Santa Monica College Earth Science

GEOL 4 - Physical Geology (with Lab)

Exam # 1 Study Guide - Summer 2017

exam date: Thursday, June 29, 2017 - 8:00 AM

Professor: Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D.
 
General InformationLast Updated  •  June 25, 2017
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 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 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


Always check the sections "Terms to remember" and "Testing your knowledge" at the end of each chapter in your lecture book
 
Study Guide, part 1: lectureLast Updated  •  June 25, 2017
General Introduction
Two slides sets were discussed in class during the first two days. Those materials are integral part of the test. The following links will take you to those powerpoint presentations:

For a better view of the Geologic Time Scale, follow this link. You only need to know (memorize) the names of Eons, Eras, and Periods, and the numerical ages found in the left column. You do NOT need to know the names of Epochs or Ages, you do NOT need to know the numerical ages form the right column, you do NOT need to know the text that accompanies said figure on the website.

Chapter 1 - Introducing Geology, the Essentials of Plate Tectonics, and Other Important Concepts
Review and study the whole chapter. You need to grasp the meaning of every concept in this chapter

  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 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 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 Hot Spots, what they are, and what happens at those locations
      (consider the cases of Hawai'i and Yellowstone, for example)
    • 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 The Revival of Continental Drift
  4. Know Seafloor Spreading
  5. Know Plates and Plate Motion
  6. Readp How Do We Know That Plates Move?
  7. Know Divergent Plate Boundaries
  8. Know Transform Plate Boundaries
  9. Know Convergent Plate Boundaries
  10. Know Do Plate Boundaries Move?
  11. Know Can Plates Chgange In Size?
  12. Know The Attractiveness of Plate Tectonics
  13. Read What Causes Plate Motions? - except for the section Mantle Plumes and Hot Spots, which you should study and know well
  14. Read A Final Note

Chapter 2 - Atoms, Elements, and Minerals

  1. Read the Introduction
  2. Know Minerals and Rocks
  3. Know Atoms and Elements
    Know in particular:
    • Atoms and elements; the atomic structure, why atoms bond, and how (kinds of bond)
    • Know about ions, and isotopes, atomic number and atomic mass
    • Include section "Earth Systems 2.1" on stable isotopes, page 30
    • Include section "In Greater Depth 2.3" on elements in Earth's crust, page 33
    • Include section "Environmental Geology 2.5" on clay minerals, page 37
    • 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, 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 chemical formulas of quartz, olivine and calcite
  4. Know Variations in Mineral Structures and Compositions (we discussed in particular the structure and formation of the mineral olivine
  5. Know The Physical Properties of Minerals. These materials are also covered on the lab manual and you will be tested in detail on them during this exam. See the lab study guide down below.
  6. Know The Many Conditions of Mineral Formation
Know also:
  1. Earth Systems 2.1, Oxygen Isotopes and Climate Change, page 30
  2. In Greater Depth 2.3, Elements in the Earth, page 33
  3. Environmental Geology 2.5, Clay Minerals That Swell, page 37
  4. In Greater Depth 2.8, Water and Ice - Molecules and Crystals, page 46.

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 very well the diagram of Fig. 3.5, page 55
    • Notice and study the variation in texture and color in the six sample rocks of Fig. 3.5
    • Use the previous figures together with Table 3.1, page 61
    • Read section "In Greater Depth 3.1" on Pegmatites, page 57
  4. Know How Magma Forms
  5. Know How Magmas of Different Composition Evolve (including Bowen's reaction series: there WILL be questions on it; study Fig. 3.15, page 63)
  6. Know Intrusive Bodies (both shallow and deep)
  7. Know Abundance and Distribution of Plutonic Rocks
  8. Know Explaining Igneous Activity by Plate Tectonics
    • Know in particular Table 3.2, page 71

 
Study Guide, part 2: LabLast Updated  •  June 25, 2017

Review the general concepts at the beginning of the lab manual (no direct questions about these, but you need to refresh your background concepts), such as:
  • Measurement Units (page xix)
  • Mathematical Conversions (page xx) - you only need to remember the basic conversion factors for units of lengths an distances within the metric system

Chapter 1 - Filling your Geoscience Toolbox

While we did not do any exercise out of this chapter, there are a few basic concepts that you need to know and that were partially covered during lecture.

  1. Be able to use the metric system and to perform simple calculations, such as changing from meters to millimeters or kilometers or centimeters; from grams to kilograms; from liters to milliliters
  2. Know measurement units and the main conversion factors between feet and meters & miles and kilometers; liters and gallons; grams and pounds (NO CALCULATOR required for the exam, no calculator or cell phone allowed!)
  3. Know how to calculate an area and a volume; know how to measure and calculate velocity (speed) and density.

Chapter 2 - Plate Tectonics

Most of the materials from this chapter are discussed in greater depth in the textbook chapters.
You should know the whole chapter

  • Read the whole chapter
    1. Know the Introduction
    2. Know Where Are Plates Going?
    3. Read GPS - Global Positioning System
    4. Read Using GPS to Study Lithospheric Plate Motion
    5. Know What Do Hotspots Tell Us about Plate Motion?
    6. Know Exploring Basic Properties of Earth Materials
    7. Know Earth's Magnetism and Paleomagnetism
    8. Know Earthquakes and Plate Boundaries

    Lab Chapter 3 - Mineral Properties, Identification, and Uses

    You need to know this whole chapter. You will not be asked to identify minerals during this first test, but you might need, as part of a practical test, to show your ability to work with mineral properties:

    1. Know What Are Minerals?
    2. Know How Are Minerals Classified?"
    3. Know Mineral Structure: Crystallography
    4. Know What Are a Mineral's Chemical and Physical Properties?; (know this section very well!)
    5. Know Why Are Density and Specific Gravity Important?
    6. Know How Are Minerals Identified?
    7. Read What Is Mineral Dependency?
    8. Read What Are Conflict Minerals?
    9. Read How Are Ores and Precious Metals Weighed?


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