IntroducingGeologyandan

OverviewofImportantConcepts
PhysicalGeology,Chapter1
TimHorner
CSUSGeologyDepartment
Hornertc@csus.edu
(916)2785635
Officehours:M,Tu,Th11:0012:00
orbyappointment

WebResources:
1)Accesswww.mhhe.com\Plummer11e
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GeologyinTodaysWorld
GeologyThescientificstudyoftheEarth
PhysicalGeologyisthestudyofEarthsmaterials,
changesofthesurfaceandinterioroftheEarth,andthe
forcesthatcausethosechanges

PracticalAspectsofGeology
Naturalresources
Geologicalhazards
Environmentalprotection

PracticalAspectsofGeology
NaturalResources
Allmanufacturedobjects
dependonEarthsresources
Localizedconcentrationsof
usefulgeologicalresources
areminedorextracted
Ifitcantbegrown,itmust
bemined
Mostresourcesarelimitedin
quantityandnonrenewable

ResourceExtractionand
EnvironmentalProtection
CoalMining
Carelessminingcanreleaseacids
intogroundwater

PetroleumResources
Removal,transportationandwaste
disposalcandamagethe
environment

Alaskapipeline

Dwindlingresourcescanencouragedisregardfor
ecologicaldamagecausedbyextractionactivities

GeologicHazards
Earthquakes
Shakingcandamagebuildingsand
breakutilitylines;largeundersea
quakesmaygeneratetsunamis

Volcanoes
Ashflowsandmudflowscan
overwhelmpopulatedareas

Landslides,floods,andwave
erosion

PhysicalGeologyConcepts
EarthsHeatEngines
External(energyfromtheSun)
Primarydriverofatmospheric(weather)and
hydrospheric(oceancurrents)circulation
ControlsweatheringofrocksatEarthssurface

Internal(heatmovingfromhotinteriorto
coolerexterior)
Primarydriverofmostgeosphericphenomena
(volcanism,magmatism,tectonism)

EarthsInterior
CompositionalLayers
Crust(~370kmthick)
VerythinouterrockyshellofEarth
Continentalcrustthickerandlessdense
Oceaniccrustthinnerandmoredense

Mantle(~2900kmthick)
Hotsolidthatflowsslowlyovertime;
Fe,Mg,Sirichminerals

Core(~3400kmradius)
Outercoremetallicliquid;mostlyiron
Innercoremetallicsolid;mostlyiron

EarthsInterior
MechanicalLayers
Lithosphere(~100kmthick)
Rigid/brittleoutershellofEarth
Composedofbothcrustand
uppermostmantle
MakesupEarthstectonicplates

Asthenosphere
Plastic(capableofflow)zoneon
whichthelithospherefloats

TheoryofPlateTectonics
ContinentalDriftHypothesis
Originallyproposedinearly20thcenturyto
explainthefitofcontinents,matchingrock
typesandfossilsacrossoceanbasins,etc.
Insufficientevidencefoundfordriving
mechanism;hypothesisinitiallyrejected

PlateTectonicsTheory
Originallyproposedinthelate1960s
Includednewunderstandingoftheseafloor
andexplanationofdrivingforce
Describeslithosphereasbeingbrokeninto
platesthatareinmotion
Explainsoriginanddistributionofvolcanoes,
faultzonesandmountainbelts

TectonicPlateBoundaries
Divergentboundaries
Platesmoveapart
Magmarises,coolsandformsnewlithosphere
Typicallyexpressedasmidoceanicridges

Transformboundaries
Platesslidepastoneanother
Faultzones,earthquakesmarkboundary
SanAndreasfaultinCalifornia

Convergentboundaries
Platesmovetowardeachother
Mountainbeltsandvolcanoescommon
Oceanicplatesmaysinkintomantlealongasubduction
zone,typicallymarkedbyadeepoceantrench

TectonicPlateBoundaries
Divergentboundaries
Platesmoveapart
Magmarises,coolsandformsnewlithosphere
Typicallyexpressedasmidoceanicridges

Transformboundaries
Platesslidepastoneanother
Faultzones,earthquakesmarkboundary
SanAndreasfaultinCalifornia

Convergentboundaries
Platesmovetowardeachother
Mountainbeltsandvolcanoescommon
Oceanicplatesmaysinkintomantlealongasubduction
zone,typicallymarkedbyadeepoceantrench

TectonicPlateBoundaries
Divergentboundaries
Platesmoveapart
Magmarises,coolsandformsnewlithosphere
Typicallyexpressedasmidoceanicridges

Transformboundaries
Platesslidepastoneanother
Faultzones,earthquakesmarkboundary
SanAndreasfaultinCalifornia

Convergentboundaries
Platesmovetowardeachother
Mountainbeltsandvolcanoescommon
Oceanicplatesmaysinkintomantlealongasubduction
zone,typicallymarkedbyadeepoceantrench

 DeepTime

GeologicTime

Mostgeologicprocessesoccurgradually
overmillionsofyears
Changestypicallyimperceptibleoverthe
spanofahumanlifetime
CurrentbestestimateforageofEarthis
~4.56billionyears

GeologicTimeandtheHistoryofLife
Complexlifeformsfirstbecameabundantabout
544millionyearsago
Reptilesbecameabundant~230millionyearsago
Dinosaursbecameextinct(alongwithmanyother
organisms)~65millionyearsago
Humanshavebeenaroundforafewmillionyears

Nothinghurriesgeology
MarkTwain

EndofChapter1