Santa Monica College Earth Science

GEOL 4 - Physical Geology (with Lab)

Exam # 3: Study Guide - Summer 2017

exam date: Thursday, July 20, 2017, 8:30 AM

Professor: Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D.
 
General InformationLast Updated  •  July 15, 2017
PLEASE NOTE:
Cellular phones, iPods, Blackberries, Bluetooth, headphones, computers, pocket calculators, dictionaries, translators 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, 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 can not use any text, notes, dictionary, pocket calculator, flash card, or any source of information other than 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 responsibility to cover the materials listed below in the lecture textbook, in the lab textbook, in the web pages, and in 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.


lava beds national monument

cross-bedded volcanic tuff from Lava Beds National Monument, California


 
Study Guide, part 1 of 2: lectureLast Updated  •  July 15, 2017
I strongly recommend that you always review the sections "Terms to Remember" and "Testing Your Knowledge" found at the end of each textbook chapter.

Chapter 7 - Metamorphism, Metamorphic Rocks, and Hydrothermal Rocks

  1. Read the Introduction
  2. Know Metamorphism
  3. Know the 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)
  4. Know Classification of Metamorphic Rocks (see also Table 7.1, page 163)
    • Know what marble, quartzite and hornfels are
    • Know what slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss and migmatite are
  5. Know Types of Metamorphism
  6. Know Metamorphic Grade. Make sure to know the progradation observed in fig. 7.18, page 170
  7. Know Plate Tectonics and Metamorphism
  8. Know Hydrothermal Processes, including Metasomatism and Hydrothermal Rocks and Minerals (see also Figures 7.19 and 7.20, page 186)
  9. Know Table 7.3, Hydrothermal Processes

Chapter 8 - Time and Geology

  1. Know the introduction

  2. Know The Key to the Past
    • Know who Nicolaus Steno, James Hutton, Charles Lyell, Charles Darwin, William Smith, and Albert Oppel 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).

  3. 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 the three different ways used for to correlate
    • Know in particular the use of Fossils, the Principle of Faunal Succession, and the concepts of Index Fossil and 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 (figure 8.24, page 199)
      • review the section "Earth Systems 5.1", page 191, Highlights of the Evolution of Life through Time

  4. 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

  5. Know Combining Relative and Numerical Ages

  6. 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 the introduction

  2. Know Mass Wasting

  3. Know Controlling Factors in Mass Wasting
    This is the most important section of this chapter

  4. Know Classification 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
 
Study Guide, part 2 of 2: LabLast Updated  •  July 15, 2017

Lab Chapter 6 - Sedimentary Processes, Rocks and Environments
Know the whole chapter and all activities

Lab Chapter 7 - Metamorphic Rocks, Processes, and resources
Know the whole chapter and all activities


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