Introduction to Geology
Earthsci-1300  Fall 2011
This syllabus is subject to change… ALSO PLEASE have your cellphone turned off during class…
Lecture:
M, W, F
9:00 to 9:50
(Latham Hall 125)
Labs:
Thursday
Sec. 01: 8 to 9:50 (Latham Hall 111)
Sec. 02: 10 to 11:50
Sec. 03: 1 to 2:50
Professor:
Dr. Chad Heinzel
(116 Latham Hall)
Office hours:
Thursday (3 to 4:30pm) Monday/Wednesday (10-11am) & by appointment
Office phone:
273-6168
Email:
chad.heinzel@uni.edu
Facebook:
University of Northern Iowa Earth Science (Fan page)
Twitter:
IowaGeology
Webpage:
www.exploreiowageology.org (Link track = Teaching > Introduction to Geology)
Text:
Lecture: Earth – Portrait of a Planet 3rd ed., by Stephen Marshak
Lab: UNI Physical Geology Exercises, by J. Walters and L. Brant
*At Copyworks (Corner of 23rd and College St. on the Hill) Approx. $12.00
Final Exam:
Wednesday December 14 10-11:50 AM Latham Hall Rm. 125
Week One
(Aug.22-26)
Lecture Schedule
Geology & Earth History
Lab: Observations, Description, & GIS
Text Readings
Prelude
Ch. 12, 13
Week Two
(Aug. 29-Sept.2)
Minerals & Igneous Rock
Lab: Physical Prop. of Minerals
Ch. 5 & 6
Week Three
(Sept. 5-9)
Igneous Environments and Rock
Lab: Mineral Identification
NO CLASS: MONDAY Sept. 5 Labor Day
Ch. 6
Week Four
(Sept. 12-16)
Sedimentary Rock, Weathering, & Soil
Lab: Igneous Rock Identification
Ch. 7
Week Five
(Sept. 19-23)
Metamorphic Environments and Rock
Lab: Sedimentary Rock Identification
Ch. 8
Week Six
(Sept. 26-30)
The Earth’s interior and plate tectonics
Ch. 3 & 4
Lab: Metamorphic Rock Identification
Lecture Exam 1: Earth History, Minerals, and Rocks
Week Seven
(Oct. 3-7)
Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Mountains
Ch. 9 & 10
Lab Exam I: Mineral and Rock Identification
Week Eight
(Oct. 10-14)
Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Mountains
Ch. 10 & 11
Lab: Seismic Studies
No lecture Monday (10th) or Wednesday (12th) (Dr. H is @ GSA meeting in MSP)
We WILL have lab on Thursday and class on Friday!!!
Week Nine
(Oct. 17-21)
Volcanoes and Mountains
Lab: Plate boundaries and Earthquakes
Week Ten
(Oct. 24-28)
Volcanoes and Mountains
Lab: Spooky Halloween-like lab
Week Eleven
(Oct. 31-Nov.4)
Groundwater
Lab: Groundwater
Lecture Exam 2: Plate Tectonics and its products
Ch. 19
Week Twelve
(Nov. 7-11)
Rivers and Flooding
Lab: Topographic Maps
Ch. 17
Week Thirteen
(Nov. 14-18)
Glaciers and Global Change
Lab: Topographic Maps
Lecture Exam 3: Water and Ice
Ch. 22 & 23
Week Fourteen
(Nov. 21-24)
Thanksgiving Break 
Week Fifteen
(Nov. 28-Dec.2)
Global Change & Geoarchaeology
Lab: Glaciations and Review for lab final…
Ch. 22 & 23
Week Sixteen
(Dec. 5-9)
Geologic Resources and Society
Lab: Exam II – material since 1st lab exam.
Ch. 14 & 15
Week Seventeen
(Dec. 12-16)
FINAL EXAM (Comprehensive):
Wednesday December 14 10-11:50 AM Latham Hall Rm. 125
Grading procedure and policies
Ch. 11
A >93%, A->90%
B+>87%, B >83%, B->80%
C+>77%, C >73%, C->70%
D+>67%, D >63%, D->60%
F < 60%
If you earn 93% of the total points you are guaranteed a grade of A. The lower limit for each grade
range will not move up. A curve will not be used in this class.
There will be no make-up exams or quizzes after the scheduled exams are given! Should
you have a scheduled conflict, please visit with me at least one week before the exam/quiz date.
An unexcused absence during an exam/quiz will lead to an automatic zero.
Academic dishonesty- Is not tolerated on the UNI campus (the campus wide policy will be
followed). In addition, you may be tarred and feathered = Do not cheat. You are at UNI to better
yourself! If you are caught cheating on an exam you will receive 0 points for that exam.
Approximate point distribution (Lecture = 60%, Lab = 40% of your total grade)
Quizzes
3 @ 10 pts = 30 pts
Exams
3 @ 100 pts = 300 pts
Final Exam
1 @ 150 pts = 150 pts
Lab assignments ( √+ =20; √+= 18; √=16; √- = 13)
12 @ 20 pts = 240 pts
Lab Exams
2 @ 100 pts = 200 pts
Participation/Attendance
40 pts = 40 pts
Lifestyle project
40 pts = 40 pts
Approx. total =
1000 points
A = 900; B = 800; C = 700; D = 600
Class Attendance and Participation
Exam questions will reflect and cover: 1) Lectures, 2) Lecture discussions, 3) Text readings, and 4)
Labs. Anything I say or discuss is fair game for a quiz or exam. Attendance is essential.
**Missing more than 3 (unexcused) class meetings (lecture or lab) will result in one full grade
reduction. E.g. A- to BLab - You generally will not need to bring your textbook (Earth – Portrait of a Planet) to lab.
- If you fail the lab portion of the class you fail the class (even if you are getting an A in lecture).
Come to lab, participate, and learn. Geology is best learned outdoors and in lab! Our course
lectures and readings will help to prepare you to interpret what you will see. (Seeing is
Believing/Learning!)
Basic course objectives
Your liberal arts education - Courses in natural science promote an understanding of science as a
human process that investigates matter and energy acting within complex organic and inorganic
systems. Fundamental principles of both physical and life sciences are included.
Specifically 1. Obtain experience utilizing scientific methodology (observation, hypotheses,
experimentation, interpretation, and theory)
2. Gain a fundamental understanding of the Earth (properties and processes)
3. Provide you with valuable information that will give you a basic ‘tool kit’ to go out and
actively explore your environment and interpret articles/video of earth science publications.
4. Prepare you for taking upper level earth science courses, allowing you to further explore
what you find most fascinating.
5. Work hard and have a great time doing it!
Special Needs: Any students who require special accommodations for learning please let me know
(privately) as soon as possible.
Tips for doing well in this class
- Do the reading assignments before you come to class! I may ask 2 to 4 exam questions
directly from the textbook readings - that were not discussed in class.
- Be a good detective, the concepts that you will be learning are connected, so if you don’t
understand a concept (early on) make sure you ask questions, because you will be using that
knowledge again.
- If we have one lecture on the origin of the Earth and three on plate tectonics then take a
test, the majority of questions will be about plate tectonics.
- Take great notes, there will be a lot of information coming your way.
- Figure out what is most interesting to you and go with it, I will do everything that I can to
help you reach your goals;
- Ask a lot of questions in lecture and lab;
- Have fun, Geology is about exploring and learning from our natural surroundings don’t be
afraid to get dirty!
The Lifestyle Project (40 pts)
- This a required project… Be on the lookout for a handout explaining the details!
This Rock Cycle will be on your first test! (12 points!)
Top 10 Big ideas you shouldn’t leave this class without!!!
BIG IDEA 1. Geologists use repeatable observations & testable ideas to understand & explain our planet.
1.1 Earth scientists find solutions to society’s needs. Earth scientists work on challenging problems that face
humanity on topics such as climate change and human impacts on Earth. Earth scientists successfully predict
hazards to humans and locate and recover natural resources, making possible the flourishing of humans on Earth .
BIG IDEA 2. Earth is 4.6 billion years old.
2.1 Earth’s rocks and other materials provide a record of its history. Earth scientists use the structure, sequence,
and properties of rocks, sediments, and fossils to reconstruct events in Earth’s history. Decay rates of radioactive
elements are the primary means of obtaining numerical ages of rocks and organic remains. Understanding geologic
processes active in the modern world is crucial to interpreting Earth’s past.
BIG IDEA 3. Earth is a complex system of interacting rock, water, air, and life.
3.1 The four major systems of Earth are the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. The geosphere
includes a metallic core, solid and molten rock, soil, and sediments. The atmosphere is the envelope of gas
surrounding Earth. The hydrosphere includes the ice, water vapor, and liquid water in the atmosphere, the ocean,
lakes, streams, soils, and groundwater. The biosphere includes Earth’s life, which can be found in many parts of
the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Humans are part of the biosphere, and human activities have
important impacts on all four spheres.
BIG IDEA 4. Earth is continuously changing.
4.1 Earth’s geosphere changes through geological, hydrological, physical, chemical, and biological processes that
are explained by universal laws. These changes can be small or large, continuous or sporadic, and gradual or
catastrophic.
BIG IDEA 5. Earth is the water planet.
5.1 Water is found everywhere on Earth, from the heights of the atmosphere to the depths of the mantle. Early in
Earth’s history, surface water accumulated through both out-gassing from its interior and the capture of some
extraterrestrial ice. Water vapor in the atmosphere condensed and rained out as the planet cooled.
BIG IDEA 6. Life evolves on a dynamic Earth and continuously modifies Earth.
6.1 Fossils are the preserved evidence of ancient life. Fossils document the presence of life early in Earth’s history
and the subsequent evolution of life over billions of years.
BIG IDEA 7. Humans depend on Earth for resources.
7.1 Earth is our home; its resources mold civilizations, drive human exploration, and inspire human endeavors
that include art, literature, and science. We depend upon Earth for sustenance, comfort, places to live and play,
and spiritual inspiration.
BIG IDEA 8. Natural hazards pose risks to humans.
8.1 Natural hazards result from natural Earth processes.
These hazards include earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, droughts, landslides, volcanic eruptions,
extreme weather, lightning-induced fires, sinkholes, coastal erosion, and comet and asteroid impacts.
BIG IDEA 9. Humans significantly alter the Earth.
9.1 Human activities significantly change the rates of many of Earth’s surface processes. Humankind has become a
geological agent that must be taken into account equally with natural processes in any attempt to understand the
workings of Earth’s systems. As human populations and per capita consumption of natural resources increase, so
do our impacts on Earth’s systems.
BIG IDEA 10. Becoming a geologist is an extremely meaningful and rewarding career!
Mineral uses (just a few examples…) you will learn to identify these and more minerals in lab!
Mineral products are in great demand by developing societies!
1. Hematite – is used for its iron content. Iron ore from the Waukon area in Allamakee County is the only
other metallic mineral ever commercially mined in Iowa. The Iron Hill deposit was explored in the 1870's
and was first mined in 1899. Operations were suspended in 1901 until the Missouri Iron Company of St. Louis
acquired the deposit in 1906, and an ore beneficiation plant was built which sporadically produced and
shipped ore concentrate until 1918. Bob Dylan grew up in Hibbing, MN on the Iron Range… Iron mining was
and still is very important to the economic growth of MN!
2. Feldspar - Orthoclase – More than one-half of the total world production of feldspar is used in the
manufacture of glass. The second important use of feldspar is in the ceramics industry, where more than a
third of the total feldspar is used. It is also one of the chief constituents in the glaze on pottery, chinaware,
and tiles. Potash feldspar is used in the electrical industry for porcelain insulators, and also finds use in the
manufacture of artificial teeth.
Plagioclase – Na-rich plagioclase generally has the same uses as orthoclase; Ca-rich plagioclase is of
potential commercial interest, particularly in NE Minnesota, because of its aluminum content.
3. Quartz – is used in the manufacture of optical glass (used in lenses) and plain glass products. The electric
properties of quartz make it valuable in instruments used for detecting sensitive changes in pressure and
stabilizing the frequency in radio equipment. Broadcasting stations use quarts to control the frequency
assigned to them. The best quartz crystals for use in this manner used to come from Brazil: however, today
such crystals are grown artificially in laboratories. Quartz is also used in the abrasive industry as custom
jewelry, in the cement and mortar industry, and in the manufacture of paint.
4. Calcite – The clear, perfect variety of calcite is used for optical purposes, primarily light polarizing
prisms. It also finds use in the production of mortar, concrete, and steel, and is mined for these purposes in
the form of limestone. And Dolomite- Simple cements were produced by burning limestone or dolomite in
kilns fired by wood, coal, or oil. Many small 19th-century towns had kilns that produced lime for mortar
used by local builders. Engineers, architects, and builders preferred lime burned from Silurian-age dolomites
in Cedar and Jackson counties. This lime was desirable because of the hardness and durability of its mortar
and its slow setting time, giving masons and plasterers longer to work. The dominance of these cements was
preempted by the rapid acceptance of a new cementing product -- Portland cement.
5. Gypsum - Gypsum has several principal uses. Ground gypsum is added to Portland cement to slow the
setting time of the cement. Pulverized gypsum, and to a lesser extent anhydrite, is used in agriculture as a
soil conditioner and as an animal-food additive. The best known use of gypsum is as the principal ingredient
in the manufacture of wallboard and plaster. This is possible because of gypsum's unique property of
rehydrating with the addition of water after having been ground, calcined (baked to a powder), and mixed
with other wallboard ingredients. Anhydrite is considered a contaminant in this case because it cannot be
hydrated like gypsum.
6. Galena – is the chief mineral mined for the element lead. Lead is used in the production of batteries,
ammunition, solder, foil, with lead for paint, and sheathing for electrical cables. Galena has been mined in
Galena, IL and Dubuque, IA
7. Pyrite – is mined mainly for its use in the production of sulfuric acid, which is used by the chemical,
fertilizer, and mining industries. Indians and French voyageurs were probably the first to extract the heavy,
metallic-gray lead ores in the Dubuque area along the Upper Mississippi River valley sometime prior to 1650.
They began a lengthy period of mining lead and zinc ores that peaked between 1830 and 1860. The last of
the Dubuque area mines closed in 1910.