Fundamentals of Geology Lab

Course Description

This laboratory course will complement the student’s knowledge of geology with demonstrations and experiments. Contact hours for this laboratory course (45) are based on a 3:1 ratio, i.e. 3 lab hours = 1 lecture hour equivalent.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognize and interpret features on the Earth’s surface.
• Interpret processes that are constantly changing the Earth’s surface.
• Discuss/describe the following: Reasons for various topographical features, processes that are modifying the Earth’s surface, major classes of rocks, physical properties of the common rock-forming minerals, the Earth’s place in the solar system and universe. Geomorphologic divisions of the Earth’s surface.
• Understand the language of the earth scientists, chemical and mechanical weathering and erosion of rocks, genetic classification of the three types of rocks, materials that constitute the earth, especially its crust, volcanic and diastrophic activity.
• Understand the history of the earth: theories of its origin, and of the origin of the solar system.
• Appreciate: The role that geology plays in common life, contributions of early investigators, soil and minerals resources and their conservation, the various studies of the earth science field, atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere and their relation to the earth and to man, effects of time upon the physical constituents and appearance of the earth, effects of time upon living organisms-anthropology, paleontology.

Prerequisites

• EES103