rocks be used in radiometric dating?
25. How can a geologist date sedimentary rock layers? Examine Figure 10.17.
From igneous rock intrusions in the sedimentary rock layers
Read Chapter Summary on page 306
Do Questions on page 322.
#13, #15, #16
Fifth Reading Guide
11th - Edition
Read Chapter 4, p. 84-111.
1. What external processes of the Earth are powered by the energy from the Sun?
2. Describe three processes of mechanical weathering?
3. Describe the processes of chemical weathering?
4. How does carbonic acid attack granite?
6. Why are clay minerals very stable at the surface?
7. Why do rocks expand in size as they weather to clay minerals?
8. In what order do silicate weather? Why do they weather in this order?
Hint: Remember the crystalline structures on page 42.
9. Examine Figure 4.8. Which weathered faster? Why?
10. What affects the rate of weathering?
11. Examine Figure 4.10. The color of the sculpted rock structures indicate one type of weathering and
the shape of the structures indicates another type of weathering. Describe them.
12. Why is soil "the bridge between life and in the inanimate world"?
13. How is soil different from regolith?
14. What are the three components of soil?
15. What is soil texture?
16. Why are loam soils the best to support plant life?
17. Examine the soil texture diagram on page 92. Choose a point within the silty clay soil. Describe the
percent of silt, sand, and clay.
18. You have two soil beds. One has been forming for a long time, the other a short period of time. In
what general ways would this soil be different?
19. What is the most influential control of soil formation? Why?
20. Why is the presence of plants and animals important in soil formation?
21. Why are nitrogen-fixing microorganisms important in the fertility of soils?
22. What is the best terrain for good soil development?
23. List the five factors that influence the type of soil that is present/
24. The walls of a trench cut into the ground are layered. Why?
25. Why is the C layer not considered "soil"? Hint: Go back to question #13.
26. Describe the topsoil and what soil horizons are found in it.
27. Why are the rainforest soils not good for raising crops?
28. Examine Table 4.2 on page 97 and map on pgs 98-99. Describe the soil order in our area.
29. Why is soil erosion occurring at a faster rate today?
30. How has sediment load in streams changed after the appearance of humans on Earth?
31. Does wind or water erode soil more?
32. How can soil erosion be reduced?
33. What is mass wasting?
34. What factors can influence the occurrence of mass wasting?
35. Examine Figure 4.24 on page 105. How are wildfires related to mass wasting?
Read Chapter 6 p. 154-182
Examine closely the figures below:
Figure 6.2 (New York – An inland city 18,000 years ago!)
Figure 6.19 (Find Texas!)
Figure 6.9 & 6.10 (the famous Matterhorn!)
Box 6.1 (Reason we know climate temps have changed over thousands of years!)
Figure 6.18
Figure 6.20 (no Great Lakes before the Ice Age!)
Figure 6.27
Figure 6.35
Answer the following questions on pages 184-185:
1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20
Sixth Reading Guide
11th Edition
Read Chapter Eight
p. 215-245
1. What is the difference between continental drift and plate tectonics?
2. What evidence supports continental drift?
Though question: (Definite quiz question)
Darwin published the The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1858. Albert
Wegener published The Origin of Continents and Oceans in 1915. How did Darwin’s work
influence Wegener.
What is the significance of the sketches on page 220?
3. What is the significance of Figure 8.6?
4. Wegener found evidence of glacial deposits in India in Paleozoic rock. Why did he not believe the
Earth was experiencing an ice age at that time?.
4. Both Gregor Mendel’s genetic laws and Wegener’s Continental Drift Hypothesis did not gain
acceptance during their lifetimes. Mendel’s laws did not gain acceptance until chromosomes could
be seen in the early 1900’s. Why was Wegener’s theory challenged?
5. How did continents move according to Wegener?
6. Read p. 208 concerning the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. Examine Figures 7.25. How does
the lithosphere differ from the asthenosphere?
7. Why does the lithosphere vary in thickness?
8. What are plates composed of?
9. What are the 7 main plates? Identify them on p.224-225. Draw an outline of the N.American plate.
10. Is every part of Earth’s surface made up of a plate?
11. How fast do lithospheric plates move?
12. Describe the three types of plate boundaries and examples of where they are located.
13. What type of boundaries were involved in the breakup of Pangaea?
14. Was the center of the United States at one time a divergent boundardy?
15. Why does the oceanic crust subduct under the continental crust at a subduction zone?
16. Examine Figures 8.16 and Figure 8.17? What is the relationship of transform faults to convergent
and divergent boundaries?
17. What is paleomagnetism?
18. Have the north and south poles wandered? Examine Figure 8.21 on page 238.
19. What is the proof that the magnetic field has reversed itself over the years?
20. Examine Figure 8.22 on page 239. What is the significance of the figure?
a. Earth has reversed polarity every million years.
21. Examine Figure 8,24. How does paleomagnetic evidence support the concept of seafloor spreading
at divergent plate boundaries.
22. How do the parallel strips of magnetized rock on either side of the divergent boundary determine
spreading rates?
23. What is the significance of the correlation between plate boundaries and earth quakes.
Examine the large wall map in the classroom.
Describe the use of VLBI data and what it determines. Provide examples. Fig 8.26
How did data from the Deep Sea Drilling Project support the theory of plate tectonics?
24. As the Pacific plate moved over a “hot spot” a volcano was formed. Why is Hawaii the youngest
volcano whereas the Midway Island volcanoes are older? How is this proof of plate movement?
Examine Figure 8.19.
25. How do scientists determine the direction of plate motion throughout history?
26. Look 50 and 250 million years into the future on page 245. In which direction will our continent
travel?
27. Describe the three different models of the driving force for plate tectonics. Examine Figure 8.28.
Read Chapter 7 ,pages 189-210
1. What are earthquakes?
2. Examine the photographs of locations after an earthquake. What similarities do you see between
them?
3. Examine Figure 7.11 on page 197 Does the distribution of earthquakes create a pattern that you have
seen before in Chapter 8. What is that pattern. Now look at p. 224- 225. Flip these pages back to page
197. What do you see?
Spring Break 07 Earthquakes
Quakes hit eastern Indonesia
Published: Tuesday, 20 March, 2007, 09:16 AM Doha Time
JAKARTA: Two moderate earthquakes hit eastern Indonesian islands early yesterday,
but there were no reports of casualties or structural damage, officials and reports said.
The first tremblor, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, hit the North Maluku provincial
capital of Ternate and nearby islands at 2:32am, triggering panic among residents, the
state-run Antara agency reported.
According to the Indonesia’s national Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, the quake’s
epicentre was in Maluku Sea, about 121 west of Ternate, some 2,340km northeast of
Jakarta. Another 5.8 magnitude quake jolted Manado, the provincial capital of North
Sulawesi and nearby regions at about 15 minutes later, panicking residents, officials
said. “I thought there would be more quakes. Therefore, we were seeking safer place,”
Antara quoted a resident of Sario district in Manado as saying. It was the latest of series
earthquake to strike Indonesia in recent weeks.
Indonesia sits atop the Pacific Ring of Fire where continental plates collide, and
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent. On December 2004, a massive 9.0magnitude quake triggered a tsunami devastated Indonesia’s province of Aceh on the
northern end of Sumatra, killing an estimated 170,000 people.–dpa
4. What caused the earthquake in Jakarta over the spring break 07 holiday? Provide a scientific
explanation based on plate tectonics.
5. What is the focus of an earthquake?
6. What are faults?
7. Describe creation of the Balcones fault. Consult Geo-Texas book, Wonder World Brochure or internet
resources.
8. Describe two main types of seismic waves.
9. How do P waves differ from S waves?
10. Draw a picture of an earthquake focus and epicenter.
11. Examine Figure 7.6 on page 194. How do seismographs record earthquake events?
12. What evidence is used to determine the Richter scale.
13. Read Earth's Layered Structure section on pages 206-29-207. How have earthquakes be used to
determine the internal structure of Earth. Provide diagrams with appropriate labels (i.e. shadow zones)
and terminology such as P-waves, S-waves in your explanation.
14. Read Box 7.2. How did Inge Lehman contribute in our understanding of the Earth's center?
15. Read the attached San Francisco Examiner article from March 16, 2007. What is the new study
concerning tiny tremors indicate? Describe the Hayward fault in California.
Seventh Reading Guide
11th Edition
Read Chapter 9 - Volcanoes
1. We started this class by looking at Columbia River Basalts that I had gathered in Oregon in January
2006 and the Snake River Ryolite that I gathered in Idaho in 2007. We now return to our look at these
rocks in our readings. Please examine Figure 9.19 and 9.20 on pages 266-267.
How do these basaltic flows occur and why?
How do they differ from rhyolitic lava flows?
How do they differ from volcanic eruptions?
2. Look at the before and after pictures of Mount St. Helens on pages 250-251. What are the major
differences.
3. Why do some volcanoes like Mount St. Helens erupt explosively, whereas others like Kilauea are
relatively quiet?
4. Why do volcanoes occur in chains like the Aleutian Island or the Cascade Range?
5. Why do some volcanoes form on the ocean floor, while others occur on the continents?
6. A magma’s viscosity is related to its ______________________,
7, Is viscosity related to strength of eruptions?
See GEODE disk, Forces Within, C. Igneous Activity
8. You have seen a movie concerning the volcano Krakatoa. What type of flow do you think came from
this volcano? Why?
9. Examine Figure 9.22 on page 268. Last Saturday, you went by Enchanted Rock on the field trip. Did
Enchanted Rock originate from a volcano? Why or why not?
10. Volcanoes are always associated with lava flows. However, there are many other items (including
gases) emitted from a volcano. Describe the different kinds and what types of lava flows produce them.
What are pyroclastics? Define and provide examples.
11. When most people think of volcano, they think of a snow capped conical mountain (composite cone).
Compare the shapes of volcanoes from page 251 (composite cone), p. 257 (shield volcano), 259 (cinder
cone). How are these volcanoes made? Which are the most dangerous? Go to fame 728 on Geodisk.
Name three examples of these three types of volcanoes. Which are found along plate boundaries such as
the Pacific Rim? Look at map on page 273.
12. Read about the cinder cone called Parícutin. How quickly did it grow? How would you feel if a
volcano grew in your cornfield? Does that surprise you?
13. Read page 264 about the Eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Describe the pumice fall and people
reacted to it. Describe the subsequent hot dust and gas that erupted after the pumice fall. Did this
eruption just affect Pompeii? How did this affect help us to understand ancient Roman life?
14. Examine page 268 again. Can you find a lacolith? How was it formed? Describe the lacolith that
you saw on last week’s field trip. Go to Geodisk, frame 739 to examine the formation of lacolith.
15. Study pages 276-277.
16. I have climbed up to the snowfield of Mount Shasta. Would you? Why or why not?
17. “We know why igneous activity is initiated along plate boundaries, but why do eruptions occur in the
interior of plates”?p. 279
18. Can volcanoes change Earth’s climate? Read Box 9.2.
Read Chapter 10 - Mountains
1. Most crustal deformations occur along plate boundaries.
2. Describe the different kinds of folds and faults. Did you see any on your field trip from last Saturday.
Describe them and their names.
3. The Balcones fault is considered a normal fault. What does that mean? Draw it. How did the
Balcones fault happen?
4. How are mountains made (orogenies)? Read over pages 294-303?
Describe with examples and drawings.
Reading Guide On-line
Texas Fossils and Geology
Due: April 8
Geologic Timescale
Google with exact phrase: Geologic Timescale Kids
A list will come up and click on
Kids .Net.Au - Encyclopedia > Geologic Timescale
Geologic timescale . Redirected from Geologic Timescale . A timeline of Geologic periods. ... Au kids safe search engine for children, parents and teachers.
encyclopedia. kids .net.au/page/ge/ Geologic _Timescale - 29k
1. Study the geologic timescale. It is common to speak of our Earth's history by eras (Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic
and Proteozoic) Which era of time made up 88% of all geologic time? Look closely at the first column titled Years
ago (in yellow) to figure out answer.
2. What is the major event that is occurring now in the Quaternary period?
3. What was the major event (s) during the Cretaceous period?
4. When did the Cretaceous period occur? ( in millions of years ago)
5. Many of you are familiar with the movie Jurassic Park. Some geologists say the movie should have been titled
Cretaceous Park. Why do you think so?
6. Look carefully again at the geologic timescale. How did life forms change over time.
7. The rocks around San Marcos and Central Texas were formed during the Cretaceous time. We know that from
radiometric dating and relative dating techniques. How old are the rocks in our area?
Geology of Texas
Use the search engine Google with the exact phrase: Bureau of Economic Geology
A list will come up and click on first link titled: The Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin
Follow the following links:
1. Click on link titled Publications which is found in a list on the left hand side of the screen
2. Click on link titled Free Downloads! which is found in a list on the left hand side of the screen.
3. Click on Page Sized Maps. Click on link titled Geologic Maps of Texas
4. Click on first map of Texas titled Geologic Map
5. You should now be viewing a very colorful map of Texas showing the ages of rocks in Texas by color. Look at th
legend at the bottom of the map. Do you recognize the geologic time scale!
6. Find San Marcos on the map. What color is the area around San Marcos?
7. What does the color of San Marcos represent in terms of geologic time? Look at your legend at the bottom.
8. What geologic period is the rock around San Marcos?
9. The rock around San Marcos and Central Texas is the Cretaceous period. That period is broken down into groups
What group(s) does the rocks around San Marcos represent? Did you think Fredericksburg Group and L. (Lower)
Washita Groups and Trinity Groups? If so, you were right!
10. The fun part: Find your hometown on this map. How old are the rocks in your hometown region? What period(
does it represent? What group(s) in that period?
After reviewing the Geologic Map of Texas, we now know that the San Marcos rocks, which contain fossils, are foun
in the Fredericksburg, L.Washita and Trinity groups in the Cretaceous period. They are approximately 135 million
years old. The next time you hold a fossil from this area, remember it is 135 million years old! Now we need to see
what they look like at our next web site.
Fossils of Texas
Go to http://centexnaturalist.com/ or http://www.vvm.com/~jevans/ and you will be redirected.
You should now be on a green home page. Click on the purple tab at top Geology and Anthropology
Now click on the yellow tab Fossils
1. Describe the environment during the Cretaceous time in Central Texas.
2. What kind of life forms were in the seas?
3. You discovered by looking at the Texas Geology map, that the rocks in our area are found in certain groups within
the Cretaceous period. Review your notes to find the groups. What were they?
4. Go through each section in the Fossil Menu titled Overview. Learn what features are found in each of the fossil
taxa. Write in your notes the features of a) snails, b) clams, c) ammonites, d) urchins
5. Scroll down to the groups which represent the San Marcos rocks. Typically, in our area, we have Edwards
Limestone, Comanche Peak Limestone , Walnut Clay and Glenn Rose Limestone. Carefully look at each fossil in
these rock formations. Have you ever seen them before? Which ones?
Cretaceous Fossils
Another site to see Texas fossils is at
http://www.cretaceousfossils.com/
Explore this site at your leisure.
1. Scroll down on the home page and look at the map of the Cretaceous sea. Can you find San Marcos, TX? Were
we under water 101 million years ago? How about those out in Llano?
2. What were some interesting items on this site?