University of Maryland University College
European Division, Panzer Kaserne
Term III, 2002/2003.
Meeting Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1830-2130
Prerequisite: None
Instructor: Steve Tucker
Introduction to Geology 100
This introductory, non-laboratory course provides a generalized view of the earth's geological makeup and history. Emphasis is on the origin and development of processes that shape the earth's surface as well as occurrence and utilization of earth's resources. Plate tectonics, a revolutionary concept explaining the pattern of map surface features of the earth, is fully developed. The course offers a unique opportunity for the student to grasp the dynamic nature of the earth and the immensity of time involved in its history. FOCUS: § Plate Tectonics: How Continents and Ocean Basins Were Formed and Distributed § Earthquakes: Their Effects and Role in Interpretation of the Earth's Interior § Structural Features and Development of the Earth's Crust § Occurrences and Origin of Minerals and Rocks § Geologic Time: Duration and Measurement § Processes Acting to Shape the Earth's Surface (running code, glaciers, etc.) § Utilization of Resources, Especially Energy and Mineral Resources
Student
deliverables for this class:
- Participation: Please read the
chapters prior to class. Students are expected to be familiar with
chapter concepts and be able to contribute to meaningful class
discussions.
- Homework: There will be
multiple homework assignments. These assignments will generally be due
at the beginning of class on select class days.
Contact
Course Material and Web Sites
Text
Book Web Site: http://college.hmco.com/geology/dolgoff/essentials_physical_geology/1e/students/index.html
Required Text: Anatole Dolgoff. Essentials of Geology, First Edition.
Grading Policies
Homework – There will be six
assignments based on a combination of the textbook and internet sites. The scores on the best five will be
counted and the lowest grade disregarded.
Quizzes – There will be six
scheduled quizzes each worth 20 points.
In addition to the scheduled quizzes, pop quizzes may also be
given. The lowest score on all
quizzes will be disregarded. The
remaining quiz scores will be averaged to determine the overall quiz
grade.
Exams – Each exam will be
comprised of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and
diagram/essay questions. The total
score of each exam will be 100 points.
o
Multiple Choice: 25 questions worth two points each.
o
Fill-in-the-blank: 10 questions worth two points each. The exam will include 12 questions of
which the must answer 10. The
additional two questions may be answered for extra credit (1/2 point
each)
o
Short answer: Five questions worth four points each. The exam will
include seven questions of which the student must answer five. The questions should be answered in one to
three sentences. The additional two
questions may be answered for extra credit (maximum one point each).
o
Diagram/essay: One question worth 10 points. The exam will include three questions of
which the student must select one.
The answer must include both an appropriately labeled diagram and an
explanatory paragraph.
Grade
Scale
Homework Assignments ==
25%
Quizzes == 25%
Mid-Term Exam == 25%
Final Exam == 25%
100-90% == A
89.9- 80% == B
79.9 - 70% == C
69.9 - 60% == D
Attendance
and Late Policies
Students missing more than
25% of scheduled class time must drop or take an F. Late assignments may be
accepted depending on the reason.
Office
Hours
The instructor will be
available after class, by appointment, and any time via email to discuss
class-related issues.
Tentative
Class Schedule
- 21 Jan: Introduction,
Chapter 1 and Chapter 21
- 23 Jan: Chapters 2; Homework #1
Due
- 28 Jan: Chapters 3
and 4; Quiz #1
- 30 Jan: Chapter 5; Homework #2 Due
- 4 Feb: Chapters 6 and
7; Quiz #2
- 6 Feb: Chapters 8 and
9; Homework #3 Due
- 11 Feb: Chapters 10
and 11; Quiz #3
- 13 Feb: Chapter 12;
Quiz #4
- 18 Feb: Review and
Mid-Term Exam over Chapters 1-12, 21
- 20 Feb: Chapters 13
and 14
- 25 Feb: Chapter 15; Homework #4 Due
- 27 Feb: Chapter 16
- 4 Mar: Chapter 17;
Quiz #5; Homework #5 Due
- 6 Mar: Chapters 18
and 19
- 11 Mar: Chapters 20;
Quiz #6; Homework #6 Due
- 13 Mar: Review and
Final Exam over Chapters 13-21
Homework
Homework #1
From Introduction
o
Define geology, hypothesis, theory, and two others.
o
Critical Thinking Question – pick any one.
From Chapter 1
o
Define catastrophism, continental drift, lithification, rock cycle,
superposition, uniformitarianism, and four others.
o
Critical Thinking Questions – pick any two.
From Chapter 2
o
Define abyssal plain, continental shelf, deep sea trench, mid-ocean
ridge, seismic belt, subduction, and four others.
o
Critical Thinking Questions – pick any two.
From Chapter 21
o
Define asteroid, impact cratering, terrestrial planets, and two
others.
o
Critical Thinking Question #1.
Homework #2
o
Visit the following United States Geological Survey Dynamic Earth
Website: http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html. Review the website and answer the
following questions:
o
What are Glomar Challenger and JOIDES Resolution? What do they do?
o
Using the maps and diagrams on the website, where are the major
concentrations of the world's earthquakes? where are most earthquakes in
Europe?
o
Who was Harry Hess? What was his contribution to geology?
o
What undersea hot springs were discovered in 1977? What is remarkable about these (and other)
undersea hot springs?
o
Briefly define the four types of plate boundaries and give an example
of each.
o
What is the Ring of Fire?
o
Sketch/diagram and label a oceanic-continental convergent plate
boundary.
o
What are hotspots? Where are
some prominent hot spots?
o
Compare and contrast the diagrams of the Mantle Convection Models in
this USGS website with the textbook's diagram on page 133.
Homework #3
Review the
periodic table at the Physical Geology Interactive Labs. List the physical properties of the
following elements: oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium,
potassium, and magnesium.
Review the Rock Gallery at the Physical Geology
Interactive Labs. Classify (and briefly discuss/describe) the following rocks
and minerals as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic: gneiss, coal, granite,
blueschist, diorite, gypsum, slate, shale, basalt, schist, marble,
conglomerate. What are the key
differences in the specific types of sandstones?
From Chapter 5
o
What percentage of the Earth's crust do each of the above elements
comprise?
o
What are the major chemical groups? Give an example of a typical
mineral in each group.
o
Critical Thinking Question #2 and #5
From Chapter 6
o
Define batholith, dike, laccolith, pluton, sill, intrusive, and
extrusive.
o
Critical Thinking Question – any one.
From Chapter 7
o
Define caldera, flood basalt, pyroclastic rock, shield volcano, phreatic
eruption
o
Critical Thinking Question – any one.
From Chapter 8
o
Define bedding, evaporite, fossil, strata, detrital sediment
o
Critical Thinking Question – any one.
From Chapter 9
o
Define regional metamorphism, shear metamorphism, shock metamorphism,
contact metamorphism, and burial metamorphism.
o
Critical Thinking Question #3.
Homework #4
From Chapter 13
o
Sketch/diagram and label the carbon cycle
o
Define soil horizon, mechanical weathering, chemical weathering, spheroidal
weathering, and leaching.
From Chapter 14
o
Define creep, landslide, permafrost, solifluction, and talus.
o
Critical Thinking Question #6.
From Chapter 15
o
Sketch/diagram and label the hydrologic cycle
o
Define stream divide, stream piracy, dendritic drainage, dissolved
load, natural levee, suspended load, meander cutoff, ultimate base level, and
two others.
Homework #5
Visit the Virtual Caves
website (http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/index.html). Briefly describe (and provide an example
of) solution caves, sea caves, erosional caves, and lava tube caves.
Visit the Center
for Cave and Karst Studies (http://caveandkarst.wku.edu/). Discuss Dye Tracing.
Visit each of the following sites and give a brief
discussion of the content on two of the sites.
o
Virtual Fieldtrip to Indian Peaks, Colorado http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/projects/virtdept/ipvft/start.html
o
Cracking
the Ice Age: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ice/
o
National
Snow and Ice Data Center http://www-nsidc.colorado.edu/index.html
o
CTI
Centre for Geography, Meteorology, and Geology: Glaciology http://www.geog.le.ac.uk/cti/glac.html
o
University of Cincinatti Glacial Geology Site http://tvl1.geo.uc.edu/ice/Image/imageref.html
o
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Laboratory for Hydrospheric
Processes Multimedia History of Glacier Bay site http://sdcd.gsfc.nasa.gov/GLACIER.BAY/glacierbay.story.html
Homework #6
From Chapter 18
o
Define rain shadow, desertification, dune, inselberg, loess, desert,
and four others.
o
Critical Thinking Questions #1.
From Chapter 19
o
Define barrier island, estuary, longshore current, neap tide, spit,
spring tide, tombolo, and three others.
o
Critical Thinking Question #2
From Chapter 20
o
Define oil trap, ore, placer deposit, nonrenewable resource,
secondary enrichment, geothermal energy, cap rock, and three others.
o
Critical Thinking Questions #5 and #6.
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