Study Sheet for Geology

1. Topics covered on Midterm 1
1. Overview & general Information ( Chap 1 and lectures)

i. Basic Rock cycle

ii. Earth formation – basic outline of earth

iii. Solar features – basic description of solar features

iv. Geologic Time Scale

2. Plate Tectonics (Chap 1 )

i. Basic concepts of plate tectonic theory

ii. Plate margins – Divergent, Convergent (subduction & collision), Transform (examples of each type of plate boundary)

3. Minerals (Chap 2)

i. Basic chemistry – elements vs. minerals vs. rocks, bonds, atoms, atomic number& mass, isotopes

ii. Definition of atom, element, mineral, rock

iii. Physical properties of minerals – hardness, cleavage, etc

iv. Mineral families (categories) – (silicates, carbonates) examples, know distinguishing compounds for family

4. Igneous Rocks and Volcanoes (Chap 3 &4)

i. How magma forms – what effects melting temp., relationship to plate tectonics differences between mafic and felsic magmas

ii. How magma crystallizes – grain size, Bowens’ reaction series, magma evolution

iii. Igneous rocks – what characteristics (texture, composition) represent, how to ID

iv. Intrusive festures – tabular plutons vs batholiths

v. Volcanoes – difference between mafic/felsic lavas, eruptions, products & volcanoes

vi. Volcanic hazards and predicting eruptions/preventing loss of life

5. Weathering (Chap 5)

i. Chemical vs Mechanical – examples of each what controls rate of weathering

ii. Products of weathering – dissolved ions, clay, etc.

Hints

Know basic chemical symbols for common elements in magma solutions

Know ten global orogenic belts