Date

Lecture/Exam

Earth Reading

Description

8/27

1

Introduction and logistics

No lecture of substance

9/1

2

App. a.1, a.2

Ch. 1

Big Bang, expanding universe, supernovae, Nebular hypothesis,elements, nucleosynthesis (S and R processes),

Homework 1: E=mc^2 calcs. (due 9/10)

9/3

3

App. a.1, a.2

Ch. 1

Bonding, E=mc^2, radioactivity; periodic table: isotopes, magic numbers

9/8

none

none

Furlough day

9/10

4

Ch. 5: Minerals

Silicate minerals, Bowen’s reaction series

9/15

5

Ch. 2 p.41-54

Ch. 6 Magma & Igneous Rocks

Bowen’s, Density layering of Earth; Origin and components of magma, composition of magma

9/17

6

Ch. 6 Magma & Igneous Rocks

plutonic vs. volcanic rocks

 

9/22

7

Ch. 6 (still more igneous rocks)

Magma environments, Phase diagrams

Homework 2: Phase diagrams (due 9/29)

9/24

8

Ch. 6: Weathering and soil

Ch. 7: Sedimentary rocks

Forming sediment, mechanical weathering

 

9/29

9

Ch. 7 (continued)

Forming Sediment: Chemical weathering

10/1

 

Lecture cancelled-computer

failure

Lecture cancelled- Computer Failure

 

10/6

 

Lecture cancelled- Karner Failure

Lecture cancelled- Karner Failure

10/8

10

Ch. 6: Weathering and soil

 

 

Products of weathering and 12 soils orders.

Homework 3: 12 Soils orders

10/13

11

8: Metamorphism

Chapter 8: Metamorphic Rocks - agents of metamorphism, environments, facies, textures

10/15

None

None

Furlough day

10/20

12

Ch. 12: Deep Time, Ch. 13.1-13.5Interlude E, Ch. 13.6-13.9Ch. Relative Dating- principles of stratigraphy, unconformities, fossils

10/22

13

Continued Numerical dating, Geologic Time Scale: Precambrian events

10/27

14

Continued Phanerozoic Eon

10/29

15

Ch. 10: Earthquakes

Interlude D: Earth’s interior

internal structure, seismic waves, reflection and refraction, “sound” channels

11/3

 

Midterm 1

Midterm 1 : Content through end of Lecture 14

11/5

No lecture

Ch. 11: Crustal deformation

Structural geology, folding and faulting, orogenies, plate tectonic context, isostasy

11/10

19

Ch. 10: Earthquakes

San Andreas fault system

11/12

20

Ch. 3: Drifting continents,

Interlude A

Historical context for plate tectonics, magnetism and sea-floor spreading

11/17

21

No reading

Geology 304 Field trip

11/19

22

Ch. 4: Plate tectonics

Plate boundaries, triple junctions, global scale, mantle convection, ridge push/slab pull?

11/24

None

Ch. 9: Volcanoes

MORB, subduction volcanism, hot spots, rift volcanism, calderas, Predicting eruptions (Video: Volcano’s Deadly Warning)

11/26

None

Ch. 14: Energy resources

Economic geology: Oil, Middle East, California coasts

   

Ch. 15: Mineral resources

Current commodity cycle, future employment opportunities

   

None

Furlough day

   

Thanksgiving break

12/1

23

Interlude F,

Ch. 18: Oceans

waves, erosion, deltas, Coriolis Forcing, longshore transport, coastal landforms, human intervention

12/3

24

Ch. 17: Streams and Floods

Erosion and sediment transport, river systems, meanders, baselevel

12/8

25

Ch. 19: Groundwater

US aquifers, Sonoma County usage and issue

12/10

26

Ch. 16: Mass movements

Erosion at grander scale, friction and water, creep, Northern California issues

12/17

FINAL EXAM

2-3:50

Semi-cumulative