STUDY GUIDE
TOP | ALL EXAMS | EXAM 2 | EXAM 3 | EXAM 4 | LAB PRACTICAL
General Guidance
Exams: The exams are a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions. The short answer questions often ask you to explain or describe; this gives you the opportunity to show your knowledge of a concept even if you do not remember a specific term or description from the book. You will be required to write out all short answers as sentences.
- Textbook
- figures - these take key pieces of information and put them in an easy to remember form.
- key terms and section headings - these words are in bold face type in the text; since the exams are part multiple choice, these words are often used as answers or as words to define.
- review questions - these are found at the end of each chapter and often become exam questions (the discussion questions and problems are less important.
- Lecture: The lecture follows the format and content of the text book. The questions provided in the study guide below highlight key points.
- Study guide: The following study guide lists several areas in which to further focus your studies; it is not a list of exam questions, but key areas you should know.
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ALL EXAMS
TOP | ALL EXAMS | EXAM 2 | EXAM 3 | EXAM 4 | LAB PRACTICAL
- What is the science of geology?
- How does science examine things?
- What are the basic concepts of geology and historical geology?
- What are the three types of rock?
- What is the rock cycle and how does it work, what does it show?
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EXAM 2
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- What is a sedimentary rock and how do sedimentary rocks form?
- How are sedimentary frocks classified?
- What is the environment of deposition and how is it determined?
- What are some common sedimentary structures and what do they show?
- What characteristic sedimentary features are common to rivers, deserts, glaciers, swamps, coastal areas, and off-shore marine environments? How do sediments move into and through these areas? (This is a BIG one!)
- What are fossils, how do they form, and what to they indicate about the environment of deposition?
- How and why does sediment change as it is transported away from it’s source?
- How do sedimentary environments change through time and how can those changes be interpreted?
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EXAM 3
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Igneous Rocks
- What is an igneous rock and how does it form?
- What are intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks and what are their characteristics?
- How are igneous rocks identified?
- What is Bowen’s reaction series and how does it work?
- What are the major compositional types of igneous rocks (mafic and felsic) and what are their characteristics?
- You should be able to identify the following properties of igneous rocks:
- texture
- phaneritic
- aphanitic
- porphyritic
- glassy
- vesicular
- pegmatitic
- mafic vs felsic
- extrusive vs intrusive
- What are the three types of volcanoes? What are their characteristics?
- How does lava type and composition relate to the character of a volcanic eruption?
- What does a volcano release?
- What is a caldera and how does it form?
- What are the different types of igneous intrusions?
Metamorphic Rocks
- What is a metamorphic rock and how does it form?
- How do pressure and temperature affect metamorphic rock?
- What are the types of metamorphism and what processes are involved in the formation?
- What is foliation and what causes it?
- What is metamorphic grade, and how can you determine the metamorphic grade of a rock?
- What are the different types of metamorphic rock and how do they form?
- You should be able to identify the following properties of metamorphic rocks:
- texture: foliated vs non-foliated
- degree of metamorphism (metamorphic grade)
Stress, strain, & structures
- What is confining pressure?
- What are the three types of stresses?
- What are the three ways in which rock can deform? (elastic, plastic, brittle fracture/rupture) What determines the way in which a rock will deform?
- How is the orientation of a rock layer described?
- What type of stress causes rocks to fold?
- What are the different types of folds? What are the features and characteristics of folds? What types of stress cause them?
- What are the different types of faults? What types of stress cause them?
- What are the features of a fault?
- What are joints and what causes them?
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EXAM 4
TOP | ALL EXAMS | EXAM 2 | EXAM 3 | EXAM 4 | LAB PRACTICAL
- What are the three ways in which rock can deform? (elastic, plastic, brittle fracture/rupture)
- What determines the way in which a rock will deform?
- What type of stress causes rocks to fold?
- What are the different types of folds? What are the features and characteristics of folds?
- What are the different types of faults? What type of stress causes them?
- How is the interior of the Earth studied?
- What are the different types of seismic waves? How do body waves act as they pass through the Earth?
- What layers make up the interior of the Earth and what are their basic characteristics?
- What is the source of the Earth’s magnetic field?
- What is the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
- What is the evidence that supports the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
- What are the three types of plate margins? What are their characteristics?
- What causes the plates to move?
- What is isostasy and how does it work?
- What creates mountain chains? Where are you most likely to find active mountain formation?
- How do continents grow?
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LAB PRACTICAL
TOP | ALL EXAMS | EXAM 2 | EXAM 3 | EXAM 4 | LAB PRACTICAL
- You should be able to identify the physical properties of the minerals:
- cleavage
- hardness
- color
- streak
- luster (metallic vs. non-metallic)
- You should be able to identify the following properties of igneous rocks:
- texture (phaneritic, aphanitic, porphyritic, glassy, vesicular, pegmatitic)
- mafic vs felsic
- extrusive vs intrusive
- You should be able to identify the following properties of sedimentary rocks:
- clastic (detrital) vs chemical
- what a fossil looks like
- clast size (gravel, sand, silt & clay)
- how rocks react to acid
- You should be able to identify the following properties of metamorphic rocks:
- texture: foliated vs non-foliated
- degree of metamorphism (metamorphic grade)
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