Fundamentals of GeologyFundamentals of GeologySummer CampSummer Camp
By David AllisonBy David AllisonDept of Earth SciencesDept of Earth Sciences
University of South AlabamaUniversity of South Alabama
Topics CoveredTopics Covered
•• Minerals Properties and UsesMinerals Properties and Uses•• Types of Rocks (Igneous, Sedimentary & Types of Rocks (Igneous, Sedimentary &
Metamorphic)Metamorphic)•• Plate Tectonics (Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Plate Tectonics (Earthquakes, Volcanoes,
etc.)etc.)•• Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources•• GPS Navigation and Map InterpretationGPS Navigation and Map Interpretation•• Geology and the EnvironmentGeology and the Environment
Mineral PropertiesMineral Properties
•• Naturally occurring (canNaturally occurring (can’’t be mant be man--made)made)•• Inorganic (canInorganic (can’’t be composed of living or t be composed of living or
onceonce--living material)living material)•• Crystalline (has an ordered internal Crystalline (has an ordered internal
structure)structure)•• Solid (canSolid (can’’t be liquid or gas)t be liquid or gas)•• Definite composition (you can use a Definite composition (you can use a
chemical formula to express the chemical formula to express the composition composition –– SiOSiO22))
Physical Properties (ex. Hardness)Physical Properties (ex. Hardness)
•• Hardness: resistance to scratchingHardness: resistance to scratching–– MohMoh’’ss Hardness Scale (we will test this property in Hardness Scale (we will test this property in
lab)lab)
Economic Uses of MineralsEconomic Uses of Minerals
Mineral SamplesMineral Samples
Garnet
Fluorite
Halite
Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics
•• EarthquakesEarthquakes•• TsunamisTsunamis•• VolcanoesVolcanoes
Earth History & Plate TectonicsEarth History & Plate Tectonics
•• Drift of the continents Drift of the continents over timeover time
Volcanoes & Igneous RocksVolcanoes & Igneous Rocks
•• Major types of igneous rocks will be Major types of igneous rocks will be presented in labpresented in lab
•• Relationship of igneous rocks and plate Relationship of igneous rocks and plate tectonic discussedtectonic discussed
•• Economic uses of igneous rocksEconomic uses of igneous rocks
Mt. Saint Helens May 1980 EruptionMt. Saint Helens May 1980 Eruption
Rock ClassificationRock Classification
•• Igneous: Granite, Basalt, Pumice, DioriteIgneous: Granite, Basalt, Pumice, Diorite•• Metamorphic: Gneiss, Marble, Garnet Metamorphic: Gneiss, Marble, Garnet
SchistSchist•• Sedimentary: Limestone, Sandstone, Coal, Sedimentary: Limestone, Sandstone, Coal,
ShaleShale
GPS NavigationGPS Navigation
•• GPS receivers will be used to collect GPS receivers will be used to collect waypoints along the campus nature trailswaypoints along the campus nature trails
•• The collected waypoints will be The collected waypoints will be downloaded to the GIS lab workstations downloaded to the GIS lab workstations and plotted on the Spring Hill USGS and plotted on the Spring Hill USGS quadranglequadrangle
GPS Navigation cont.GPS Navigation cont.
•• Downloaded Downloaded waypoints waypoints are used to are used to survey trailssurvey trails
Weeks Bay ReserveWeeks Bay Reserve
Dauphin Island Sea LabDauphin Island Sea Lab
Estuarium
