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GEOL 1 - Physical Geology

Exam # 1 Study Guide - Summer 2010

exam date: Thursday, July 1, 2010

Professor: Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D.

 
General InformationLast Updated  •  June 28, 2010    
PLEASE NOTE:
Cellular phones, iPods, Blackberries, Bluetooth, headphones, computers or, in general, ANY KIND of electronic device CAN NOT be used during the test. All electronic devices MUST BE TURNED OFF: if a cell phone rings or a device is turned while in the class during test time, you will not be allowed to finish your test and your result will be invalidated.

You can not use any dictionary, pocket calculator, flash card, or any source of information other than your brain.

You will ONLY need to bring:

  1. one Scantron, Form 882-E
  2. a number 2 pencil
  3. 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 personal responsability to cover the materials listed below on the lecture textbook, on the web pages, and on your notes.

I would strongly recommend that you peruse your notes for completeness of information: some information that has been detailed in class is only mentioned briefly on the textbook, and you are responsible for covering 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 ("Testing Your Knowledge") also found at the end of each chapter. Read the summary at the end of each chapter.
Never hesitate to ask me questions in class or during the lab

ammonites
Jurassic ammonites from the Ammonitic Red Formation (Italian Alps)
used as a decorative stone in Bologna, Italy

 
Study GuideLast Updated  •  June 28, 2010    
Chapter 1 - Introducing Geology, the Essentials of Plate Tectonics, and Other Important Concepts
Review and study the whole chapter. There will not be direct questions out of a few paragraphs, but you still need to grasp the meaning of every concept.

  1. Read the Introduction
  2. Read Who Needs Geology
  3. Know Earth Systems
  4. Know An Overview of Physical Geology - important concepts
    Know the whole paragraph and in particular:
    • Know Earth's layers, 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 about sources of heat and energy on Earth
    • Know about convection, 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
  5. Know Geologic Time: be aware of the immensity of geologic time

Chapter 19 - Plate Tectonics

  1. Read the Introduction
  2. Know The Early Case for Continental Drift
  3. Read Paleomagnetism and the Revival of Continental Drift
  4. Know Seafloor Spreading
  5. Know Plates and Plate Motion
  6. Read How Do We Know That Plates Move?
    We did not talk about Magnetism but we did talk about the Seafloor Age (Fig. 19.17, page 503)
  7. Know Divergent Plate Boundaries
  8. Know Transform Plate Boundaries
  9. Know Convergent Plate Boundaries
  10. Know The Motion of Plate Boundaries
  11. Know Plate Size
  12. Know The Attractiveness of Plate Tectonics
  13. Read What Causes Plate Motions?, BUT Know the paragraph Mantle Plumes and Hot Spots
  14. Know A Final Note

Chapter 2 - Atoms, Elements, and Minerals

  1. Read the Introduction
  2. Know Minerals
    Know in particular:
    • Atoms and elements; the atomic structure, why atoms bond, and how (kinds of bond)
    • Know about valence (oxidation number), ions, isotopes, atomic number and atomic mass
    • Include section "Earth Systems 2.1" on stable isotopes, page 33
    • Include section "In Greater Depth 2.2" on elements in Earth's crust, page 36
    • Include section "Environmental Geology 2.4" on clay minerals, page 40
    • Know about polar molecules, stable and unstable (radioactive) isotopes
    • Know the eight most abundant element of Earth's crust, and their relative importance
    • Know the main mineral groups present in Earth's crust
    • Know about silicon tetrahedra, what they are, how they bond, why they are stable or unstable; know what kind of structure pertains to different groups of silicates
    • Know what defines a mineral and the most important ones; know the chemical formulas of quartz, olivine and calcite
  3. Be sure to take a look at Table 2.1, page 42 for a review of minerals names, minerals groups, and relative chemical formulas.
  4. Read Variations in Mineral Structures and Compositions (we discussed in particular the structure and formation of the mineral olivine)
  5. Read The Physical Properties of Minerals but know the section on Color.
  6. Know The Many Conditions of Mineral Formation
  7. Read section "In Greater Depth 2.7, page 50" on the molecule of water.

Chapter 3 - Igneous Rocks, Intrusive Activity and the Origin of Igneous Rocks

  1. Read the Introduction
  2. Know The Rock Cycle
  3. Know Igneous Rocks
    Among other things:
    • Know the diagram of Fig. 3.6, page 60, and/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
    • Read section "In Greater Depth 3.1" on Pegmatites, page 61
  4. Know Intrusive Bodies (both shallow and deep)
  5. Know Abundance and Distribution of Plutonic Rocks
  6. Know How Magma Forms
  7. Know How Magmas of Different Composition Evolve (including Bowen's reaction series: there WILL be questions on it; study Fig. 3.20, page 71)
  8. Know Explaining Igneous Activity by Plate Tectonics

Do not forget to check the webpage with the images of the most common Igneous Rock Textures,
 
 

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