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Geology

This survey course covers the fundamentals of geology and earth science, helping students understand how the Earth was formed and the forces shaping its continued evolution. It also introduces students to how geological resources are used in human civilization. Key topics include rock and mineral formation; weathering and soil formation; plate tectonics; Earth’s interior; crustal deformation; earthquakes and volcanoes; mass movement; hydrology; and applications of resources for human use.

Geology Geosciences

Author: Lumen Learning
Publisher: Lumen Learning
Source: LibreTexts
License: CC BY
Language: EN
Category: Basic Sciences

Read online Download PDF (open licence)

Contents· 224 sections

01: Science of Geology
1.01: Why It Matters- Science of Geology
1.02: Outcome- What is Geology
1.03: Reading- The Science of Geology
1.04: Reading- The Branches of Geology
1.05: Self Check- What is Geology
1.06: Outcome- Scientific Processes in Geology
1.07: Reading- The Nature of Science
1.08: Self Check- Scientific Processes in Geology
1.09: Outcome- Scientific Tools
1.10: Reading- Geologic Tools
1.11: Reading- Maps
1.12: Video- Exploring Topographic Maps
1.13: Reading- Location and Direction
1.14: Reading- Scientific Models
1.15: Reading- Geologic Modelling
1.16: Self Check- Scientific Tools
1.17: Putting It Together- Science of Geology
1.18: Assignment- Science of Geology
02: Rock Forming Minerals
2.01: Why It Matters- Rock Forming Minerals
2.02: Outcome- Chemistry of Minerals
2.03: Reading- The Building Blocks of Matter
2.04: Reading- Atomic Bonds
2.05: Self Check- Chemistry of Minerals
2.06: Outcome- Identifying Minerals
2.07: Reading- Physical Characteristics of Minerals
2.08: Reading- Classifying Minerals
2.09: Self Check- Identifying Minerals
2.10: Outcome- Most Common Elements
2.11: Reading- Abundance of Elements in Earths Crust
2.12: Reading- Silicate Minerals and the Silicate Tetrahedron
2.13: Self Check- Most Common Elements
2.14: Putting It Together- Rock Forming Minerals
2.15: Assignment- Rock Forming Minerals
03: Rocks and the Rock Cycle
3.01: Why It Matters- Rocks and the Rock Cycle
3.02: Outcome- Igneous Rocks
3.03: Reading- Characteristics of Igneous Rocks
3.04: Reading- How Are Igneous Rocks Classified
3.05: Reading- Identifying Igneous Rocks
3.06: Reading- Uses of Igneous Rocks
3.07: Self Check- Igneous Rocks
3.08: Outcome- Sedimentary Rocks
3.09: Reading- Characteristics of Sedimentary Rocks
3.10: Self Check- Sedimentary Rocks
3.11: Outcome- Metamorphic Rocks
3.12: Reading- Characteristics of Metamorphic Rocks
3.13: Video- Identifying Metamorphic Rocks
3.14: Self Check- Metamorphic Rocks
3.15: Putting It Together- Rocks and the Rock Cycle
04: Weathering and Soil Formation
4.01: Why It Matters- Weathering and Soil Formation
4.02: Outcome- Weathering and Erosion
4.03: Reading- What Is Weathering
4.04: Reading- Mechanical Weathering
4.05: Reading- Chemical Weathering
4.06: Reading- Influences on Weathering
4.07: Self Check- Weathering and Erosion
4.08: Outcome- Soil Profiles and Types
4.09: Reading- Soil Texture and Composition
4.10: Reading- Soil Horizons and Profiles
4.11: Reading- Types of Soils
4.12: Self Check- Soil Profiles and Types
4.13: Outcome- Soil Conservation
4.14: Reading- Causes of Soil Erosion
4.15: Video- The Dust Bowl
4.16: Reading- Avoiding Soil Loss
4.17: Self Check- Soil Conservation
4.18: Putting It Together- Weathering and Soil Formation
4.19: Assignment- Weathering and Soil Formation
05: Plate Tectonics
5.01: Why It Matters- Plate Tectonics
5.02: Outcome- Continental Drift
5.03: Reading- Continental Drift
5.04: Reading- Wegener and the Continental Drift Hypothesis
5.05: Self Check- Continental Drift
5.06: Outcome- The Theory of Plate Tectonics
5.07: Reading- Theory of Plate Tectonics
5.08: Reading- Developing the Theory
5.09: Self Check- The Theory of Plate Tectonics
5.10: Outcome- Geological Processes
5.11: Reading- Supercontinents
5.12: Reading- Volcanic Arcs
5.13: Video- Ocean Basins
5.14: Reading- Hot Spots
5.15: Self Check- Geological Processes
5.16: Putting It Together- Plate Tectonics
5.17: Assignment- Plate Tectonics
06: Earths Interior
6.01: Why It Matters- Earths Interior
6.02: Outcome- Layers of the Geosphere
6.03: Reading- Characteristics of the Crust
6.04: Reading- Characteristics of the Mantle
6.05: Reading- Characteristics of the Inner and Outer Core
6.06: Reading- The Lithosphere and Asthenosphere
6.07: Self Check- Layers of the Geosphere
6.08: Outcome- Understanding the Earths Interior
6.09: Reading- Studying the Earths Interior
6.10: Self Check- Understanding the Earths Interior
6.11: Putting It Together- Earths Interior
6.12: Assignment- Earths Interior
07: Crustal Deformation
7.01: Why It Matters- Crustal Deformation
7.02: Outcome- Stress and Strain
7.03: Reading- Stress In Earths Crust
7.04: Reading- Strain
7.05: Self Check- Stress and Strain
7.06: Outcome- Geologic Structures
7.07: Reading- Folds
7.08: Reading- Faults
7.09: Reading- Mountains
7.10: Self Check- Geologic Structures
7.11: Putting It Together- Crustal Deformation
08: Earthquakes
8.01: Why It Matters- Earthquakes
8.02: Outcome- Causes and Location of Earthquakes
8.03: Reading- The Nature of Earthquakes
8.04: Reading- Causes of Earthquakes
8.05: Reading- Common Locations of Earthquakes
8.06: Reading- The Ring of Fire
8.07: Self Check- Causes and Location of Earthquakes
8.08: Outcome- Types of Waves
8.09: Reading- Body Waves
8.10: Reading- Surface Waves
8.11: Self Check- Types of Waves
8.12: Outcome- Magnitude and Intensity
8.13: Reading- Measuring Earthquakes
8.14: Reading- Magnitude versus Intensity
8.15: Self Check- Magnitude and Intensity
8.16: Outcome- Earthquake Hazards and Prediction
8.17: Reading- Earthquake Hazards
8.18: Reading- Earthquake Prediction
8.19: Reading- Seismicity and Earthquake Prediction
8.20: Self Check- Earthquake Hazards and Prediction
8.21: Putting It Together- Earthquakes
8.22: Assignment- Earthquakes
09: Volcanoes
9.01: Why It Matters- Volcanoes
9.02: Outcome- Volcano Types
9.03: Reading- Types of Volcanoes
9.04: Reading- Types of Eruptions
9.05: Reading- Supervolcanoes
9.06: Self Check- Volcano Types
9.07: Outcome- The Formation of Volcanoes
9.08: Reading- Volcanoes at Plate Boundaries
9.09: Reading- Volcanoes Hotspots
9.10: Self Check- The Formation of Volcanoes
9.11: Outcome- Igneous Features
9.12: Reading- Pyroclastic Deposits
9.13: Reading- Dikes and Sills
9.14: Reading- Volcanic Landforms
9.15: Self Check- Igneous Features
9.16: Outcome- Volcanic Hazards
9.17: Reading- Volcanic Gases Pyroclastic Flow and Tephra
9.18: Reading- Lahars Landslides and Lavaflow
9.19: Self Check- Volcanic Hazards
9.20: Outcome- Monitoring Volcanoes
9.21: Reading- Signs of an Eruption
9.22: Reading- Tools to Monitor Volcanoes
9.23: Self Check- Monitoring Volcanoes
9.24: Putting It Together- Volcanoes
10: Mass Movement
10.01: Why It Matters- Mass Movement
10.02: Outcome- Types of Mass Movement
10.03: Reading- Slides
10.04: Reading- Falls
10.05: Reading- Slump and Creep
10.06: Self Check- Types of Mass Movement
10.07: Outcome- Driving and Resisting Forces
10.08: Reading- Natural Mass Wasting
10.09: Reading- Human Impact on Mass Wasting
10.10: Self Check- Driving and Resisting Forces
10.11: Putting It Together- Mass Wasting
10.12: Assignment- Mass Movement
11: Hydrology
11.01: Why It Matters- Hydrology
11.02: Outcome- The Hydrologic Cycle
11.03: Reading- Phases of the Hydrologic Cycle
11.04: Self Check- The Hydrologic Cycle
11.05: Outcome- Rivers and Streams
11.06: Reading- Types of Streams and Rivers
11.07: Reading- Drainage Basins
11.08: Reading- Geologic Processes and Flowing Water
11.09: Self Check- Rivers and Streams
11.10: Outcome- Components of Groundwater
11.11: Reading- Groundwater
11.12: Reading- Porosity and Permeability
11.13: Reading- Aquifers and Well-Potential
11.14: Reading- Groundwater Withdrawal
11.15: Reading- Quality of Groundwater
11.16: Self Check- Components of Groundwater
11.17: Outcome- Geologic Features
11.18: Reading- Karst Topography
11.19: Reading- Geysers
11.20: Reading- Springs
11.21: Self Check- Geologic Features
11.22: Outcome- Oceans and Shorelines
11.23: Reading- Ocean Movement
11.24: Reading- Shorelines
11.25: Reading- Coastal Hazards
11.26: Reading- Human Modifications of Coastal Processes
11.27: Self Check- Oceans and Shorelines
11.28: Putting It Together- Hydrology
11.29: Assignment- Hydrology
12: Geological Resources
12.01: Why It Matters- Geological Resources
12.02: Outcome- Rock and Mineral Resources
12.03: Reading- Ore Genesis
12.04: Reading- Petroleum
12.05: Reading- Natural Gas
12.06: Reading- Coal
12.07: Self Check- Rock and Mineral Resources
12.08: Outcome- Extraction of Resources
12.09: Reading- Mining
12.10: Reading- Effects of Mining
12.11: Self Check- Extraction of Resources
12.12: Outcome- Getting Energy from Resources
12.13: Reading- Earths Energy
12.14: Reading- Energy Consumption on Earth
12.15: Reading- Use and Conservation of Resources
12.16: Self Check- Getting Energy from Resources
12.17: Putting It Together- Geological Resources
12.18: Assignment- Geological Resources