4 hours. 3 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week.
Physical Geology
Course Description
Physical geology; characteristics and origins of rocks and minerals; mechanism and processes of volcanism, plutonism, metamorphism, weathering, erosion, sedimentation, and lithification; and evolution of landforms. Tectonic processes of continental drift, seafloor spreading, and plate tectonics. Emphasis on scientific methods, quantitative reasoning for calculation of geomechanical properties, geologic hazards and risks, and plate tectonic motion.
Athena Title
Physical Geology
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in GEOL 1121, GEOL 1121E, GEOL 1121H, GEOL 2350H
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will understand the fundamental processes that shape Earth's crust and surface, from the identification of key minerals and rocks to the understanding of plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and the dynamics of Earth's interior.
Students will learn to analyze geological data, interpret topographic maps, and apply geological principles to assess natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of sediments and metamorphic rocks.
Students will develop critical thinking skills as they evaluate the role of plate boundaries, magma generation, and tectonic movements in shaping Earth's features, and analytical thinking will be applied when assessing geophysical data like seismic waves, heat flow, and groundwater flow patterns.
The course emphasizes social awareness and responsibility by encouraging students to understand the environmental impacts of geological processes, such as volcanic eruptions, water resources, and climate change, fostering an appreciation for how geology contributes to sustainable practices and decision-making in the modern world.
Topical Outline
This is the first half of the preferred introductory sequence for Geology majors, but the course attracts students from many other majors as well. Virtually every topic covered in this course highlights at least one environmental issue. In the section on Mineralogy, we discuss hazards related to asbestos exposure and some of the history of that controversial issue. Our treatment of igneous rocks includes readings on radon hazards. The section on volcanoes examines current research aimed at the prediction of eruptions (allowing for time for evacuations of those at risk) and quantitative analysis for those predictions. In our extensive coverage of seismology, we discuss tsunami warning systems, earthquake preparedness, earthquake seismic activity calculations, design of structures to minimize damage, and current research on earthquake warning systems designed to minimize injury and loss of life. In the final part of the course, we discuss water resources. Topics related to climate change include a thorough explanation of "natural" processes driving fluctuations over the past 2 million years, the unusual stability and duration of the current interglacial period, possible human influences over the last 8000 years, and accelerated warming over the past 200 years, including analysis of climate data. This covers a variety of environmental issues.
