GEOL 116 MAJOR TOPICS

Chapter 1 - Understanding Earth

1. Geology's sub-disciplines
2. Geology's influence on humans
3. Earth/Solar System's early history
4. The nature of scientific inquiry
5. The Theory of Plate Tectonics
6. The Rock Cycle
7. Organic Evolution
8. Geologic Time & Uniformitarianism

Chapter 2 - Minerals

1. Atoms and Elements
2. Crystals
3. Minerals
4. Physical Properties of Minerals
5. Rock-forming Minerals
6. Silicates
7. Mineral Resources

Chapter 3 - Igneous Rocks and Intrusive Igneous Activity

1. Magma and Lava
2. Origin and Evolution of Magma
3. Bowen's reaction series
4. Classification of Igneous Rocks
5. Textures of Igneous Rocks
6. Plutons
7. Relationships between Plate Tectonics and Igneous Processes

Chapter 4 - Volcanism and Volcanoes

1. Products of Volcanism
2. Types of Volcanic Activity
3. Influence of Composition on Eruption Style
4. Types of Volcanoes
5. Predicting Volcanic Eruptions
6. Distribution of Volcanoes
7. Relationships between Plate Tectonics and Volcanic Activity

Chapter 5 - Weathering, Soil, and Sedimentary Rocks

1. Weathering and Erosion
2. Mechanical and Chemical Weathering
3. Composition of Soils
4. Formation of Sediments
5. Depositional Environments
6. Processes of Lithification
7. Characteristics of Common Sedimentary Rocks
8. Importance of Sedimentary Rocks
9. Resources of Sedimentary Rocks

Chapter 6 - Metamorphic Rocks

1. Metamorphic Environments
2. Agents of Metamorphism
3. Characteristics of Common Metamorphic Rocks
4. Metamorphic Index Minerals
5. Metamorphic Facies
6. Relationship between Plate Tectonics and Metamorphism
7. Metamorphic Resources

Chapter 7 - Earthquakes and Earth's Interior

1. Definition of Seismic Activity
2. Causes of Seismic Activity
3. Characteristics of Seismic Waves
4. Locating Earthquake Epicenters
5. Earthquake Intensity and Magnitude
6. Seismic Hazards
7. Relationship between Plate Tectonics and Seismic Activity
8. Earthquake Prediction
9. Characteristics of Earth's Interior
10. Sources of Information about Earth's Interior
11. Earth's Internal Heat
12. Seismic Tomography

Chapter 8 - The Seafloor

1. Composition & Structure of Oceanic Crust
2. Geography of Ocean Basins
3. Major Morphologic Features of Ocean Basins
4. Origin and Evolution of the Morphologic Features of the Seafloor
5. Continental Margins
6. Seafloor Spreading
7. Seafloor Sediments
8. Seafloor Hydrothermal Vents
9. Reefs
10. Seafloor Resources

Chapter 9 - Plate Tectonics

1. Continental Drift and its Evidence
2. Paleomagnetism and Magnetic Reversals
3. Seafloor Spreading
4. Plate Tectonics
5. Characteristics of Plate Boundaries
6. Driving Mechanisms
7. Relationships between Plate Tectonics and Natural Phenomena
8. Plate Tectonics and Resources

Chapter 10 - Deformation and Mountain Building

1. Types of Deformation
2. Geologic Structures
3. Strike and Dip
4. Types of Mountains
5. Earth's Continental Crust
6. Principle of Isostasy
7. Terranes