112 Geology - Exam 1 Study Guide
(Covers Chapters 1-7, including Nature of Science)
General:
1. The exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions and may include photos or diagrams.
2. Go over the Chapter Summaries, and Review Questions at the end of each chapter.
3. Remember that geology has a specialized vocabulary so you should know all of the Important
Terms listed for each chapter.
4. Review bold type paragraph headings. Make sure you understand principles relating to the
headings
5. Review figures, pictures and their captions.
6. Study your class notes and look over the lectures posted under Blackboard
Chapters (and corresponding lectures and online readings):
Chapter 1 Big Bang (evidences of), Our Universe, Our Solar system (how and when it formed
and how we know this), inner vs. outer planets (differences, similarities). Layers of the Earth (based
on physical properties and composition) and the major constituents of the crust, The major types of
meteorites (chondritic, iron) and what they reveal about the planets and the origin of the solar
system, and about the interior of earth. Understand the unifying themes of geology and biology. The
scientific method rules, goals (see also online reading). Table 1.1 & 1.2.
Chapter 2 From matter to minerals (and know how to identify quartz and calcite), ionic vs
covalent bonds, types of rocks (rock cycle), rock classification, Magma vs. lava. Know the features
used to identify Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary Rocks and understand what those
features reveal to geologists.
Chapter 3
Understand earths layers, as divided by composition (and the types of rocks found in each layer) vs
physical properties. (Know where these rocks are typically found (granitic, basalt, gabbro,
peridotite, metallic iron)
Be able to contrast/compare the theories and Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics and know the
major evidences and scientists that are key to each theory. What were the problems with the
Continental Drift hypothesis? What are the problems with the Plate Tectonics hypothesis?
Be able to explain how the mapping of oceanic ridges and trenches led to the idea that the oceanic
crust was being created (and destroyed) and to the formulation of the Plate Tectonic theory and
how these ideas were corroborated by the discovery of magnetic stripes on the sea floor as well as
the ages of oceanic crust.
Understand the basics of the three major types of plate boundaries and their locations
Be able to explain Earths internal heat source and how it contributes to plate movement.
Be able to explain how thermal differences relate to density difference and how these differences
contribute to plate movement particularly slab pull.
Know the contributions of Alfred Wegener, Ewing & Heezen, Harry Hess, Vine and Matthews
Be able to explain the impact of plate tectonics on the evolution, diversity and distribution of life on
Earth.
Chapter 4 Geologic time. Know the Eras, plus Paleozoic and Mesozoic periods in order. Know
the Principles used to develop relative time scale. What observations led early naturalists to think
the earth was very, very, old? James Hutton, Charles Lyell (uniformitarianism), Cuvier
(catastrophism Georges & extinction). Relative vs. absolute time scales. What discovery led to the
development absolute dating? What types of rocks are dated radiometrically? What rocks provided
the age of the earth? Half-lives, parent vs daughter. Nature of the radioactive decay (alpha, beta,
electron capture). Differences between Geochronologic scale vs Chronostratigraphic scales. How
Carbon-14 dating works and its uses (for example, why is it not used to determine the age of
dinosaur fossils or the ages of rocks?). What is its useful range? What is its half-life? How did tree
rings help improve the accuracy of carbon-14 dates? Varves, dendrochronology. Neptunism vs
plutonism. Concepts of the age of the earth held by Judeo-Christians vs Deists&Athiests vs
Geologists.
Chapter 5 Stratigraphy, more relative dating (basic laws and methods fossil succession,
superposition, and etc.), Unconformities what they represent and various types Know the major
types of unconformities (nonconformity, disconformity, paraconformity, and angular unconformity).
Recognition of transgression/regression by looking at the ordering of coarse to fine beds (5.8).
Fossils & Fossilization (Table 5.1). Walthers law. Facies what they are and how they are used,
different types of facies, Correlation of Units (lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy). Understand
controls on eustatic sea level at several levels and what can affect land elevation or depression.
Chapter 6
Know and be able to recognize the primary sedimentary structures (graded bedding, ripples, crossbedding, etc Table 6.1). Likewise for sedimentary environments (Table 6.2). Be able to look at
cross beds and determine the flow (wind or water) direction. Know what the principle mineral
groups that account for the vast majority of sedimentary rocks. Depositional environments. Be able
to recognize the principle environments [lacustrine, fluvial (meandering vs braided), eolian, glacial,
transitional, marine] in the rock record.
Chapter 7 Evolution
Understand the ideas proposed by Lamarck (inheritance of acquired traits), Malthus (limited
resources), Lyell (deep time), Cuvier (reality of extinction), Darwin (see below), Wallace (convergent
ideas), Mendel (inheritance basics), Watson and Crick (DNA structure) as they relate to the
development of evolutionary thought. Be able to explain how mockingbirds influenced Darwin to
question the immutability of species. Understand core concepts: descent with modification, natural
selection, variation, competition for limited resources, and the influence of the environment.
Understand why cladistics, with an emphasis on testable hypotheses based on evolutionary
novelties is the favored methodology, replacing overall similarity (the method used by the Linnaean
system).
Understand the basic patterns of evolution (convergence, divergence) and how homologous vs
analogous structures are used to determine relationships between organisms.
Understand the significance of DNA how it codes.
Nature of Science Readings
Be able to explain the rules of science. Is science truth? How is science done? See online
reading in Blackboard.