Physical Geology
GEOL 101.02
Winter 2005
MWThF 10:00–10:50
Lind Hall 104
Course Syllabus
Instructor: Morgan Salisbury
Office: Lind Hall 300H
E-mail: morgan@geology.cwu.edu
Phone: 963-2192
Web: http://www.geology.cwu.edu/facstaff/morgan
Office hours: Tue 10-11 am; Wed 1-2 pm or by appointment
Text: Essentials of Geology by Stephan Marshak
Course description:
This course is an introduction to the physical complexities of our planet. We will learn
what the Earth is made of, where it came from, what it has been up to for the last few
billion years, and what it is doing today. This will include study of earthquakes,
volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, oceans, the atmosphere, and of course, rocks. At the end of the
quarter, students will be able to view the Earth’s place in the universe from a scientific
perspective and better understand the geologic forces that continue to shape our planet.
Expectations and suggestions for success:
Attend all lectures (I cannot stress this enough): Attendance is required.
Take good notes: Most lectures will be given by PowerPoint. Everything on the
presentations is fair game for the exams unless otherwise specified. Important diagrams
will be drawn on the board and should be copied into your notes.
Read the book: Much (but not all) of the material in this class is from the textbook.
Reading the assigned pages will greatly aid in understanding the lectures.
Turn in homework on time: late assignments are penalized or not accepted at all.
Inquire: Ask me questions during lecture, via e-mail, or during my office hours.
Grades
Homework (15%): There will be three homework assignments.
Pop-quizzes (9%): Pop-quizzes will be given about once a week with out warning.
These cannot be made up. One pop-quiz will be dropped from your grade.
Quizzes (16%): There will be two regularly scheduled short quizzes. These quizzes will
closely resemble the exams.
Exams (40%): There will be two regularly scheduled exams. Exams cannot be made up.
If there is a conflict talk to me before the test is given.
Final exam (20%): The final will not be comprehensive but will take place during the
regularly scheduled final period.
Grades will be determined using a standard scale (highest and lowest 2% issued + and -)
Any academic dishonesty will result in failure of the assignment and/or failure of the
class, and/or expulsion from the university as per my discretion.
Geol 101.02 Tentative Schedule
Week 1
Jan 5,6,7
Topics: Origin of the Earth, Earth’s internal structure, plate tectonics
Reading: Chapter 1 (skim 9-20, read 21-34) and chapter 2 (36-79)
Week 2
Jan 10,12,13,14
(QUIZ #1–Fri, Jan 14)
Topics: plate tectonics, geologic time, rock cycle, minerals, igneous rocks
Reading: Chapter2 (36-79), Chapt.3 (80-90,91-93), Chapt.4 (98-102), Chapt.6 (175-180)
Week 3
Jan 19,20,21 (no class Mon)
Topics: magma, igneous processes, intrusive igneous rocks
Reading: Chapter 4
(QUIZ#2-Fri, Jan 21)
Week 4
Jan 24,26,27,28
Topics: volcanic eruptions, volcanic deposits, volcanic landforms
Reading: Chapter 7
Exam #1 – Friday, Jan 28
Week 5
Jan 31, Feb 2,3,4
Topics: weathering, sediments, sedimentary rocks, metamorphism
Reading: Chapter 5 (124-130, 134-149), Chapter 6 (155-170)
Week 6
Feb 7,9,10,11
(QUIZ #3 – Mon, Feb 7)
Topics: Metamorphic rocks, relative age dating, numerical age dating
Reading: Chapter 7 (170-174), Chapter 10 (280-301)
Week 7
Feb 14,16,17,18
Topics: Sedimentary rocks, weathering, metamorphism
Reading: Chapter 9
Week 8
Feb 23,24,25
(no class Mon 21)
Topics: earthquake introduction, seismic waves, earthquake size, earthquake hazards
Reading: Chapter 8
Exam#2: Friday, Feb 24th
Week 9
Feb 28, Mar 2,3,4
Topics: Mass movements, streams, groundwater
Reading: Chapter 13 and 14 (376-451), Chapter 16 (434-451)
Week 10
Mar 7,9,10,11
Topics: groundwater, glaciers
Reading: Chapters 16 and 18 (480-511)
FINAL EXAM – Friday, March 18th 12:00 – 2:00 pm
(QUIZ#4 – Fri, Mar 4)