GENERAL GEOLOGY 1113-005 Fall 2008

Partial Examination I Study Guide Dr. Glen S. Mattioli Note that these are NOT questions, but rather are a list of topics that we have covered either in class or are contained within the reading assignments. You should use this list as a guide to help you review what topics are important for the exam.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Physical Geology

1) Why study geology? a. Natural hazards b. Resources c. Environmental protection d. Understanding the Earth and Solar system 2) Earths heat engine a. Sources of internal heat b. Convection 3) Earths interior a. Lithosphere b. Asthenosphere c. Core, Mantle, Crust 4) Plate Tectonics a. Plate boundary types b. Continental Drift c. Relationship of volcanism and seismicity to plate tectonics 5) Erosion a. External heat 6) Geologic Time 7) Scientific Method

Chapter 2: Atoms, Elements, and Minerals

1) Atomic vs. mesoscopic scales 2) Minerals a. Crystalline structure b. Chemical formula c. Natural occurrence 3) Basic atomic structure a. Elements vs. atoms b. Nucleus: protons and neutrons c. Electrons

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d. Atomic mass number e. Atomic weight f. Atomic/ionic radii Periodic Table a. Isotopes b. Isobars c. Periods d. Families e. Chemical affinity Bonding a. Ions and ionic bonding b. Covalent bonds c. Hybrid bonds d. Bohr atomic model e. Shells vs. orbitals Chemical composition of the crust a. Element distribution by weight/volume b. Important crustal minerals Crystal structures a. Silicon tetrahedron b. Common silicate structures (e.g. chains, sheets, etc.) Physical properties of minerals a. Color b. Hardness c. Streak d. Luster e. External form f. Cleavage vs. fracture g. Density/Specific gravity Modern diagnostic tests a. X-rays b. Chemical tests

Chapter 3: Igneous Rocks, Intrusive Activity, and the Origin of Igneous Rocks
1) Relationship of magma genesis to plate tectonics 2) Origin of crystalline rocks from magma 3) Igneous rock textures a. Identification b. Relationship to mode of occurrence c. Cooling 4) Identification and Classification a. Chemistry

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b. Texture c. Mineralogy d. Common rock types and their characteristics Intrusive bodies a. Types (e.g. plutons, dikes, sills) b. Concordant vs. discordant structures c. Diapirs and batholiths Magma formation a. Geothermal gradients in the earth b. Mantle plumes c. Factors that can control melting: changes in T, P, and volatiles Magma differentiation and evolution a. Eutectic melting (partial melting) b. Bowens simple sequence of crystallization of a basalt c. Assimilation d. Magma mixing Plate tectonic associations a. MORBs b. Andesites c. Flood basalts

Chapter 4: Volcanism and Extrusive Rocks

1) Volcanism and its impact on humans a. Direct hazards of flows b. Growth of islands such as Hawaii c. Geothermal energy d. Impact on climate (e.g. Pinatubo, Tambora) e. Volcanic fatalities 2) Eruption processes a. Mt. St. Helens lateral blast b. Crater Lake caldera collapse c. Pyroclastic flow generation (Soufriere Hills, Montserrat) d. Volatiles and gases 3) Extrusive Rocks a. Textures b. Compositions 4) Types of volcanoes a. Plate tectonic environment b. Morphology of different types c. Common eruption type for each 5) Effusive vs. Explosive eruptions a. Causes b. Consequences c. Andesite domes

d. Basaltic lava floods 6) Volcanic landforms and structures a. Pillow basalts b. Columnar jointing c. Lava tubes

Chapter 5: Weathering and Soil

1) Definitions a. Weathering b. Erosion c. Transportation d. Relationship to rock cycle 2) Main processes a. Mechanical weathering b. Chemical weathering 3) Effects of weathering a. Surface area to volume b. Spheroidal weathering in igneous rocks c. Differential weathering due to rock type/climate 4) Mechanical weathering a. Frost action b. Pressure release/exfoliation c. Plant growth 5) Chemical weathering a. Oxidation b. Dissolution by weak acids c. CO2 equilibria relationship to fossil fuels and acid rain d. Feldspar example to form clays e. Residual concentration of minerals 6) Role of climate a. Temperature b. Humidity 7) Soils a. Definitions vary based on usage b. Residual soil horizons c. Ion exhange between inorganic minerals and plants d. Residual vs. transported soils e. Soil orders and US Soil map f. Major soil types 8) Controls on soil formation a. Protolith b. Time c. Climate d. Slope

Chapter 6: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

1) Definition of sediment a. Main sediment size fractions b. Relationship to clastic rock types 2) Effects of transportation a. Sorting b. Rounding 3) Deposition a. Environments b. Preservation of sediments c. Basins 4) Lithification a. Role of pore space b. Compaction due to overburden c. Cementation d. Resulting textures 5) Main sedimentary rock types a. Clastic b. Chemical c. Organic 6) Clastic rocks a. Breccia vs. conglomerate b. Sandstone types c. Sediment type and relationship to source d. Turbidity currents settling of grains e. Compaction of shale volume loss 7) Chemical rocks a. Limestone b. Carbonate environments c. Marl d. Chert e. Source and type of microfossils f. Dolomite g. Evaporates 8) Organic rocks a. Coal b. Environment of deposition c. Source of organic materials in coal 9) Sedimentary structures a. Bedding b. Principle of original horizontal deposition c. Superposition d. Cross-bedding definition and common environments

e. Graded bedding definition and mechanism of formation f. Mud cracks g. Ripple marks h. Fossils and imprints 10) Sedimentary Formations a. Source area and rock type b. Common environments of deposition c. Facies maps and interpretation d. Relationship to tectonics

Chapter 7: Metamorphism, Metamorphic Rocks, and Hydrothermal Rocks

1) Definitions related to metamorphism a. T/P relationship to igneous processes b. Development of new fabrics c. Growth of new minerals 2) Factors controlling metamorphic characteristics a. Composition of parent rock (protolith) b. Temperature c. Pressure d. Fluids e. Time 3) Differential stress vs. hydrostatic stress a. Definition of hydrostatic stress b. Compressive stress c. Shear stress d. Development of metamorphic fabrics 4) Classification of metamorphic rocks a. Non-foliated types (e.g. marble, quartzite, hornfels) b. Foliated types (e.g slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss) 5) Types and characteristics of metamorphic environments a. Contact b. Regional c. Shock d. Hydrothermal e. Conditions of metamorphism prograde vs. retrograde f. Metamorphic grade g. Relationship to tectonics 6) Hydrothermal environments and processes a. Veins b. Source of fluids c. Fluid transport and convection d. Relationship to ore formation