Compiled Learning Goals for EOSC 110 Final Exam

Compiled Learning Goals for EOSC 110 Final Exam EOSC 110 Part One Introduction  Define uniformitarianism and explain its utility in interpreting the rock record.

Plate Tectonics  Illustrate and label the layers of the Earth (Inner Core, Outer Core, Mantle Regions, and Crust) and describe the basic properties of these layers (composition and behavior).

 Identify the components of the lithosphere.

 Describe and draw the different types of plate boundaries (divergent, convergent and transform)

 Recognize and interpret associations between plate boundaries and associated features (eg. Trenches, mountains, volcanoes, mid-ocean ridges)

 Describe techniques for observing plate movements (Hot spots tracking, GPS, fault displacement, magnetic striping, lithological correlation)

 Apply knowledge of plate movement measurements to identify direction and relative velocities of plate movements through time.  Describe mantle and lithosphere properties that lead to the movement of plates and creation of rocks.  Distinguish between ridge-push and slab pull and note the areas where these processes occur.

Minerals  Define what a mineral is  Describe the atomic structure and bonding of common minerals  Recognize the relationships between physical properties of minerals, internal crystal structure, and identification  Compare and contrast the chemical composition and mineralogy of each of Earth’s layers

Igneous Rocks  Describe how igneous processes fit into the rock cycle  Distinguish between extrusive and intrusive rocks on the basis of origin and textures (Coarse v. fine grained).  Distinguish between felsic (granitic) and mafic (basaltic) rocks in terms of mineralogy, silica content, Fe+Mg+Ca content, melting point and colour.

 Interpret Bowen’s Reaction Series as a means for explaining the mineral composition of mafic, intermediate and felsic rocks.  Relate extrusive rock names to intrusive rock names.  Define the components of magma (liquid, solid, gas).  Describe how magmas are generated and how they evolve (or change composition)  Describe and recognize the form of major intrusive igneous bodies (plutons, batholiths, dykes, sills)  recognize and describe different volcanic products, and associated hazards

Igneous Rocks (Continued)

 Compare and contrast the physical and chemical characteristics of different types of volcanoes  Explain the distribution of volcanoes

Weathering  Explain the contribution of weathering to the rock cycle  Describe common physical and chemical weathering processes  Recognize rock and landscape features formed by weathering

Sedimentary Rocks  Describe how sedimentary rocks/processes fit into the rock cycle

 Explain how sediment becomes sedimentary rock  Recognize the major types of sedimentary rocks and the origin of their components  Recognize common sedimentary structures and what they indicate about environments of deposition  Explain how oil and gas deposits form in sedimentary rocks Metamorphic Rocks  Describe how metamorphic rocks/processes fit into the rock cycle  Describe the driving forces for metamorphism  Identify metamorphic changes in rocks

Metamorphic Rocks (Continued)  Compare and contrast metamorphism in contact vs. regional settings  Recognize the tectonic and geologic settings in which common metamorphic rocks form

EOSC 110 Part Two Geological Time  Recognize the scope of geologic time over which interior and surficial processes have occurred 

Order the periods and epochs of the Phanerozoic.



Explain how we can date rocks using radioactive isotopes. Where are these isotopes found?



Discuss lines of evidence for the age of the Earth



Define the following terms: isotope, half-life, parent isotope, daughter isotope, radioactive decay.



Describe how the geologic time scale evolved from a combination of relative and absolute dates



List the eras of geologic time and the absolute ages of the boundaries between them



Apply the principles of relative dating to deciphering the geologic history of an area

Deformation & Mountains  Distinguish between brittle and ductile deformation and relate them to deformational structures (folds, faults, joints, basins etc.) 

Distinguish between right-lateral, left-lateral, normal, reverse and thrust faults and relate them to the types of stress under which they occur. What tectonic settings would you expect these in?

Deformation & Mountains (Continued)  Predict movement along fault and interpret fault movements. (eg. Which way would the footwall/hanging wall move under compressional stress? What kind of movement would you expect from shear stress at the surface?) 

Define and distinguish between stress and strain in rocks



Explain how rocks behave when they are stressed



Describe how positions of and orientations of structures are recorded on geologic maps and cross sections



Recognize different types of folds and faults

Mass Wasting  Discuss factors that control slope stability 

Classify types of mass movements



Describe positive and negative ways in which humans influence slope stability



Indicate appropriate methods to stabilize slopes

Streams  Explain the hydrologic cycle 

Describe the characteristics of streams



Explain how stream processes shape landscapes

Glaciers  Explain how glaciers form 

Discuss the concepts governing the flow of glaciers

Glaciers (Continued)  Summarize factors that cause ice ages 

Recognize landscape features formed by abrasion or deposition by glaciers

GROUNDWATER  Explain how and why groundwater flows 

Describe examples of the geologic activity of groundwater



Discuss the consequences of overuse of a groundwater resource

EOSC 110 Part Three Earthquakes  Explain how earthquakes happen (elastic rebound theory)



Describe types and locations of earthquakes expected at different kinds of plate boundaries, and where the biggest quakes occur.



Describe the different types of seismic waves and how they move through the Earth



Understand the principle behind early warning systems, and know how much warning time they can give



Describe how an earthquake is recorded and how we locate the epicenter



Describe how magnitude is estimated



Explain why even moderate magnitude earthquakes can sometimes be disasters



Describe the difference between earthquake magnitude and intensity



List hazards associated with Earthquakes



Explain how tsunamis happen, and which sorts of earthquakes could cause one

Earth’s Interior  Explain why direct methods cannot be used to study Earth’s deep interior



Describe seismic reflection and refraction and how wave behaviour reveals properties of the Earth’s interior



Explain how we know (based on seismic body waves) that the Earth’s interior is not uniform



Explain seismic evidence from both P and S waves for a liquid outer core

Earth’s Gravitational Field & Isostasy  Infer from gravity data whether or not a planet has active plate tectonics.



Refer to isostasy and postglacial rebound as evidence that the asthenosphere flows over geologically “short” timescales.



Explain how gravity data can help find ore deposits.

Earth’s Magnetic Field  Describe the Earth’s magnetic field



Explain (in simple terms) how the main magnetic field and the crustal magnetic field are generated



Describe what will happen if the main magnetic field reverses or disappears (i.e., will catastrophe ensue?)

YOU’RE READY! GOODLUCK! 