INDEPENDENT STUDY—PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Earth Science Study Module
PSC 2905, Reference Numbers 20471 (Session 1)
1 Credit Hour, Winter-Spring Semester 2016
Northwest Florida State College
Dr. Jonathan R. Bryan
This study module is designed to provide one hour of college credit in physical science for students at
Northwest Florida State College. It is most commonly taken by students who have 3 credit hours in a physical
science (often from another college), but need one additional credit hour to meet the 4-credits of physical
science required at NWFSC. It does not constitute a laboratory credit. The subjects that will be studied are in
the Earth Sciences. This program is intended to be an independent, self-paced study, although the instructor
will direct the student and answer any questions as they arise. The student may complete the course at his/her
own pace, although 4 weeks will probably be the minimum amount of time required to complete the module.
You will need to talk with Dr. Bryan in person or by phone before you schedule your first exam, to make sure
you have understood what was required. When you are prepared to take the first exam, call Dr. Bryan to
schedule your test.
To receive credit for this course, the student must take two exams. One is on the theory of plate tectonics. A
second exam is on basic mineral and rock identification. The plate tectonics exam is in a short answer/essay
format. The rock and mineral exam consists of one short answer question, and the identification of about 40
rocks and minerals. The course grade will be a simple average of the two, 100-point, test scores. Grading scale:
A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=<60
To prepare for the two exams:
(1) Plate Tectonics Exam
Carefully read the following chapters in the textbook, Earth Science 14th Edition, by Tarbuck and Lutgens:
(a) Ch. 8, Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior, only pages on the Earth’s Interior); ALSO, see information on
the Earth’s interior in Chapter 1.
(b) Ch. 7, Plate Tectonics: A Scientific Theory Unfolds
Be able to answer these questions on these terms:
(1) Label a diagram of the Earth’s interior based on rock type (viz., continental crust, oceanic crust, mantle,
core) and based on the physical properties of those rocks (viz., lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer
core, inner core). You do not need to know the depths of each layer, but you should know what characterizes
each layer (e.g., ocean crust is made of the lava rock—basalt; continental crust is thicker than ocean crust, and
is made largely of granite; the mantle is made of a rock called dunite or peridotite; the core is made of nickeliron; the lithosphere is rigid, solid rock; the asthenosphere is a partially molten, soft, or tar-like part of the
mantle; the mesosphere is dense, mostly solid mantle; the outer core is molten nickel-iron; the inner core solid
nickel-iron).
(2) Know the meaning of these terms or personalities: Pangaea, Gondwana (or Gondwanaland), Tethys Sea,
Alfred Wegener, hot spot, know some driving mechanisms for the movement of plates.
(3) List and explain Wegener’s four primarily lines of evidence for continental drift.
(4) Be able to list and define the three major types of plate boundaries, and each of their subtypes of plate
boundaries (for a total of 7 types of plate boundaries). For each boundary, you will need to: (1) list and define
the type of boundary; (2) list and describe all of the geological features that characterize each boundary; (3)
draw a simple sketch of each type of boundary; and (4) list 1 real-world example of each type of boundary.
Your list should include: (1) Divergent Plate Boundaries. There are 2 types of DPB: (a) continent-to-continent
(opening continental rift valleys); and (2) ocean-to-ocean (oceanic ridges/seafloor spreading). (2) Transform
Plate Boundaries. There are 2 types of TPB: (a) contintent-to-continent (e.g., San Andreas Fault); and (b) oceanto-ocean (as seen along faults of the Mid-Ocean Ridge, or MOR). (3) Convergent Plate Boundaries. There are
3types of CPB: (a) ocean-to-continent; (b) ocean-to-ocean; and (c) continent-to-continent). There is MUCH
information on the 3 types of plate boundaries and their subtypes. Be sure to include in all of the appropriate
boundaries a list and description/definition of the following geologic features or processes: rift or rift valley,
transform faults, trenches, subduction zones, Benioff Zones, volcanic arcs or island arcs, and collision
zone/uplift of mountains, metamorphism, granite formation. This question should be filled with as much
information as you can find on the geology of each type of boundary. MAKE SURE YOU RESEARCH ALL
PLATE BOUNDARIES FULLY AND GIVE COMPLETE ANSWERS WITH MUCH INOFORMATION. This
questions counts for over one-half of the test.
(2) Mineral and Rock Exam
Carefully read the following chapters in the textbook, Earth Science Thirteenth Edition, by Tarbuck and Lutgens:
(a) Chapter 2, Matter and Minerals
(a) Chapter 3, Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth.
Now you must learn to identify 40 specimens of mineral and rocks that are labeled and in the trays in back of
Room S-237. The specimens you need to know are listed on the attached page. There will be NO word bank or
list of mineral or rock names on the test, so you must know them by name (some phonetic spelling errors are
acceptable). You may use a glass plate and streak plate to help you with your identifications. This second test
consists of 40 mineral and rock identifications, AND you must be able to draw/sketch and fully label the
ROCK CYCLE.
Keep in touch with your instructor and inform him when you are ready to take your exams. A mutually
convenient time will be scheduled. DON’T PUT THIS OFF TILL THE END OF THE TERM!
Dr. Jon Bryan
Chair, Natural Sciences
Professor of Geology
Northwest Florida State College
100 College Blvd.
Niceville, FL 32578
Office: S-107
Phone: 850-729-5246
E-mail: bryanj@nwfsc.edu
List of Mineral and Rock Specimens for
INDEPENDENT STUDY—PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Earth Science Study Module
All Specimens are in the Science Department (Bldg., 350), Room 237
Minerals
orthoclase
albite
anorthite
muscovite mica
biotite mica
quartz
hornblende
augite
olivine
calcite
gypsum
fluorite
galena
pyrite
hematite
bauxite
Igneous
Rocks
Sedimentary
Rocks
Metamorphic
Rocks
granite
rhyolite
diorite
andesite
gabbro
basalt
obsidian
pumice
pegmatite
conglomerate
sandstone
shale
peat
bituminous coal
anthracite coal
fosssiliferous limestone
coquina
chalk
slate
phyllite
schist
gneiss
marble
quartzite