Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
Geology 1301 Exam Study Outlines
To help you study for the tests.
Note: sometimes the order of study will change.
"Ch" refers to chapters in the textbook, "lab" refers to lab book.
INDEX
Introduction
Minerals
Igneous Rocks
Volcanoes
Weathering and Soils
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Topographic Maps
Deserts
Mass Wasting
Rivers
Groundwater
Glaciers
Geologic Time
Structural Geology
Earthquakes
Plate Tectonics
Introduction: PLATE TECTONICS
prelude, lab 1 lab--know map locations
Explain the following: sea-floor spreading subduction zones driving mechanism of plate tectonics = ?
types of plate boundaries: be able to draw and explain each & the associated igneous rocks (if any)
Internal structure of earth: be able to draw the layers and know their composition
ATOMS
Appendix A , lab 2
know the definitions of each of the following: nucleus, protons, neutrons, electrons, isotope, ion
What are the 8 most common elements that form earth’s crust? the 4 of the entire earth?
Be able to draw and explain the Bohr model of an atom
(Bohr model from lecture notes)
understand energy-level shells & relationship to bonding
also balancing of electrical charge - cations & anions
Be able to draw, explain and give an example of each of the following:
bonding forces/types: ionic, covalent, van der Waal's, metallic
these electrical forces are largely responsible for the physical and chemical properties of minerals
bonding and hardness relationship?
MINERALS Definition of a mineral
CH. 5, lab 2
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(organic vs inorganic substances)
understand and be able to use to identify rock-forming minerals:
physical properties: hardness (Mohs scale)
luster cleavage
streak color
specific
gravity/density which is most useful?
important to have understanding of because it will make learning easier!
rock forming minerals
- be able to recognize the minerals we did in lab
Know the general characteristics, example and uses for the following
mineral groups:
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Oxides
Sulfides (for example, the picture is
pyrite)
Carbonates
Sulfates
Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
Silicates
ferromagnesians & nonferromagnesians
silica tetrahedra & molecular structure
Halides
Mineraloids
Native Element
(chains, sheets, etc)
Polymorphs: what are they? give an example
IGNEOUS ROCKS
Ch A, 6, lab 3
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Extrusive vs intrusive
magma vs lava - pahoehoe and aa
***BOWEN’S REACTION SERIES***
amount of silica determines what?
Be able to DRAW, know description, type of eruption & characteristics of: all the volcanic and plutonic landforms
discussed/shown
Magma Explain movement of: lighter & stoping
Composition of: silica etc
**Behavior of & relationship to composition, temperature, pressure Viscosity
Igneous rock textures: what are they? what do they tell us about rock formation?
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What is a xenolith?
Igneous magma compositions: silicic(felsic) vs intermediate vs mafic --refer to Bowen's Series
**rock names & definitions from classification chart**
Be able to recognize each of the following and know their relationship to Bowen’s series (if any)
granite & rhyolite diorite & andesite gabbro & basalt --- difference depends on?
peridotite
obsidian scoria pumice
**Relationship of igneous rocks to plate tectonics**
**generation of basaltic & silicic magmas
including magmatic differentiation by partial melting and by mineral fractionization
SEDIMENTATION AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Ch 7, lab 4
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Sedimentary cycle be able to draw it
Clastic/Detrital Sedimentary Rocks
Terrigenous means?
To describe rock texture: clast/grain size, relation to transport?
breccia, conglomerate - what’s the difference?
what do they say about distance of transport?
sandstone - relation of composition to transport distance?
sorting by size, weight, durability, relation to transport?
shape: round vs angular, relation to transport?
*porosity & *permeability ---- what are they? difference?
Composition: **mineral stability** and Bowen’s series
**5 main factors that influence clastic composition**
source rock weathering/climate
transport - what are the different means of transport?
deposition
Diagenesis - which is?
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environ of
Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
Chemical Sediments named by composition limestone - made of? textures?
(dolostone)
evaporites
Diagenesis of chemical rocks susceptibility? recrystallization
chert
coal
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS AND PLATE TECTONICS
CH. 7, lab 4
Which rock types are the most useful for deciphering plate tectonic environment? Why?
NOT useful? Why?
Which rock types are
DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS AND SEDIMENTARY FACIES
ch. 7, lab 4
Deposition relation particle size & environment deposited in, other clues to depositional environment = ?
Sedimentary structures -Primary:
bedding = parallel/graded/cross beds
mud cracks& raindrop impressions
trace fossils
imbrications
geodes
stylolites
color
Secondary
concretions
Facies = ? Varies over time & space
Sedimentary environments
- distinguishing characteristics? ex., dominant grain size?
Terrestrial
Transitional
Fluvial, Lacustrine, swamp-marsh, eolian,
glacial, landslides
beach, lagoon, estuary
Marine
shelf, slope, rise, abyssal plain
submarine fan (turbidites)
marine evaporite basin
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METAMORPHISM AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS
CH. 8 & B, lab 5
Page)
CONTROLLING FACTORS Heat/temperature: source of heat?
Pressure: source and type of pressure types of foliation produced
Chemical activity: especially water vapor
Other Factors: Composition of original rock
Time
In general: high T, high P, long time ----- large crystals, high grade
low T, low P, short time ----- small
crystals, low grade
TYPES OF METAMORPHIC ROCKS
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM ?
Metamorphic facies: definition of
and what do they tell us?
examples?
***PLATE TECTONICS AND METAMORPHISM***
Understand variations in pressure, temp in a subduction zone - be able to draw subduction zone & show where
different rock types form
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
Ch. E, (Appendix D), labs 8 and 9
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What are they used for? What do they tell you? What types of scales are used? Why are there different scales?
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Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
What is latitude? longitude?
Given a topographic map - be able to tell the following:
type of landscape shown: rugged, flat, etc
where are the lakes, rivers, swamps, cliffs, gentle slopes....
rough distance between two points; calculate contour interval
GEOLOGIC TIME Ch12
Sedimentary Rocks = core of historical geology provide information on depositional environment, climate and
tectonic history
Some basic rules to help figure out what happened when = RELATIVE AGES
- Most sediments & volcanics are deposited horizontally (parallel to surface)
- oldest rock on the bottom, youngest rock on the top
- cross-cutting relationships: igneous intrusions, faults, unconformities
UNCONFORMITIES = ?
ABSOLUTE TIME
three types of = ?
be able to recognize and draw the three types.
Radiometric decay: theory, rate, example, general technique
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
(Return to Index)
*The origin of the solar system/solar nebula theory - why are the inner planets different from the outer ones?
Meteorites & Asteroids & Craters
Terrestrial Planets: general characteristics of: Mercury, Venus, Earth & Moon, Mars
Jovian Planets general characteristics of: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto & of the larger moons
Which planets (moons) have active plate tectonics?
life?
THE ARCHEAN
Ch13
Rocks -granulites (granite-gneiss) & greenstone belts
each
active volcanos?
magnetic fields?
liquid water?
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-- sedimentary & volcanic rocks *environment of formation for
banded iron formation
rare nonmarine & continental shelf deposits why rare?
Tectonics -- what were the continents like in the Archean?
what kind of volcanic activity was around?
Life -- evidence for? type of organisms?
- hypotheses to explain stages by which life could have formed from nonliving matter
PROTEROZOIC
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much more like Phanerozoic, LARGE CRATONS APPEAR where first? what does it say about tectonics in the
Ptz? what's the evidence?
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Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
Atmospheric Oxygen primitive atm composition evidence atm evolved from anaerobic to aerobic
relationship of oxy level to U & Fe minerals, red beds, BIF, bacteria, eukaryotic cells
controls on concentration of oxy in atm: photosynthesis
ozone shield
stromatolites
volcanos
Life
Eukaryote vs prokaryote differences between them Acritarchs
Proterozoic of Franklin Mountains
THE WORLDWIDE GLACIATIONS further evidence had rigid, continental crust
Early Proterozoic Glaciation extent, features, age
Late Proterozoic Glaciation extent, features, age, problems evidence from stromatolites & paleomagnetism
theories
LIFE IN THE PROTEROZOIC 1st MULTICELLULAR: was? flound where? and when?
MULTICELLULAR ANIMALS first appearance was?
- Ediacara fauna - animals (phyla) found? - older examples? - early trace fossils & the late Ptz glaciation
EARLY PALEOZOIC WORLD
to Index)
Ch13
(Return
Causes of sea level rise and fall? evidence for sea level rise and fall?
Early Paleozoic rocks of the El Paso area?
Ordovician mass extinction - one of most severe
cause? Evidence for?
Early Paleozoic tectonic activity/orogenic events - where?
tectonic causes?
EARLY PALEOZOIC LIFE
Next big step in development of life =? why appear now? what for?
Small Shelly Fauna characteristics, animals found
Burgess Shale, middle Cambrian
depositional environment of Burgess? preservation of fossils?
animals present?
why so many soft-bodied creatures preserved?
- Important Cambrian organisms? which Cambrian organisms built reefs?
which organisms had eyes?
largest predator of Cambrian seas?
Trilobites were? protection techniques? index fossils for ? lifestyle
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were the reefs large or small?
Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
Ordovician Adaptive Radiation which organisms important in Ordovician? the Ordovician carnivores were?
what were the first fish like?
the Ordovician reef builders were?
Did plants invade the land during the early Paleozoic? what were they like?
MIDDLE PALEOZOIC WORLD
Index)
Baltica & Laurentia suture together - mtns where? create which supercontinent?
Tectonics in North America - east side? & west side?
evidence for? and in El Paso?
Sea Level High or Low?
(Return to
Late Devonian mass extinction organisms affected? probable cause? evidence of cause?
Recovery of old organisms & new organisms present
Reefs - built by what?
new swimming animals =?
on land: problems organisms had to solve to live on land?
plants - types, characteristics of
characteristics of
LATE PALEOZOIC WORLD
Index)
marked by major climate changes - evidence?
Tectonics - formation of Pangea - mtns where?, incl. deformation away from margins
North America = activity where? due to what? affects of?
LIFE - Oceans reefs or bioherms? important organisms of
animals - types,
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changes in fishes
Which were the important land plants? What is their economic importance today?
freshwater animals
insects, amphibians & *reptiles (amniotic egg: characteristics, adv.)
later reptiles develop what important feature?
therapsids & endothermy
carnivores = ?
mass extinction @ Perm/Tr - affected what?
what survived?
top
cause?
EARLY MESOZOIC
(Return to Index)
Tectonics & climate - Life substantially different from that of Pz
Pangea breaks up - evidence for? how? why?
conditions on Pangea - sediments mass extinctions @ end
Triassic
conditions in NAm - west vs east coasts hurt which organisms? benefited which?
theory of? evidence for?
what were the dominant/important organisms of the Early Mesozoic? in the Oceans?
Land: both animals & plants distinctive - how? dominant plants?
DINOSAURS Ornithiscians (bird-hipped) vs Saurischians (lizard-hipped) **Lifestyles of** types of?
descendants of?
Birds - Archaeopteryx - characteristics of, lifestyle of, evidence?
Mammals, Turtles
LATE MESOZOIC
Tectonics & Climate
(Return to Index)
Sea level high, climate warm - evidence?
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Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
Gondwana breaks up - new oceans, more evaporites, etc.
North America - east coast vs Gulf coast vs west
coast
Life = mix of modern (examples?) & archaic (examples?)
Oceans: Rise of modern predators probably had what effect on benthic life?
type of predators?
Land: Plants?
More dinosaurs - same types as before? flying reptiles - what kind? & birds other vertebrates?
MASS EXTINCTIONS - THE FIVE BIG ONES When? due to what? evidence?
Cretaceous/Tertiary extinction - cause? evidence? alternative theories?
EARLY CENOZOIC
(Return to Index)
Life - Appearance of what modern organisms?
Marine Fish (which type?), reefs built by? microfossils = ? top predators = ?
any new marine ecological
niches exploited?
Terrestrial
Plants
any drastic changes since Mesozoic? **major event = ?
tied to what changes in animal life?
Animals with dinosaurs gone, mammals do what? evolutionary history of horse
Largest land mammal was ?
predators = ?
General trends in mammal evolution?
Paleogeography Major continental rifting event? Effect on climate?
North America
West: accreted terranes East coast?
LARAMIDE OROGENY reactivated what? associated rock types? results?
What's happening here?
evidence?
Gulf Coast probable cause?
Mediterranean Alps - cause? results?
Himalayas: how formed?
(Return to Index)
LATE CENOZOIC time with major changes in life and in physical features of earth
Life Aquatic
most dramatic change = ?
Land profoundly influenced by what? plant change?
Vertebrates
*small creatures Expansion of many mammals related to ?
Large animals & carnivores
Development of primates
Late Neogene Climate Change
Pleistocene Continental Glaciation primarily in which hemisphere? Causes
extent?
alternations of glacial/interglacial? (today's extent?)
evidence of? effects of? furthest
Paleogeography Neogene
Western North America - Locate modern physiographic provinces in the western U.S. & relate them back to their
plate tectonic cause
for example: the Cascades = volcanic peaks from subduction of Farallon/Juan de Fuca plate
Especially, the Basin & Range - *Possible mechanisms of uplift & igneous activity of Basin & Range relationship to Rio Grande Rift
Volcanic activity in New Mexico
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Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
Eastern North America
events here?
Caribbean Region major changes in late Neogene = ?
Africa events here?
DESERTS & WIND ACTION
(Return to Index)
ch. 21, lab 13
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characteristics of ? DESERT CLIMATE: Origin of ?
SURFACE PROCESSES & LANDFORMS IN DESERTS
weathering & mass wasting
Fans & Bajadas
streams & lakes
WIND AS A GEOLOGIC AGENT
Erosion: deflation & abrasion Transport: bed (saltation) &
Pediments
desert pavement
Deposition: Wind-blown sand: Sand Ripples
Dunes: form, height, migration, sand seas factors affecting dune type
Wind-blown dust: mobilization of
transport of & dust storms
loess
Wind
suspension load
ventifacts
----be able to DRAW
ADVANCING DESERTS & DESERTIFICATION: impact & countermeasures
MASS-WASTING
ch. 16, Lab 10
definition & role of water & gravity
Other factors involved in stability?
types of mass wasting?
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TRIGGERING OF MASS-WASTING EVENTS what are some triggers?
Classification based on what fundamental differences/characteristics?
which are just inconvenient?
Slope Failures: slumps, rockfalls, rockslides
Sediment Flows
Slurry Flows: solifluction, debris flows (mudflows)
avalanches
Debris avalanches or long-run-out landslides
which would be dangerous & why?
Granular Flows: creep, earthflow (liquefaction), debris
features of? explanations of? examples
Subaqueous mass-movement & turbidites
MASS-WASTING HAZARDS Assessment & Mitigation be able to analyze a given slope for risk & mitigation
techniques local examples?
DEBRIS-FLOW FILM
Describe a Debris-flow: what do they look like? how are they different from streamflow? how fast do they
go?
can they move boulders? how big?
if so, how are they moved?
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Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
Water in El Paso
RIVERS roles in human life & in geology = ?
Ch. 17, Lab 11
Why is flow velocity important in understanding river behavior?
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What four factors affect velocity?
Rivers erode - how? (3 ways)
Rivers Transport - types of Load
Why are some rivers muddy (have lots of load) & others not? How
do people affect load?
Rivers deposit why? what?
DEPOSITIONAL FEATURES OF STREAMS Floodplains & levees Alluvial fans Terraces deltas
Bars
GROUNDWATER
ch. 19, lab 12
AQUIFERS - conditions for? example?
El Paso’s water supply = ? Our aquifer?
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THE GROUNDWATER SYSTEM
Recharge area = ? arid versus humid climates (be able to draw & explain arid)
discharge area = ?
GEOLOGIC ACTIVITY OF GROUNDWATER
Dissolution & Transport --- Chemical content of groundwater
Chemical cementation & replacement
CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES Sources of? types?
GLACIERS AND GLACIAL ROCKS
ch. 22 lab 14
Treatment of?
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Glacier = ? and glacial ice (difference between snow & glacial ice)
types of? how can you tell them apart? what landforms does each type create?
Changes in glacier mass: zones of accumulation & ablation, snowline
Movement of glaciers = ? crevasses
velocity & direction of flow
glacier surges
Glacial erosion: such as?
Glacial Transport - how different from wind or water transport?
Glacial Deposits examples? what do they tell geologists?
THE GLACIAL AGES
Pleistocene -how do we know it happened? where was the ice (generally)? how can we tell?
what effects did the Ice Age have on animal/people distribution? on the sea level?
also in Late Paleozoic in the southern continents: how do we know?
Causes of: plate tectonics - how cause glaciations? (3 ways)
minor variations in orbit & inclination/tilt of earth’s axis
volcanic activity
weathering
Effects of global warming on earth.
Oceanography
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Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
What are the main causes of motion in the ocean? Explain each.
What ions are from eroded rocks? What from volcanic eruptions?
How did BIFs form?
How could global warming affect gyres?
What are the major ocean depositional environments? What rocks & sedimentary structures are
formed in each?
Why is the ocean floor made of basalt?
How can people protect the shore?
Know fetch, longshore current, gyre, spit, rip current
DEFORMATION OF ROCK & ROCK STRUCTURE
ch.11, lab 15
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Movement --- stress (force) --- strain (deformation)
3 types of stress & strain produced are?
Elastic vs Plastic strain & strength of rock
If rock strength exceeded: Fails --- either Ductile (plastic flow) or
Brittle (ruptures)
Type of rock deformation depends on?
Brittle failure how recognize faults?
types of faults: Be able to draw type of stress for each? effects on crust?
& graben
what are: compound faults: ex., horst
can a strike-slip fault also have vertical motion? slickensides and drag folds - useful for what?
DEFORMATION BY BENDING: ductile deformation types of folds? how tell them apart?
be able to draw them
is there a recumbent fold near you?
EARTHQUAKES
ch. 10, lab 16
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Occurrence & Risk of & Disasters Risk in El Paso? in the U.S.?
ORIGIN OF EARTHQUAKES?
earthquake focus & epicenter - definitions of
SEISMIC WAVES: BODY WAVES & SURFACE WAVES - types of? characteristics of each?
MAGNITUDES OF EARTHQUAKES Richter Scale: how calculated?
EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE Primary: types of? Secondary: types of?
Modified Mercalli Scale: # of earthquakes/year & relation to strength
EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY: varies with what? which is the worst ground type to build on?
fundamental frequency = resonance - what happens if fundamental frequencies of ground &
matches?
MITIGATION OF HAZARD
PREDICTION - what do we know? what don’t we know?
PREPARATION of individual: how can you prepare for an earthquake?
EXPLORATION SEISMOLOGY principal use? what is the basic technique?
REFLECTED VS REFRACTED WAVE PATHS
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Geology 1301 Exam Study Outline
THE EARTH’S INTERNAL STRUCTURE
ch. 10
BEHAVIOR OF SEISMIC WAVES define 3 very pronounced boundaries in the earth,
separating 4 fundamentally different zones - which are?
THE CRUST: thickness & composition of **oceanic vs continental crust**
THE MANTLE: composition of?
The Low-velocity Layer = the asthenosphere how know its there? what’s the explanation of it?
**relationship to plate tectonics** depth of & relationship to crust thickness?
The 400 km Seismic Discontinuity: how know it’s there? what’s the explanation of it?
The 670 km Seismic Discontinuity: how know it’s there? what’s the explanation of it?
relationship to occurrence of earthquakes?
THE CORE: density & composition of
difference between outer & inner core? evidence from seismic & meteorites?
WORLD DISTRIBUTION OF EARTHQUAKES **relation to plate tectonics**
Seismic Belts: Circum-Pacific
Depth of Quakes: shallow-focus, intermediate & deep-focus
Benioff Zone & the descending slab
GRAVITY ANOMALIES measuring gravity differences tells you what?
ISOSTACY due to what? and mountain roots and crust thickness: continental vs. oceanic crust
PLATE TECTONICS
ch. 3 & 4, lab 17
Wegener & Continental Drift & Pangea
Apparent Polar Wander
Hess & Seafloor Spreading
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Structure of a Plate
Be able to draw each of the boundary types and know the rocks that form at each boundary
Divergent Margins: magnetic records & plate velocities
Convergent Margins: Island arcs, mélange/subduction complex
Transform Fault Margins
Plate Tectonics and Continental Crust Continental Margins: active vs. passive
Hot Spots & Absolute plate velocity
CAUSES OF PLATE TECTONICS
Lithosphere
Convection in the Mantle
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Copyright 2003-2015 ©Kathleen Devaney
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Movement of the