Know These Facts and Concepts

I. Major Theories and Concepts in Geology (Ch 1)

A. The Scientific Method - The way scientists answer questions

Ø The various steps used in formulating a scientific theory

1. Pose a question about nature

2. Preliminary observations and data recording

3. Hypothesize an explanation

4. Test the hypothesis (more observations and data recording)

5. Re-Hypothesize and re-test

6. After years of intensive testing a Theory can be proposed

7. Theories are always open for further tests and challenges

B. Theories of the Origin of the Solar System

Ø Cold Accretion Theory

1. Accretion of interstellar cloud into solar nebula

2. Further accretion into a denser rotating disc

3. Formation of proto-sun and planetisimals

4. Final consolidation and differentiation of Sun and planets

around 4.6 billion years ago

C. Theories on the Differentiation of the Earth

Ø Early homogeneous Earth underwent separation of core & mantle

Ø Initiation of Plate Tectonics begins differentiation of crust from mantle

Ø Basics concepts concerning the Theory of Plate Tectonics

Ø Basic concepts concerning the Rock and Hydrologic Cycles

II. Basic Chemistry and Minerals (Chapter 2) (Know stuff marked in red)

A. Very General Chemistry

Ø Basic structure of an atom, atomic and mass number.

Ø Define an Element and describe the basics of the Periodic Table

Ø The three states of matter

Ø Define Ionic and Covalent chemical bonds

Ø Define Compound, mixture, solution, and alloy

B. Minerals

Ø Definition of a mineral

Ø Name the “BIG 8” rock-forming minerals

Ø Name several characteristics of a mineral

Ø Identify hand specimens of minerals (not part of this final)

III. Magmatism (Chapters 3 & 4)

Ø Definitions for magma and lava

Ø Identify earth’s major regions of active volcanism

1. Subduction zones, spreading centers, and hotspots

Ø The types of magma associated with each region of magmatism

Ø Name and describe the three types of volcanoes

Ø Volcanic eruption materials

Ø Types of underground intrusion features

Ø Several types of volcanic eruption warning signs

IV. Rocks and the Rock Cycle (Chapters 1, 3, 6 & 7)

Ø The 3 major types of Rocks

Ø The Rock Cycle processes

Ø Igneous Rocks

1. Two main groups – plutonic and volcanic

2. Three major types – mafic, intermediate, and felsic

3. Igneous rock origin and structures

Ø Sedimentary Rocks

1. Three main sedimentary classes – based on origin

2. The major rock types – like sandstone, shale, etc.

3. Sedimentary rock origin and structures

Ø Metamorphic Rocks

1. Two types of metamorphism – Contact and Regional

2. Classification - Foliated versus nonfoliated

3. Metamorphic rock origin, names, and textures

V. Resources (Chapters 2, 6 & 12)

Ø Two types- renewable and nonrenewable

Ø Explain what ores are and how they form

Ø Explain what a fossil fuel is and how it forms

Ø Types of fossil fuels

Ø Other types of energy sources including nuclear and alternative

VI. Weathering, Erosion and Mass Wasting (Chapters 5 & 14)

Ø Definition of Weathering

Ø Two types of weathering – name and general description

Ø Examples of each type, like ice wedging, and carbonation

Ø Factors that effect the rate of weathering

Ø Definition of Erosion

Ø Methods of Soil conservation

Ø Forms of slow and fast movement erosion, like landslide and creep

Ø Erosional landform features

VII. Geologic Time and the Age of the Earth (Chapter 8)

Ø The difference between relative and absolute time

1. How is relative time determined? Methods?

2. How is absolute time determined? Methods?

Ø The Principle of Uniformatarianism

1. The present is the key to the past

2. Geologic processes occurring today have been occurring for

billions of years in order to create the Earth of today

Ø The 5 Principles of Stratigraphy - Determining relative order of events

Ø How are fossils used in relative dating of rock units?

1. What is an Index fossil?

Ø Define and Explain Significance of Unconformities

1. Types of unconformities

2. How are they created?

Ø What is stratigraphic Correlation? Its usefulness?

Ø How is the Geologic Timescale organized?

Ø Identify the major Eras and Periods in the GTS

VIII. Earthquakes (Chapter 9)

Ø Define an earthquake

Ø Explain the elastic rebound theory

Ø Define and identify focus, epicenter, and fault zone

Ø The three major earthquake zones

Ø Types of seismic waves and their characteristics

Ø Locating an earthquake – use of S-P intervals and three stations

Ø Richter scale versus the Mercalli scale – magnitude versus intensity

Ø Explain how earthquakes create tsunamis

IX. Earth's Interior Design (Chapter 10)

Ø Identify, name, and order the major internal layers of the Earth

Ø Identify, name, and order the major internal boundaries in the Earth

Ø Describe the basic physical characteristics of each layer

1. Solid or liquid

2. General mineral/chemical composition

Ø Know the general behavior of seismic waves through the Earth

1. Gradual refraction (bending) within each layer

2. Abrupt refraction (bending) and reflection at internal boundaries

Ø What is the significance of the P- and S-wave shadow zones?

Ø What is the geothermal gradient?

Ø What are the two major internal heat sources of the Earth?

X. Plate Tectonics (Chapters 11 & 12)

Ø Explain Wegener’s Continental drift hypothesis

Ø Pangaea and Panthalassa and the last 200 million years

Ø Basic evidence for continental drift

Ø Describe the process of seafloor spreading

Ø Basic evidence for seafloor spreading

Ø Describe the process of subduction

Ø Basic evidence for subduction

Ø Summarize the theory of Plate Tectonics

Ø Name and describe the three types of plate boundaries

Ø The causes of plate motion

Ø Explain the theory of suspect terranes

XI. Deformation and Mountain Building of the Crust (Chapter 13)

Ø Define stress and strain – compare and relate the two

Ø The three general types of stress and its effect on the crust

1. Compression = Shortening and Thickening

2. Tension = Extending and Thinning

3. Shearing = Translation and Rotation

Ø Explain the concept of isostacy

Ø Describe the results of crustal stress – Folding and Faulting

1. Which type of stress creates folds?

2. Faults are created by which type(s) of stress?

3. Name and identify the three major types of faults

Ø Mountain-building at the plate boundaries – Unique for each type

1. The dominant stress regime associated with each plate boundary

2. The unique geologic structures found at each plate boundary

Ø Name and identify Earth's three major global mountain belts

Ø Name the four types of mountains

XII. Surface Waters and The Hydrologic Cycle (Chapter 15)

Ø Outline/illustrate the stages of the water cycle

Ø The component processes of the water cycle

Ø Define a water budget and some its factors

Ø Examples of water conservation methods

Ø River Systems – origin, description, and terms

1. Stream erosion – channel bank and bed erosion

2. Distinguish youthful, mature, old-age, and rejuvenated stages of

development

3. Define 1) Discharge and 2) Stream gradient

4. Stream deposition – deltas, alluvial fans, and flooding

5. Flood control

XIII. Groundwater (Chapter 16)

Ø Definitions of 1) Aquifer and 2) Aquiclude

Ø Factors that affect groundwater

1. Porosity, Permeability, and Sediment Sorting

Ø Zones of Groundwater – aeration, saturation, and water table

Ø Types of aquifers - normal, perched, and artesian

Ø Ordinary versus artesian wells and springs

Ø Development of Karst topography

1. Factors: rock type, climate, groundwater chemistry

2. Types of Karst features

XIV. Glaciers (Chapter 17)

Ø How do glaciers form?

Ø Name and compare the two types of glaciers – valley and continental

Ø Two types of ways that a glacier moves – basal and IPF

Ø Several ways that a glacier causes erosion

Ø Glacier erosion features

Ø Glacier depositional features

Ø Definition of an ice age

Ø Explain Milankovitch theory for the cause of an ice age.

XV. Shorelines and Deserts - Wind and Wave Processes (Ch 18 & 19)

Ø Waves generated by wind

Ø Interaction of wind waves and the shoreline

Ø Ways that waves erode a shoreline

Ø Longshore transport, ripcurrents, and sand migration

1. Longshore sand transport

2. Yearly cycle of beach sand depletion and replenishment

Ø Wave erosional features – cliffs, terraces, stacks, arches, etc.

Ø Wave depositional features – beaches, spits, barriers islands, etc.

Ø Human-generated shoreline erosion and structures

Note: desert processes not covered in this final

Ø Two ways that wind erodes the land – deflation and abrasion

Ø Wind erosion features – desert pavement and deflation hollows

Ø Wind deposition features – dunes and loess deposits