Physical Geology is a course about the materials that make up the Earth as well as the properties and geological processes that operates on the Earth. Special topics include plate tectonics, mineral chemistry, the rock cycle, sedimentary processes, metamorphism, igneous rocks, hydrological cycle and glaciers. It will provide us with the knowledge of our physical environment which is critical to our well-being and vital to our survival.
Overview
Syllabus
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 The Science of Geology
- 1.3 The Development of Geology
- 1.4 Earth's Sphere (1)
- 1.4 Earth’s Sphere (2)
- 1.5 Earth’s Internal Structure
- 1.6 Rocks and the Rock Cycle (1)
- 1.6 Rocks and the Rock Cycle (2)
- Chapter 2 Elements and Minerals
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Elements in the Crust
- 2.3 Properties of Minerals: Optical Properties
- 2.4 Properties of Minerals: Mechanical Properties
- 2.5 Mineral Structures
- 2.6 How Minerals Are Classified
- 2.7 The Silicates
- 2.8 Common Silicate Minerals
- 2.9 Important Nonsilicate Minerals
- 2.10 Rock-forming minerals
- Chapter 3 Magmatism and Igneous Rocks
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Magmatism
- 3.3 Magma
- 3.4 Eruption and Extrusive Rocks
- 3.5 The Types of Volcanoes
- 3.6 Intrusion and Intrusive Rocks
- 3.7 Igneous Rocks Textures
- 3.8 Bowen's Reaction Series
- Chapter 4 Weathering and Erosion
- 4.1 What is Weathering and Erosion
- 4.2 Physical Weathering
- 4.3 Chemical Weathering and Biological Weathering
- 4.4 Major Controlling Factors
- 4.5 Weathering Products
- 4.6 Controls of Soil Formation
- 4.7 The Soil Profile
- 4.8 Special Weathered Structures
- Chapter 5 Exogenic Processes and Sedimentary Rocks
- 5.1 Introduction to External Processes
- 5.2 External Process
- 5.3 Why Sedimentary Rocks Are Important
- 5.4 Basic Characteristics
- 5.5 The Texture of Sedimentary Rocks
- 5.6 Sedimentary Structure
- 5.7 Common Sedimentary Rocks
- 5.8 Sedimentary Rocks Represent Past Environments
- Chapter 6 Metamorphic Rocks
- 6.1 Metamorphism
- 6.2 The Controlling Factors in Metamorphism
- 6.3 Texture and Structure of Metamorphic Rocks
- 6.4 Major Types of Metamorphism
- 6.5 Common Metamorphic Rocks
- 6.6 Metamorphic Facies
- 6.7 Rock Cycles
- Chapter 7 Sea Floor Spreading and Plate Tectonics
- 7.1 Continental Drift
- 7.2 Evidence Used in Support of Hypothesis
- 7.3 The Main Idea of Wegener's Theory About Continental Drift
- 7.4 The Search for a Mechanism
- 7.5 Plate Tectonics
- 7.6 The Boundaries of Plates
- 7.7 Wilson's Cycle
- Chapter 8 Geologic Time and The Earth's Evolution
- 8.1 Introduction to Geological Time
- 8.2 Relative Time
- 8.3 Unconformities
- 8.4 Fossils: Evidence of Past Life
- 8.5 The History of Dating the Earth
- 8.6 Geological Time Scale
- Chapter 9 Geological Structures
- 9.1 What Causes Rock to Deform?
- 9.2 How Do Rocks Deform?
- 9.3 Fold
- 9.4 Faults and Joints
- 9.5 The Evidences of Faults in the Field
- 9.6 Geologic Contact Relationships
- Chapter 10 Earthquakes and the Earth's Spheres
- 10.1 What is an Earthquake?
- 10.2 General Concepts and Common Terms
- 10.3 Seismic Waves
- 10.4 Measuring the Size of an Earthquake
- 10.5 Earthquake Distributions and Effects
- 10.6 Earthquake and the Earth's Interior
- Chapter 11 Mass Wasting
- 11.1 The Importance of Mass Wasting
- 11.2 Mass Wasting and Influencing Factors
- 11.3 Rapid Forms of Mass Wasting
- 11.4 Slow Movements
- Chapter 12 Rivers and Their Geological Processes
- 12.1 Concepts of Hydrologic Cycle and Rivers
- 12.2 The Characteristics of Rivers
- 12.3 Stretches and Dynamics of River
- 12.4 The Erosion of Rivers
- 12.5 The Transportation and Sedimentation of Rivers
- 12.6 Types of Sedimentary Bodies in Rivers
- 12.7 Longitudinal Profile and Base Level
- Chapter 13 Groundwater and Its Geological Processes
- 13.1 Importance of Groundwater
- 13.2 Distribution of Groundwater
- 13.3 The Water Table and the Movement of Ground Water
- 13.4 Porosity and Permeability
- 13.5 Changes in the Groundwater System
- 13.6 The Geologic Work of Groundwater
- Chapter 14 Wind and Desert
- 14.1 Sediment Transportation by Wind
- 14.2 Wind Erosion and Erosion Landforms
- 14.3 Wind Deposition and Deposition Landforms
- 14.4 Dust Storm and Loess Deposits
- 14.5 Common Misunderstanding of Desert
- 14.6 Desert Distribution Over the Globe
- Chapter 15 Glaciers and Glaciation
- 15.1 Glaciers and Glaciation
- 15.2 Types of Glaciers
- 15.3 Glacial Erosion and Related Landforms
- 15.4 Glacial Deposition and Related Landforms
- 15.5 Glaciation and Global Changes
- Chapter 16 Human survival and the Planet Earth
- Final Exam
Taught by
China University of Petroleum(East China)
