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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
GEOLD010.
Course Title (CB02)
Introductory Geology
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Analysis and description of the composition, structure, and development of the earth's external and internal features and the geologic processes responsible for their origin and evolution. Examination of the concepts and principles upon which geologic knowledge is based. (A one-day field trip is required, each student can choose either Saturday or Sunday.)
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

Introductory Geology meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSUGE and IGETC. It meets the Physical Science (with laboratory) requirement of the °®¶¹´«Ã½ AA/AS degree, CSUGE and IGETC. It is UC and CSU transferable. This course is an introduction to Earth processes, the history of the Earth, and their study by means of the scientific method.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GBX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area B - Natural SciencesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGB1CSU GE Area B1 - Physical ScienceApproved
CGB3CSU GE Area B3 - Science Laboratory ActivityApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG5AIGETC Area 5A - Physical ScienceApproved
IG5CIGETC Area 5C - Science LaboratoryApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
GEOLGeologyApprovedC-ID GEOL 101

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
5.0
Maximum Credit Units
5.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours3.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
36.0
Total
84.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Field observation and field trips

Laboratory experiences that involve students in formal exercises of data collection and analysis

Laboratory discussion sessions and quizzes that evaluate the current and preceding weeks' laboratory exercises

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Discussion of assigned reading

Assignments

  1. One-hour exams with written and objective questions, which require diagrams, short essay answers, problem-solving, and interpretive skills
  2. Lab quizzes based on concepts learned in weekly lab work
  3. Short in-class exercises (usually five minutes, most common examples are think-pair-share exercises and interactive `clicker' questions)
  4. Participation in one all-day field exercise; submission of a completed field trip guide (including short essay answers, geologic structure sections, and geologic mapping) at the end of the day
  5. Two-hour problem solving comprehensive final exam

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Student responses on one-hour exams will be evaluated for clarity, completeness, and accuracy by comparison to grading rubrics.
  2. Student responses on lab quizzes will be evaluated for clarity, completeness, and accuracy by comparison to grading rubrics.
  3. Student responses on short in-class exercises will be assessed for clarity, completeness, and accuracy by comparison to grading rubrics; this may be done automatically when in-class "clicker" questions are used.
  4. Clarity, completeness, and accuracy of the completed field trip guides will be assessed by comparison to grading rubrics, while taking into account the conditions encountered on the day of the field trip (e.g. accessibility of outcrops due to tides, etc).
  5. Student responses on two-hour comprehensive final exams will be evaluated for clarity, completeness, and accuracy by comparison to grading rubrics.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Hand Lens (10x)
  • 30cm long ruler with centimeters and millimeters
  • Colored pencils
Essential College Facilities:
  • Chartered bus for the field trip, audio-visual facilities, laboratory with maps, mineral and rock specimens, microscopes, etc

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
DiLeonardo, C.G., James, B., "Discover Planet Earth: An Introduction to Geology", Dubuque: Kendall-Hunt, 2013
Marshak, S., "Essentials of Geology, 5th ed.", New York: W. W. Norton, 2016.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
"Crystals", Modern Learning Aids, New York, NY, 1965
"The Beach, a River of Sand," Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corp., Chicago, IL, 1966
"Inside Hawaiian Volcanoes," Colorlab, Rockville, MD, 1983
"Rocks that Originate Underground", Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corp., Chicago, IL, 1966
McPhee, J., "Annals of the Former World", Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, New York, 1998
Shelton, J.S., "Geology Illustrated", W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco and London, 1966.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Summarize and describe a globally and temporally inclusive overview of the Earth.
  • Distinguish between hypotheses, theories, and laws, and demonstrate the assessment of hypotheses through testing.
  • Analyze the physical properties of minerals and their significance in rock genesis, starting with basic chemical principles.
  • Distinguish between the major families of rocks and analyze how they relate to each other as parts of the rock cycle; interpret conditions of formation from physical characteristics of rocks.
  • Evaluate relative age-relationships between rock units in order to develop a geologic time scale, and calibrate this time scale by calculating rock ages via isotopic dating.
  • Construct and interpret geologic maps and cross-sections in order to delineate the three-dimensional structure of the earth's crust; visualize structures such as faults and folds.
  • Assemble and synthesize geophysical information in order to assess earthquake hazards and to construct plausible models of the Earth's deep interior.
  • Synthesize geological, seismological, and paleomagnetic data in order to demonstrate an understanding of global plate tectonics, and predict phenomena such as the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes.
  • Analyze imagery and topographic data in order to elucidate the evolution of landforms produced by the interaction of rock, soil, water, wind, and ice
  • Evaluate and assess environmental hazards in a geologic context; assess locations of geologic resources such as mineral deposits and hydrocarbons from geologic data, and appraise the impacts of geologic resource issues on the environment and human populations.

CSLOs

  • Apply the principles of scientific methodology to evaluate hypotheses on how the earth works as an integrated system.

  • Use data and observations to track and predict changes in the Earth system resulting from dynamic Earth Processes.

  • Use observations from the crust and lithosphere of the Earth to determine geologic history at hand-sample, outcrop, local, and regional scales.

  • Apply scientific methodology and geologic principles to analyze the impact of the Earth system on humanity, from specific natural hazards and the availability, use, and distribution of Earth resources.

Outline

  1. Summarize and describe a globally and temporally inclusive overview of the Earth.
    1. Describe the origin of the Earth and solar system.
    2. Describe the Earth's large-scale structure; compare and contrast different systems for classifying the Earth's layers.
    3. Summarize the basic principles of plate tectonics, including examples of the three types of plate boundaries.
  2. Distinguish between hypotheses, theories, and laws, and demonstrate the assessment of hypotheses through testing.
    1. Distinguish between scientific hypotheses, theories, and laws, and distinguish between scientists' use of these words and their usage in ordinary speech.
    2. Summarize the transition from proto-scientific natural philosophies of ancient Greece and ancient China to the modern scientific method as practiced around the world.
    3. Describe the differences between the scientific method and other forms of inquiry; Examine the importance of hypothesis testing.
  3. Analyze the physical properties of minerals and their significance in rock genesis, starting with basic chemical principles.
    1. Differentiate between minerals and rocks; summarize the definition of a mineral.
    2. Categorize and summarize the constituents of an atom.
    3. Summarize and differentiate between the different types of chemical bonding that allow minerals to form; predict mineral formulae based on the Periodic Table.
    4. Construct models of crystal structures based on relative sizes of ions; Analyze structure of halite (NaCl) as first example.
    5. Analyze and summarize structures of silicate minerals; explain importance of silicates as Earth's most abundant mineral class.
    6. Compare and classify the shapes of fifteen (15) crystals in order to construct hypotheses about atomic structures of crystals; grow three (3) crystals and analyze one (1) structure model to summarize crystal growth at the atomic level; assess and distinguish cleavage characteristics of different minerals.
    7. Recognize variations in mineral properties such as hardness, cleavage, etc. and apply them in a deductive manner to identify nine (9) rock-forming minerals, six (6) important secondary minerals, and eight (8) ore minerals.
  4. Distinguish between the major families of rocks and analyze how they relate to each other as parts of the rock cycle; interpret conditions of formation from physical characteristics of rocks.
    1. Diagram the rock cycle, to summarize how one type of rock becomes another through processes such as melting, crystallization, deposition, etc.
    2. Interpret the origins of igneous rocks from their textures; construct a classification system for igneous rocks based on texture and composition.
    3. Examine circumstances required for partial melting of the Earth's interior and diagram them with melting-curve graphs.
    4. Evaluate volcanic hazards based on analysis of volcanic landforms and rock types; analyze case studies such as Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines, Paricutin, Michoacan, Mexico, Mt. Pelee, Martinique, Caribbean, and Mt. St. Helens, Washington.
    5. Differentiate between chemical and physical weathering; examine how weathering turns rocks into sediment.
    6. Organize sedimentary rocks into a classification system based on texture and composition; use these and other parameters to interpret environment of deposition; summarize early interpretations of sedimentary rocks by scholars such as Shen Kuo and Nicholaus Steno.
    7. Estimate conditions of metamorphism from texture and mineralogy of metamorphic rocks; summarize processes that lead to metamorphism and their effects on various common rock types.
    8. Evaluate rock textures by examination of hand samples and thin sections; use the data collected to deduce texture classifications and interpret rock origins for twenty-four (24) samples.
    9. Synthesize and apply skills gained in exercises on rock textures and mineral identification to the interpretation and identification of twenty-four (24) rock samples.
  5. Evaluate relative age-relationships between rock units in order to develop a geologic time scale, and calibrate this time scale by calculating rock ages via isotopic dating.
    1. Construct and evaluate sequences of geologic events, by applying the principles of relative dating; collaborative exercises on geohistory involving analysis of field photographs and cross-sections, plus relative dating exercises on field trip.
    2. Construct a geologic time scale using the principles of relative dating, stratigraphy, and fossil succession.
    3. Calculate ages of rocks based on simple mathematical relationships between numbers of 'parent' and 'daughter' isotopes; formulate analogy to random processes simulated in a collaborative laboratory exercise.
    4. Evaluate the relative lengths of the major divisions of the geologic time scale; summarize important events in the history of life on Earth as they relate to the time scale.
    5. Examine the process of fossilization and evaluate the use of fossils in the development of the geologic time scale.
  6. Construct and interpret geologic maps and cross-sections in order to delineate the three-dimensional structure of the earth's crust; visualize structures such as faults and folds.
    1. Evaluate terrain heights and slope steepness, visualize landforms such as ridges and valleys, and construct topographic profiles from real-world topographic maps such as: Mt. Whitney, California, Mt. Everest, Tibet/Nepal border region, and Cupertino, California.
    2. Construct geologic cross-sections from geologic maps and other geospatial data; classify faults and folds using standard terminology.
  7. Assemble and synthesize geophysical information in order to assess earthquake hazards and to construct plausible models of the Earth's deep interior.
    1. Diagram the relationship between earthquakes and fault displacement, based on work such as H.F. Reid following 1906 San Francisco earthquake and Fusakichi Omori prior to the 1923 Kanto earthquake.
    2. Calculate earthquake locations and magnitudes; compare and contrast magnitude scales of Charles Richter and Keiiti Aki.
    3. Assess patterns of earthquake damage and their effects on human populations based on local geologic effects; compare examples such as the earthquakes of 1906 (San Francisco), 1923 (Kanto region, Japan), 1964 (Alaska), 1985 (Mexico City), 1999 (Izmit, Turkey), and 2008 (Sichuan, China).
    4. Formulate a model for the earth's deep interior based on observed seismic wave arrivals at receiving stations far from an earthquake epicenter.
    5. Reconstruct the discovery of the crust-mantle boundary by Andrija Mohorovicic.
    6. Predict structure and response of Earth's crust under mountain ranges and glaciated regions according to the principle of isostasy.
  8. Synthesize geological, seismological, and paleomagnetic data in order to demonstrate an understanding of global plate tectonics, and predict phenomena such as the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes.
    1. Examine and summarize evidence for continental drift; appraise the history of the reception of the drift hypothesis, including difference in reception in northern- vs. southern-hemisphere countries.
    2. Diagram the Earth's magnetic field, reversals thereof, and examine paleomagnetic data; synthesize paleomagnetism and other data from ocean basins to construct model of sea-floor spreading at divergent plate boundaries.
    3. Differentiate between types of convergent plate boundaries; analyze subduction zones such as Indonesia, Japan, Central America, and the Andes; diagram other convergent boundaries such as those found in Taiwan, the Himalayan / Central Asian region, and western North America.
    4. Examine and analyze various transform plate boundaries; examine real-world examples such as the North Anatolian fault of Turkey, the Chaman fault of Pakistan, and Tanya Atwater's work on the San Andreas fault of California.
  9. Analyze imagery and topographic data in order to elucidate the evolution of landforms produced by the interaction of rock, soil, water, wind, and ice
    1. Inventory the Earth's hydrologic cycle; diagram long- and cross-profiles of streams to analyze valley erosion and the evolution of drainage networks; formulate and test hypotheses for the evolution of landforms by stream erosion.
    2. Summarize and diagram the occurrence of groundwater in rocks and sediments; judge groundwater flow from slope of water table; summarize development of caves and karst topography, with examples from pioneering studies such as those of Fan Chengda and Xiu Xiake in south China, and Jovan Cvijic and Edouard Martel in Europe.
    3. Assess contamination of groundwater and soil through analysis of hydrological data; formulate strategies for remediation of contamination.
    4. Examine features of glaciers that illustrate how glaciers form and flow; compare various glacial landforms in order to explain and summarize processes of glacial erosion.
    5. Examine erosional and depositional features from real-world locations in order to reconstruct histories of glacial advance and retreat; analyze and summarize climatic factors leading to glaciations, compare recent glaciations to other glacial epochs in Earth history, such as Snowball Earth episodes.
    6. Examine features and landforms that form through desert processes and analyze and summarize climatic factors related to desertification.
  10. Evaluate and assess environmental hazards in a geologic context; assess locations of geologic resources such as mineral deposits and hydrocarbons from geologic data, and appraise the impacts of geologic resource issues on the environment and human populations.
    1. Laboratory exercise on assessment and remediation of environmental contamination; emphasis on groundwater and surface-water contamination.
    2. Summarize and diagram the factors required for economic accumulations of hydrocarbons, examine the debate over 'peak oil', examine and assess alternative energy resources.
    3. Define and summarize mineral resources, examine the formation of ore deposits, evaluate the interaction of human and geologic factors in resource issues.

Lab Topics

  1. Mineral Identification: Identify mineral samples based on their physical properties.
  2. Rock Textures: Classify rocks according to their textures and interpret their origins.
  3. Rock Identification: Identify rocks according to their textures and mineral compositions; analyze their modes of origin.
  4. Geologic Time: Formulate sequences of geologic events from geologic evidence, and study random processes in order to simulate radioactive decay.
  5. Topographic Maps: Visualize topography through interpretation of contour lines; construct topographic profiles.
  6. Geologic Maps and Cross-Sections: Construct geologic maps from aerial photos and other geospatial data; draw cross-sections from these and other geologic maps.
  7. Geologic Structures: Construct maps and cross-sections of folded and/or faulted rocks in order to analyze the structure of the Earth's crust in selected areas.
  8. Seismology: Interpret seismographic data in order to locate earthquake epicenters, calculate earthquake magnitude, and construct models of the Earth's interior.
  9. Plate Tectonics: Analyze maps of the Earth's topography, bathymetry, volcanoes, and earthquakes in order to classify plate boundaries; Use maps and geochronologic data in order to calculate rates of plate motion.
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