GEOLOGYStudy of the Earth’s processes. Science that is concerned with the history of the Earth and its life, especially as recorded in rocks.

Atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, mantle and core(biosphere)

Fig. 1.7

Core 3,470 km 2,151 mi

Mantle 2,900 km 1,798 mi

Crust 30 km 20 mi

Total 6,370 km 3,949 mi

Outer core 2250 km

1395 mi

Inner core 1220 km

756 mi

Geologists study earth’s processes, e.g. earthquakes, volcanoes, sand dune formation, floods, ground water quality and quantity.

Earth is Dynamic!!!

What does geology do (for me)?

The natural resources that shape the modern world come, in part, through geological knowledge.

Geologists locate the ingredients for cement, concrete, asphalt and steel for construction, oil, gas and coal that fuel our automobiles and light and heat our homes.

They locate suitable sources of water (quantity and quality), and safe construction and waste disposal sites.

Hypothesis theory law

Scientific Method

Doctrine of UniformitarianismJames Hutton (1726-1797)

Processes now operating to modify earth have operated also in the geologic past. There is a uniformity of processes past and present.

The present is the key to the past.

differentiation (formation of core, mantle and crust due to heat)

degassing and formation of water (“today’s” Earth)

Formation of the Earth

Big bang condensation

Planetesimals accreation

Erosion and Sedimentation

Heat and Pressure

Melting and crystallization

Rock Cycle

Geologic Time

relativevs

absolute

Plate Tectonics

Continental driftSea floor spreading

Plate Tectonics

Eleven major plates (some contain both continental and oceanic materials)

Types of Plates

DivergentConvergent

Subduction

Fig. 1.10

Fig. 1.9