Text: Marshak, S., 2009. Essentials of Geology  3rd edition. W. W. Norton pub.

The best way to study for an exam is to study continuously throughout the semester by re-writing the notes you take in class. While you are re-writing them, you can use the textbook to fill in any gaps in your notes. By gaps, I mean concepts you did not understand, or maybe could not take notes on because the professor was going too fast. (If you have questions on the material after doing that, then by all means, come in and ask me or e-mail your question to me: gleasong@cortland.edu.)

To study for this exam, you must go over your lecture notes.

The test will be based on both lecture notes and on the textbook.
This study guide is designed to point out aspects of the readings in the textbook that will help you understand your lecture notes.

Chap 1: The Earth in Context 

Pages: In the 1st edition: 1-20, 24-35, skim 21-24.
In the 2nd edition: 1-20, 23-34, skim 20-23 
In the 3rd edition: 1-32

Figures: 1st ed.: 1.4, 1.7, 1.12, 1.21;
2nd ed.: 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.21, 1.22;
3rd ed.: 1.4, 1.5, 1.18, 1.20.

Terms: asthenosphere, big bang theory, continental crust, core, crust, density, Doppler effect, expanding Universe theory, glass, inner core, lithosphere, lower mantle, mantle, melt, metal, meteorite, mineral, Moho, nebula, oceanic crust, outer core, planetesimals, red shift, rock, transition zone, upper mantle, wavelength

Questions: 

 Describe how the Doppler effect works.

 What does the red shift of the galaxies tell us about their motion with respect to the Earth?

List, then briefly describe the steps in the formation of the Universe.

Why are all the planets in the solar system orbiting the Sun in the same direction and in the same plane? 

What is the Nebula Theory of planet formation?

Contrast continental and oceanic crust in terms of thickness, chemical composition, and density.

What is the Moho? What is the Gutenburg Discontiniuty?

Contrast the lithosphere and asthenosphere.  How are the criteria for defining lithosphere and asthenosphere different from the criteria used to distinguish the crust, mantle and core?

 

Chap 3: Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Pages: In the 1st edition: 80-93, 96-97.
In the 2nd edition: 78-91, 94. 
In the 3rd edition: 68- 83.

Figures: 1st ed.: 3.3, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.17, 3.18, 3.20, 3.21, 3.22;
2nd ed.: 3.3, 3.7, 3.8, 3.10., 3.11, 3.18, 3.19, 3.20, 3.21, 3.22;
3rd ed.: 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 3.9, 3.10.

Terms: chemical bond, cleavage, conchoidal fracture, covalent bond, crystal, double-chain silicate structure, framework silicate structure, feldspars, ionic bond, independant (aka isolated) silicate structure, mineral, rock, sheet silicate structure, silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, silicate minerals, single-chain silicate structure

Questions:  

What is the definition of a mineral?

Why is glass NOT a mineral?

Is ice a mineral?

Salt is a mineral, but sugar is not.  Why not? Is pepper a mineral? 

Describe how mineral crystals can form. 

On what basis are silicate minerals further divided into distinct groups?

What are the four most common elements in the Earth (by weight)?

What is the building block of silicate minerals? What is its charge? How do you draw it?

How does the atomic structure of sheet silicate minerals (biotite or muscovite) explain the single cleavage set in these minerals?

How does the atomic structure of quartz, a framework silicate mineral, explain its lack of cleavage?

 

Chap 2: The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Pages: 1st ed.: 36-79
2nd ed.: 35-77
3rd ed.: 33-67

Figures: 1st ed.: 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.10, 2.11, 2.13, 2.16, 2.17, 2.19, 2.21, 2.24, 2.26, 2.32, 2.33, 2.35, 2.40, 2.41, 2.43, 2.44, 2.47, 2.48, 2.51
2nd ed.: 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.9, 2.10, 2.12, 2.16, 2.17, 2.19, 2.21, 2.24, 2.26, 2.32, 2.33, 2.34, 2.39, 2.40, 2.42, 2.47
3rd ed.: 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.12, 2.16, 2.17, 2.19, 2.21, 2.22, 2.25, 2.27

Terms: Alfred Wegener, asthenosphere, bathymetry, continental drift hypothesis, convergent plate boundary, divergent plate boundary, fracture zone, Harry Hess, hot spot, J. Tuzo Wilson, lithosphere, magma, magnetic anomalies, mantle plume, mid ocean ridge (MOR), McKenzie & Parker, Morgan, ocean trench, paleomagnetism, pillow basalts, plate tectonics theory, sea-floor spreading, subduction, subduction zone, trench, transform plate boundary, Vine-Matthews-Morley hypothesis, volcanic arc, Wadati-Benioff zone

Questions:  

What was Wegner's hypothesis of continental drift?

What are the lines of evidence Wegener used to support his hypothesis? 

What evidence did geologists use to disprove Wegener's hypothesis?

Explain how the angle of inclination of the Earth's magnetic field varies with latitude.  How is this information used to determine the past latitude of a  continent?

How did the observations of heat flow and seismicity (i.e., location of earthquakes) support Hess's hypothesis of sea-floor spreading?

Describe the pattern of magnetic anomalies across a mid-ocan ridge.  Explain how this pattern forms.

In one sentence, what is the basic theory of Plate Tectonics?

Describe each of the three types of plate boundaries.

What is a subduction zone?

Give an example (exact geographic location) of each type of plate boundary. For example the San Andreas fault is a transform boundary.

What happens to the mantle beneath mid-ocean ridges (or spreading centers)?

Draw a cross-section of a typical oceanic convergent plate boundary (a subduction zone) and label the following: trench, volcanic arc, Benioff-Wadati zone, lithosphere, asthenosphere.

Chap 4: Up from the Inferno: Magma and Igneous rocks

Pages: 1st ed.: 98-123
2nd ed.: 102-120
3rd ed.: 92-110

Figures:  1st ed.: 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.13, 4.16;
2nd ed.: 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5,  4.7, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16;
3rd ed.: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.12. 4.13

Terms: andesite, basalt, batholith, contact, country rock, decompression melting, dike, extrusive igneous rock, felsic composition, granite, geotherm, heat-transfer melting, igneous rock, intermediate composition, intrusive igneous rock, lava, lava flow, mafic composition, magma, melt, partial melting, rhyolite, silicic (felsic) composition, sill, ultramafic composition, viscosity, volatiles, volcanic neck, xenolith

Questions: 

How is the process of freezing magma similar to that of freezing water?  How is it different?

Describe three processes that are responsible for formation of magmas. 

Where does decompression melting of the mantle occur?

Where do volatiles cause partial melting of the mantle?

Why are there so many different compositions of magma? 

What factors control the viscosity of melt? 

How does grain size reflect the cooling rate of a magma?

 

Chap 5: The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions 

Pages: 1st ed.: 181-208
2nd ed.: 180-205
3rd ed.:  111- 134

Figures: 1st ed.: 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.11, 7.12, 7.14, 7.15, 7.16, 7.18, 7.23, 7.25
2nd ed.: 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.11, 7.12, 7.15, 7.16, 7.22, 7.24;
3rd ed.: 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.7, 5.10, 5.11, 5.13, 5.14, 5.16

Terms:  air-fall tuff, Aleutian Islands, Andes Mountains, andesite, basalt, continental volcanic arc, crater, eruption, explosive eruption, Hawaii, hot-spot volcanoes, lahar, lava flow, magma chamber, mantle plume, pyroclastic debris, pyroclastic flow, rhyolite, shield volcano, composite volcano (stratovolcano), volcanic island arc, volcano

Questions:

Explain how viscosity and gas pressure effect the eruptive style of a volcano.

Describe the activity in the mantle that leads to hot-spot eruptions.  What type of volcano is most likely to form at hot-spots? 

What are the differences between an Island arc and a Continental volcanic arc.  What are the similarities?

Know some specific geographic examples of Island arcs and Coontinental volcanic arcs.

List some major volcanic hazards.

Describe the differences between shield volcanoes and composite volcanoes. How are these differences explained by the chemical composition of their lavas and other factors? You need to know the meaning of silicic, intermediate, and mafic magma chemical composition.

What controls a magma's viscosity? What does this mean for eruptions at shield volcanoes?

Know some specific geographic examples (and their names and locations) of shield volcanoes.

What igneous rocks would you expect to find on the flanks of a shield volcano? on the flanks of a composite volcano?

That is it for the test on Thursday!

Useful links:

Physical Geology web page