NOTE:Cell-phones, electronic devices of ANY sort, dictionaries, books, notes, flash cards or any sort of other material not specified below CAN NOT be used for any reason during the test and should not be kept on the desk.
You will ONLY need to bring:
- one Scantron Form 882-E
- a number 2 pencil
- an eraser
This study guide must be interpreted (literally) as a guide to the study of the subject and not as a listing of possible questions. It is YOUR responsability to cover the materials listed here on the lecture textbook and your notes.
I would strongly recommend that you peruse your notes for completeness of information: some concepts have been expressed with much more detail in class than are explained on the book, and you are responsible for that; know what the key terms and concepts are (see the list at the end of each chapter on your textbook); exercise with the questions for review also found at the end of each chapter.
Read the summary at the end of each chapter, try to answer review questions, try to work with other students if you find it useful.
Never hesitate to ask me questions in class or during the lab
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| Study Guide, part 1: lecture | Last Updated • June 24, 2008 |
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Chapter 1 - Introducing Geology, the Essential of Plate Tectonics, and Other Important Concepts
Read and review the whole chapter. While there will not be direct questions on a few paragraphs, you need to grasp the meaning of every concept.
- Read the Introduction
- Read Who needs Geology
- Know Earth Systems
- Know An Overview of Physical Geology - important concepts, and in particular:
- know the concept and the mechanisms of internal and external heat engines
- know what convection is and how it works
- know Earth's layer, from both the physical and the chemical point of view, and how they differ one from the other
- be able to explain how do we know about them
- know about the magnetic field of Earth
- know plate tectonics, name and location of the main plates
- know all kinds of plate boundaries, and what happens at each one of them
- Know the three kinds of rocks and their origin
- Know Geologic Time: be aware of the immensity of geologic time
Chapter 2 - Atoms, Elements, and Minerals
- Read the Introduction
- Know Minerals
- Know Atoms and Elements; the atomic structure, why atoms bond, and how (kinds of bond)
- Know about ions, isotopes, atomic number and atomic mass
- Include section "Earth Systems, 2.1" at page 33 on oxygen isotopes and climate change
- Include section "Earth Systems, 2.2" at page 36 on elements of Earth's crust
- Include section "Earth Systems, 2.4" at page 40 on clay minerals
- Know about polar molecules, stable and unstable (radioactive) isotopes
- Know the main mineral groups present in Earth's crust
- Know about silicon tetrahedra, how they bond, why they are stable or unstable; know what kind of minerals with silicon tetrahedra have what structure
- Know what defines a mineral and the most important ones
- Know the rough composition of minerals (mafic vs. silicic) but know the chemical formulas of
- quartz SiO2
- olivine (Fe,Mg)2SiO4
- calcite CaCO3
- Read Variations in Mineral Structures and Compositions
- Read The Physical Properties of Minerals and know color: there will be no direct questions on the other properties listed in this paragraph but be sure to read it for completeness of information and to improve comprehension of the study material.
- Know The Many Conditions of Mineral Formation
Chapter 3 - Igneous Rocks, Intrusive Activity, and the Origin of Igneous Rocks
- Know the Introduction
- Know the Rock Cycle
- Know Igneous Rocks
- Know the diagram of Fig. 3.6, page 60, or Fig. 3.7, page 63 (which shows rock pictures)
- Notice and study the variation in texture and color in the six sample rocks of Fig. 3.7
- Use the previous figures together with Table 3.1, page 62
- Know Intrusive Bodies (both shallow and deep)
- Know Abundance and Distribution of Plutonic Rocks
- Know How Magma forms
- Study figures 3.18 and 3.19, page 70, and their meaning in terms of magma crystallization
- Know How Magmas of different Composition evolve (including Bowen's reaction series: there WILL be questions on it; study Fig. 3.20, page 71)
- Know Explaining Igneous Activity by Plate Tectonics
Chapter 4 - Volcanism and Extrusive Rocks
- Know the Introduction
- Know Pyroclastic Debris and Lava Flows
- Read Living with Volcanoes (we covered in particular "Growth of an Island" and "Effect on Climate")
- Know Extrusive Rocks and Gases, including composition and textures
- Know Extrusive Rocks (composition and the textures; see also Table 4.1, page 93)
- Know Types of Volcanoes (see also Table 4.2, page 97)
- Know Lava Floods
- Know Submarine Eruptions
Chapter 5 - Weathering and Soil
- Know the Introduction
- Know Weathering, Erosion and Transportation
- Know Weathering and Earth Systems
- Know How Weathering changes Rocks
- Know Effects of Weathering
- Know everything about Mechanical and Chemical Weathering; be sure you know what the most important agents for both kinds are; be sure to know the consequences of both kinds of weathering on different rocks, and what the most common weathering products are
- Review Table 5.1 - Chemical equations Important to Weathering. I will not ask you chemical equations but you need to know what happens during weathering and what products are left after (see previous point)
- Know all about Soils; be sure to know also about the properties of clay minerals
- Read section "Earth Systems, 5.1" at page 126 on weathering, the carbon cycle, and global climate
- Read section "Earth Systems, 5.2" at page 131 on aluminum and bauxite Al(OH)3
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