GEOL 1403
 Physical Geology Lecture Topics

This course is designed to introduce the science of geology, emphasizing plate tectonics, rocks, minerals, geological processes, structural geology, and landforms.  The following is a list of topics that should be covered as part of the lecture component of the course.  Please refer to the GEOL 1403 Physical Geology Laboratory Topics for the list of topics expected to be covered during the laboratory component of the course.  

Topics in italics are optional parts of the curriculum.

1.	INTRODUCTION
a)	Scientific method a)	
a)	Formation of the Solar Systemb)	
c)	Basic features of Solar System
d)	Formation of the Moon
e)	Origin and structure of the Earth
f)	Composition of the Earth
g)	Earth systems (geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere)

PLATE TECTONICS
a)	Evidence for continental drift
b)	Structure of tectonic plates
c)	Major plates
d)	Plate boundaries and related processes
e)	Continental structure
f)	Hot spots & mantle plumes

EARTHQUAKES
a)	Elastic rebound theory
b)	Seismic waves
c)	Magnitude
d)	Intensity
e)	Epicenter vs. hypocenter/focus
f)	Earthquake hazards

BASIC CHEMISTRY
a)	Atomic components
b)	Atomic weight
c)	Atomic number
d)	Isotopes
e)	Types of atomic bonds
f)	Ions
g)	Common elements and symbols

MINERALOLGY
a)	Features of minerals
b)	Physical properties of minerals
c)	Mineral recognition
d)	Polymorphs
e)	Factors affecting crystal growth and stability
f)	Major mineral compositional groups
g)	Silicate minerals
i)	Silicate tetrahedron
ii)	Silicate tetrahedron arrangements
iii)	Important silicate rock-forming minerals & formulae (quartz [SiO2], feldspars, micas, ferromagnesians, clay minerals)
h)	Important non-silicate rock-forming minerals & formulae (calcite [CaCO3], dolomite, halite [NaCl], gypsum CaSO42H2O]) 

6.	IGNEOUS ROCKS & VOLCANISM
a)	Rock cycle
b)	Origin of magma 
c)	Igneous rock textures
d)	Igneous rock compositions
e)	Igneous rock classification
f)	Intrusive vs. extrusive igneous processes
g)	Magmatic differentiation
h)	Plutons & intrusive igneous structures
i)	Volcanoes & volcanism
i)	Characteristics of lava
ii)	Types of volcanoes
iii)	Eruptive styles
j)	Relationship of igneous activity to plate boundaries

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
a)	Sediment and sedimentary rock textures and classification
b)	Clastic sediment and sedimentary rocks
c)	Chemical sediment and sedimentary rocks
d)	Biogenic sediment and sedimentary rocks
e)	Formation of sedimentary rocks 
f)	Depositional environments
g)	Formation and recognition of sedimentary structures
i)	Stratification
ii)	Cross bedding
iii)	Ripple marks
iv)	Mudcracks

METAMORPHIC ROCKS
Causes of metamorphism
b)	Types of metamorphism (e.g., regional, contact, burial, etc.)
c)	Mineral stability relative to temp./pressure conditions
d)	Metamorphic grade
e)	Metamorphic facies
f)	Metamorphic rock textures
g)	Metamorphic rock classification

STRATIGRAPHY AND TIME9.	
a)	Fossils 
b)	Geologic time scale
i)	Time Units (i.e. eon, era, period, epoch)
ii)	Eons (Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic)
iii)	Eras of the Phanerozoic (in order)
iv)	Dates of the Phanerozoic era boundaries
a)	Principles of Stratigraphyc)	
i)	Original horizontalityi)	
i)	Original lateral continuityii)	
i)	Superpositioniii)	
i)	Cross-cutting relationships iv)	
v)	Inclusion 
i)	Faunal successionvi)	
a)	Unconformitiesd)	
a)	Interpreting sequence diagrams (relative dating)e)	
f)	Absolute age dating (radiometric dating)

STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
a)	Stress
b)	Strain
c)	Fractures
Joints
ii)	Faults
(1)	Characteristics of dip-slip faults
(2)	Characteristics of strike-slip faults
d)	Folds
i)	Anticlines
ii)	Synclines
iii)	Basins
iv)	Domes
v)	Plunging folds
e)	Strike & Dip

FLUVIAL PROCESSES
a)	River systems
b)	Fluvial characteristics (e.g., gradient, discharge, etc.)
c)	Sedimentary load
d)	Fluvial erosion & deposition (e.g., valley formation, floodplains)
e)	Floodplain development
f)	Drainage basins

GROUNDWATER PROCESSES
a)	Hydrologic cycle
b)	Permeability and porosity
c)	Confined and unconfined saturated zones
d)	Groundwater gradient & groundwater flow
e)	Aquifers
f)	Aquitards
g)	Karst terrain development

MASS WASTING/MASS MOVEMENTS
a)	Factors controlling mass wasting (e.g., gravity, water content, cohesive strength, slope)
b)	Types of mass wasting 
i)	Slides 
ii)	Falls
iii)	Flows (including creep)
c)	Safety factors / mitigation

ARID LANDSCAPES / EOLIAN PROCESSES
a)	Characteristics of deserts
b)	Factors controlling formation of arid environments (e.g., rain shadows, cold ocean current, etc.)
c)	Alluvial fans
d)	Wind erosion & modes of sediment transport 
e)	Controls on dune formation
f)	Types of dunes

COASTAL PROCESSES
a)	Ocean waves (formation, wave characteristics, direction of motion)
b)	Wave refraction
c)	Longshore current / drift
d)	Wave erosion & deposition
River deltas
f)	Coral reefs
g)	Tides & ocean currents 
h)	Primary vs. secondary coastlines
i)	Emergent vs. submergent coastlines

GLACIAL PROCESSES
a)	Glacier formation
b)	Ice budget (e.g., accumulation vs. wastage [ablation])
c)	Glacial movement
d)	Glacial erosion
e)	Glacial deposition
f)	Alpine vs. continental glaciation
g)	Glacial landforms
h)	Ice Ages 
i)	Glaciers and human-caused climate change
i)	Evidence and cause
ii)	Consequences of global warming

HUMAN INTERACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
a)	Energy resources
i)	Oil and gas formation and accumulation
ii)	Coal formation
iii)	Fossil fuel alternatives (e.g. nuclear, geothermal, solar, wind, hydropower, biofuels)
b)	Mineral resources
i)	Concentration factor and metallic ores
ii)	Formation of metallic mineral deposits (e.g. hydrothermal, igneous and sedimentary processes)
i)	Nonmetallic mineral deposits (e.g. sand and gravel, clay/shale, limestone, sandstone, granite, gypsum, rock salt)iii)	

18.	EVOLUTION OF CONTINENTS
a)	Physiographic provinces
i)	Craton 
ii)	Coastal plain 
iii)	Orogenic belts
b)	Global distribution of physiographic provinces
c)	Origin of continental crust
d)	Growth of continents - continental accretion

19.	LANDFORMS AND LANDSCAPES
a)	Geologic vs. topographic mountains
b)	Plateaus
c)	Ridges and hogbacks
d)	Regional topographic  basins (Great Basin, Great Divide Basin)
e)	Badlands
f)	Uplift vs. erosion
g)	Landscape rejuvenation

20.	GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
a)	Electromagnetic radiation and Earth’s energy balance
b)	Greenhouse gases and global warming
c)	Evidence of recent climate change
d)	Major consequences of global warming