Week 1 Readings

• Geology 208 Course Packet:
  • Plate Tectonics (Chapter 1), Minerals (Chapter 2) and Igneous Rocks (Chapter 3)
  • Lab 1 (A,B, & C)
• Handout:
  • Plate Tectonics: A Revolution in Geology by Barbara Murck (From optional text - if you do not have this a copy will be provided.

Optional Readings

• Chapters on Minerals from optional Geology a Self Teaching Guide (Chapter 2) or any basic Geology 101 book

Comments: The first two weeks we will be going over the basic geology of rocks, minerals and plate tectonics. This will be the foundation on which we build the geology of the NW over the remainder of the course, so be sure that you feel comfortable with the basic material that we are covering.

If you want more information on these topics (this week or anytime throughout the quarter), I'd suggest reading the appropriate chapters from Geology a Self Teaching Guide or any basic Geology 101 textbook (listed under Optional Readings above). There are several general geology 101 books on reserve in the Library under "Viens" and you can see me to sign out copies for a couple of days.

We will not start to read Northwest Exposures or The Restless Northwest until Week 3.

Week 2 Readings

• Geology 208 Course Packet:
  • Sedimentary (Chapter 4) & Metamorphic Rocks (Chapter 5)
  • Lab 3: Geologic Provinces of the Pacific Northwest
• Handout on Cougar Mountain for Thursday's Field Trip

Optional Readings

• Chapters on Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic rocks from Geology a Self Teaching Guide (Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8) or any basic Geology 101 book

Comments: See basic notes from week 1. Also be sure to read the fieldtrip background material before Thursday.

Week 3 Readings

• Handout for Thursday's Field Trip (if you are attending this trip)
• Northwest Exposures chapters 1-7

Optional Readings

• Chapter on Geologic Time and Volcanoes from Geology a Self Teaching Guide (Chapter 3 & 5) or any basic Geology 101 book
• The Restless Northwest chapter 3

Comments: This week we will start reading Northwest Exposures as we begin to explore the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest. This book covers a lot of area (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia) and we only have so much time in the class. So, for the most part, we will be looking at the geology of Washington and Oregon. However, all of the oldest rocks in the NW are in Idaho and Montana, so we will start out story in that part of the world.

Also if you are attending this weeks field trip, be sure to read the fieldtrip background material before Thursday.

Week 4 Readings

• Geology 208 Course Packet:
  • Chapter 6: Stratigraphy and Structures (p. 41-44) and Chapter 7: Maps (p. 45-49)
  • Terranes and The Growth of Western North America (p. A9-A26).
  • Lab 2 (p.69-76)
• Handout for Thursday Field Trip (if you are attending this trip)
• Northwest Exposures chapters 8-20

Optional Readings

• The Restless Northwest chapters 4-5
• Chapters on Structures (Folds and Faults) from Geology a Self Teaching Guide (Chapter 8) or any basic Geology 101 book

Comments: Since we will be mainly concentrating on Washington and Oregon, you do not have to read the chapters that specifically talk about major events in Montana. So you can consider those chapters as optional reading.

Also if you are attending this weeks field trip, be sure to read the fieldtrip background material before Thursday.

Week 5 Readings

• Geology 208 Course Packet:
  • Lab 4
• Handout for Thursday/Friday's Field Trips (if you are attending this trip)
• Northwest Exposures chapters 23-25, 40, 41

Optional Readings

• The Restless Northwest chapters 6-8

Comments: TBA

Also if you are attending this week's field trip(s), be sure to read the field trip background material before Thursday and/or Friday.

Week 6 Readings

• Geology 208 Course Packet:
  • Lab 6
  • Columbia Rive Plateau Readings (F7-13)
  • Radiocarbon Age Constraints...during the Last Glaciation (p. H7-H15).
• Handout for Thursday and Saturday Field Trips (if you are attending these trips)
• Northwest Exposures chapters 26, 27, 30-39, 42, 43

Optional Readings

• The Restless Northwest chapters 9

Comments: There is a fair amount of reading this week as we explore the major volcanic events of the Cenozoic. Be sure to get an early start, so you don't fall to far behind.

Also if you are attending this weeks field trip(s), be sure to read the fieldtrip background material before Thursday and/or Sunday. Note that the reading from the Course Packet on the Last Glaciation would be best to read before the field trip. This is a scientific journal article. I'm sure that it will be difficult to read - but I want you to get a feel for how these journal articles are written. As far as content goes, just try to get the big picture.

Week 7 Readings

• Geology 208 Course Packet:
  • Radiocarbon Age Constraints...during the Last Glaciation (p. H7-H15).
• Northwest Exposures chapters 44-53

Optional Readings

• The Restless Northwest chapters 10-12

Comments: This weeks readings are relatively light, since we will be wrapping up with project presentations. However, be sure to read up on the Ice Age and the final chapter in both books which deals with the future of Washington State.