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GEOL 5 - Earth History (with Lab)

Exam # 3 Study Guide - Spring 2017

exam date: Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Professor: Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D.

 
General InformationLast Updated  •  May 5, 2017    
PLEASE NOTE:
  • You CAN NOT USE cellular phones, iPods, Blackberries, Bluetooth, headphones, computers, pocket calculators, translators or, in general, ANY KIND of electronic device during the test.
    All electronic devices MUST BE TURNED OFF: if a cell phone rings, or if a device is on 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 other source of information than your brain.

  • You will NOT need a ruler or a blue book 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.

  • On this study guide, there is no additional or extra information compared to what has been said, discussed, shown, illustrated in class.

  • It is YOUR personal responsibility to cover the materials listed below on the lecture textbook, on the lab textbook, on "Fossil Ecosystems of North America", 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 three textbooks, and you are responsible for covering that; know what the key terms and the 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.

Cambrian oncolites from the Marble Mountains, California
Cambrian oncolites from the Chambless Formation, Marble Mountains, California

 
Study Guide: part 1 - readings from "Fossil Ecosystems of North America"Last Updated  •  May 5, 2017    

There will be a few questions out of Fossil Ecosystems of North America.
Refer to the familiar assignments list for a review.

Only materials from the following chapters will be in this test:

  • The Burgess Shale
  • Beecher's Trilobite Bed
  • The Bertie Waterline
  • Gilboa
  • Mazon Creek

You will not be quizzed on previous chapters. The remaining chapters will be included in the last test.
 
Study Guide: part 2 - LECTURELast Updated  •  May 5, 2017     

Chapter 5 - Sedimentary Environments

You need to know the main characteristics of all sedimentary environments, and be able to reason in terms of what sediments (and, as a consequence, what sedimentary rocks) characterize each one of these environments. Do not simply think of the lithology but, when possible, reason also with such parameters as color, sedimentary structures, compositional maturity, roundness, sorting, sequences, etc. Take into account the concepts expressed by Walther's Law. This means, as you know, that if you have a sequence of pelagic limestones and shales, you can not suddenly find a continental deposit (the sequence changes step by step, from one environment to the next); if you find a sudden change in the sequence, it very likely implies the presence of an unconformity. An unconformity means a time gap: something is missing, whether it was never deposited (paraconformity) or it was deposited and subsequently eroded (the other three unconformities).

  1. Know the introduction
  2. Know Nonmarine Environments
  3. Know Marginal Marine and Open Shelf Environments
  4. Know Deep-Sea Environments

Chapter 6 - Correlation and Dating of the Rock Record

This paragraph is fully integrated by the web pages on stratigraphy. Be sure to study parts 1 through 7. Also, do not forget to check both the powerpoint and the illustrated stratigraphy page on the web.

  1. Know the Geologic Time Scale
  2. Know Stratigraphic Units
  3. Review the Geologic Time Scale
  4. Review Stratigraphic Units
  5. Know Earth's Absolute Age; review the Numerical Time powerpoint
  6. Know Event Stratigraphy
Some concepts may have been discussed in class only. Refer to your notes. This is one of the most important chapters of the book. Expect detailed questions out of this, and be able to apply the concepts expressed in this section to chapters.


 
Study Guide: part 3 - LABLast Updated  •  May 5, 2017     

Chapter 4 - Ancient Sedimentary Environments
This chapter reviews chapter 5 on your textbook, with the addition of Sedimentary Structures and Color, that we have seen in previous chapters. Be sure to review the illustrations on the sedimentary structures and color page on the web.

  1. Know Environments of Deposition
  2. Know Bedding and Related Features
  3. Know Color
Make sure to check the key to this lab.


Chapter 5 - Tectonic Setting
This is the most complex lab among the ones that will be on the test.

  1. Know Tectonic Settings
  2. Know the Tectonic Setting - Sedimentary Rock Connection
  3. Know Facies and Association of Beds
  4. Know Summary of Association and Settings
  5. Be prepared to answer questions on the style of those of the lab
Make sure to check the key to this lab.


Chapter 6 - Sea-Floor Spreading and Plate Tectonics

Skip this chapter. Part of this lab will be included in the next test. There will be no questions out of this chapter on this test.


Chapter 7 - Age Relations and Unconformities
This lab reviews the basic concepts of relative dating and of unconformities. Be sure to review the illustrated unconformities page on the web.

  1. Know Criteria for Age Relations
  2. Skip The Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses
  3. Know Unconformity
  4. Skip Episodes of Precambrian History
Make sure to check the key to this lab.


Chapter 8 - Rock Units and Time-Rock Units
Chapter 8 will not be included in this test. Still, materials from Chapter 8 is also discussed on your textbook and online as part of this test. It might be useful to review the main concepts before the test.


Chapter 9 - Ancient Shorelines

  1. Know what paleogegraphy is, and how it is possible to reconstruct it with the aid of isopach maps; what isopach lines are; how an isopach map is different from a facies map
  2. Know what a facies is
  3. Be sure to understand what a map such as that of fig. 9.1 page 89 means and how it works; know the answer to, among others, question 2 on the same page
  4. Know what transgression and regression are
  5. Know what Walther's Law says
  6. Know what formations and groups are (rock units, or lithostratigraphic units; see also lab manual chapter 8 and your textbook)
Make sure to check the key to this lab.


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