Santa Monica College Earth Science

GEOL 1 - Physical Geology

Exam # 3 Study Guide - Summer 2014

exam date: Thursday, July 31, 2014 - 8:00 AM

Professor: Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D.
 
General InformationLast Updated  •  July 24, 2014
PLEASE NOTE:
Cellular phones, iPods, Blackberries, Bluetooth, headphones, computers, pocket calculators, dictionaries, translators or, in general, ANY KIND of electronic device CANNOT be used during the test.
All electronic devices MUST BE TURNED OFF: if a cell phone rings, if a light is visible, or a device is on while in class during test time, you will not be allowed to finish your test and your result will be invalidated.

You cannot use any text, manual, note, dictionary, pocket calculator, flash card, or any other source of information except your brain. You will NOT need a ruler for this test.

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.
There is no additional information compared to what has been said, discussed, shown, illustrated in class.
It is YOUR personal responsability to cover the materials listed below on the lecture textbook, on the lab 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 textbooks, 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 both your textbook and your lab manual); exercise with the questions for review also found at the end of each chapter. Review the materials from your quizzes.
Read the summary at the end of each chapter, try to answer review questions, try to work with other fellow students if you find it useful.
Never hesitate to ask me questions in class or during the lab.

ammonites
Jurassic ammonites from the Ammonitic Red Formation of the Italian Alps


 
Textbook chaptersLast Updated  •  July 24, 2014

Chapter 7 - Metamorphism, Metamorphic Rocks, and Hydrothermal Rocks

  1. Know the Introduction

  2. Know Factors Controlling the Characteristics of Metamorphic Rocks
    • know the difference between confining pressure and differential stress
    • know what foliation is (and do not confuse foliation with fissility, typical of shale, a clastic sedimentary rock)

  3. Know Classification of Metamorphic Rocks (see also Table 7.1, page 176, 12th ed.)
    • Know what marble, quartzite and hornfels are
    • Know what slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss and migmatite are (see also Figure 7.14, page 182, 12th ed.)

  4. Know Types of Metamorphism

  5. Know about Plate Tectonics and Metamorphism (see also Figure 7.17, page 184, 12th ed.)

  6. Know Hydrothermal Processes, including Metasomatism and Hydrothermal Rocks and Minerals (see also Figures 7.19 and 7.20, page 186, 12th ed.).
  7. Know Table 7.3 (page 186, 12th ed.), Hydrothermal Processes

Also, do not forget to check out rock texture and appearance on the Rocks web page


Chapter 8 - Time and Geology

  1. Know The Key to the Past
    • Know who Steno, Hutton, Lyell and Darwin were and what was their contribution to geology (an extended guide to this can be found on the web site, on the stratigraphy pages. You do not need to study or know all of this section: just refer to the basic facts concerning the four scientist cited above and discussed during lecture).

  2. Know Relative Time
    Among other things:
    • Know the Introduction
    • Know the difference between Relative Age and Numerical Age
    • Review (from chapter 6) what contacts and Formations are
    • Know the three Principles of Steno, and who Steno was
    • Know the other two Principles: cross-cutting relationships and inclusions
    • Know what Unconformities are, and the three kinds we described (You can skip the term of Paraconformity, but still know it is a possible kind of unconformity). Check out the web site page on unconformities
    • Know Correlation, and how we proceed to correlate
    • Know in particular the use of Fossils, the Principle of Faunal Succession, what is an Index Fossil, what is a Fossil Assemblage
    • Know the Standard Geologic Time Scale:
      • know the difference between periods of time and the rocks that represent those periods of time
      • know names and relative order of Eons (Eonothems), Eras (Erathems) and Periods
      • know numerical ages for the Precambrian / Phanerozoic boundary, and for the Paleozoic / Mesozoic and Mesozoic / Cenozoic boundaries. Use Figure 8.24, page 214, 12th ed. for reference. (Systems)

  3. Know Numerical Age
    Read the whole paragraph, but know in particular:
    • about radioactive isotopes (not the single couples parent - daughter but the concept of radioactivity and radioactive decay)
    • about parent and daughter isotopes, and the concept of half-life
    • be able to calculate numerical ages using simple math, when you know the amounts of P, D and the half-life of an isotope. You are supposed to know the half-life of 14C. If other isotopes will be used, I will provide you with the proper numbers.
    • about the differences in dating rocks and in dating organic materials: what do you use, why can you use it, how does it work and what are the orders of magnitude of time involved
    • about Uses of Isotopic Dating
    Review Figures 8.20 (page 208, 12th ed.) and 8.21 (page 209, 12th ed.). Know the concepts, but be aware that I will NOT ask direct questions out of them
    Know Figure 8.22 A (page 211, 12th ed.) and know the meaning of 8.22 B. There might be questions from 8.22.

  4. Know Combining Relative and Numerical Ages

  5. Know Age of the Earth
    Be able to use all the concepts you learned so far: for instance, can a Jurassic chert inclusion be found in a Triassic limestone? (answer: NO! Inclusions are always older than the rock that hosts them. The Jurassic Period is younger than Triassic Period, so you can not have a younger inclusion).

Chapter 9 - Mass Wasting

  1. Know Introduction to Mass Wasting

  2. Know Classification of Mass Wasting

  3. Know Controlling Factors in Mass Wasting

  4. Read and Know the basic facts of Common Types of Mass wasting.
    • Know what creep, earthflow, solifluction, permafrost, debris flow, mud flow, rockfall, rockslide and rock avalance are

  5. Know Underwater Landslides

  6. Know Preventing Landslides

Chapter 10 - Streams and Floods

  1. Know the Introduction and Earth Systems - The Hydrologic Cycle

  2. Know Running Water

  3. Know Drainage Basins

  4. Know Drainage Patterns

  5. Know Factors Affecting Stream Erosion and Deposition
    • Know Velocity
      • Be able to work with the graph of Figure 10.7 (page 253, 12th ed.) as seen in class.
    • Know Gradient
    • Know Channel Shape and Roughness
    • Know Discharge.
      • Be able to calculate discharge values using simple numbers, as seen in class examples.

  6. Know Stream Erosion

  7. Know Stream Transportation of Sediment

  8. Know Stream Deposition

  9. Skip Flooding. Jump to page 272 (12th ed.)

  10. Know Stream Valley Development

  11. Know Stream Terraces

  12. Know Incised Meanders


Chapter 11 - Ground Water

  1. Know the Introduction

  2. Know the Porosity and Permeability
    • Review your notes for these concepts, including the difference between primary porosity and secondary porosity)

  3. Know The Water Table

  4. Know The Movement of Ground Water

  5. Know Aquifers

  6. Know Wells

  7. Know Springs and Streams

  8. Skip Contamination of Ground Water. Go to page 296 (12th edition)

  9. Know Balancing Withdrawal and Recharge

  10. Know Effects of Groundwater Action

  11. Know Hot Water Underground



The Day the Mesozoic Died

You can find the movie on this page.

Among other things:

  1. Know about extinctions (from Chapter 8)
  2. Know about the K/T (or K/Pg) extinction
  3. Know about the evidence at the Gubbio (Italy) and Zumaya (Spain) sites
  4. Know about what Alvarez was looking for originally
  5. Know about the Alvarez's hypothesis after his father suggested to check the Iridium levels
  6. Know about the search for further evidence
  7. Know about the forams, the dinosaurs, the birds, the turtles, and other living organisms
  8. Know about the Brazos River (Texas) and Haiti sites
  9. Know about the new evidence beyond the boundary layer rich in Iridium
  10. Know about the Chicxulub, Yucatan (Mexico) crater
  11. Know about the Dakotas and Montana field areas

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© Alessandro Grippo, 1994-2014
Los Angeles, California