Introduction to Earth Science

Department of Earth Science Northeastern Illinois University

INTRODUCTION to EARTH SCIENCE                                             J. Hemzacek homepage
ESCI 121                                                                                               questions? send me an email

WELCOME to ESCI 121!

Geology in the news:

      Chaiten erupts: Chaiten Volcano erupts in Chile.
          for more information, click on photo.
      How does this fit with our class activities today?
                                                  satellite image courtesy of NASA

ANNOUNCEMENTS updated 24 june

reading/homework assignments

class session outline/notes
Review list and info for Mega-Quiz

syllabus, etc. course documents

details for extra credit

resources and other web links:^> ^{on-line text
resource}^{for Tarbuck & Lutgens

> information on alternate
textbooks} ^{(note: this document was from a previous
semester; however,

it contains useful comparative info regarding different texts.)

carbon struc}

BASIC COURSE DOCUMENTS
    syllabus: topic schedule and grading
    general course information
   tips for success in this course
    General Education program information
    criteria for homework
    rubric for labs and assignments

many documents are in .pdf form;
if you do not have Adobe^(R) Reader^(R),
click here to download.

A note about printing documents:

Depending on your printer settings, you may need to change some settings in order to get the document to print properly.

If the document prints in the wrong orientation
and/or the wrong size:
1)    check the box for "auto rotate and center" in the printer dialog box;   and
2)   make sure that "page scaling" is set to either "none" or "fit to page".

(c) 2008 J Hemzacek Laukant
Last updated 26 May 2008

ANNOUNCEMENTS scroll down for earlier announcements



24 June --- Review lists are updated and finalized: PART A PART B
22 June I have just found that some updates to this webpage were not accessible when I thought they posted. In light of this, I have changed the criteria and due date for the final homework assignment. Sorry for any inconvenience.
19 June Review material and information for Mega-Quiz: It is coming together in parts: Part A updated 21 June -- includes what you should be able to "do" (with maps, etc), the "lab" portion of the class Part B -- includes overall concepts, etc. NOTE: There are a few concepts on these sheets that we have not explicitly covered yet. I hope to fill in these 'holes' in our last class... the list will be updated as necessary after that class (hence "draft" review) Sorry for the delay in getting these posted.

10 June Sedimentary environment resources: virtual field trip stops depositional sedimentary environments intro sedimentary environments
5 June Remember that your "relative age" worksheet is due on Tuesday, 10 June... one last piece of information about that exercise: we did not get so far as to discuss "contact metamorphism" -- you may either make an educated guess about this (your text might also have some clues!) OR simply leave that 'event' out of your list, tabulating all other geologic processes based on what you know. Also, do not forget to bring with you on Tuesday the worksheet that I passed out in class today. We will be working on that!!

20 May 08 WELCOME ! Please note that, although the webpage is still a "little" under construction, I have added the basic course documents (you received these in class; but 'just in case' you need access to them!), as well as a few resources of general interest. The assignment page will be up soon; weekly homework assignments will be posted according to the schedule. For those of you with alternate texts (and even if you have the recommended text!), a listing of key concepts and terms will be posted to accompany the reading assignment list. Although I have listed "chapters" on the reading list, we will not be covering all details that are in each of those chapters. Note that chapters listed in [brackets] are resource chapters-- not intended that you read these in their entirety! But if you are looking for information on related topics, this is where you would find it. A key concept list provided in the reading assignment details will help you to focus your reading. In addition, I will supplement as appropriate with web-based readings. If you have questions or concerns about any of this, let me know, and I will work with you to make sure you have the information you need.




































GENERAL COURSE RESOURCES

general references; also useful for first lab exercise: Introduction to Earth Materials a dictionary of geologic terms* *Please!!! Note the course policy regarding answers in the words of another!!
LAB WORKSHEETS and REFERENCE MATERIALS LAB (reference for work done on 20 Feb or 25 Feb) mineral properties LAB week 5 (6 Feb or 11 Feb): page a page b (print both pages) LAB 3 (Jan 23 or 28) LAB 2 (Jan 14 or 16)








For the lab on "geologic time": This exercise is similar to what we did in lecture, in determining the relative age of different geologic events. Each diagram on the sheet is a separate exercise, and you are to write a short "geologic history" for selected diagrams on this sheet. Each history that you write will consist of a list that includes, in chronological order (from first to last), each event or process that occurred to create the set of geologic units shown. You will use the principles that we discussed in class (superposition, cross-cutting, and original horizontality), as well as the principle of inclusions (read about this one, or see me or the ESCI tutor for help), in order to determine the relative age of various events that are represented in each diagram. A 'geologic event' is something that happened, for instance: deposition of a particular sedimentary rock; faulting; folding; intrusion of an igneous rock; erosion; etc. [You might also want to consider the influence of other events such as transgression, regression, tectonic uplift, etc.] Note that if a diagram includes multiple units of the same rock type, you must label the different units on the worksheet to differentiate them in your history (e.g., "deposition of sandstone #1, deposition of sandstone #2). You are required to write a history for diagrams a, b, c, d, and e, plus one additional diagram (your choice! but be sure to tell which one!) from the worksheet. Your geologic histories should be written (neatly!) on a separate piece of paper, or on the back of the worksheet. Because you may have needed to label units on the worksheet, you should attach the worksheet to your history page. Additional info: "contact metamorphism" indicates rock that has been metamorphosed due to heat from contact with hot magma; "granite" is an igneous rock; "lava" (in this case!) refers to rock formed from a lava flow. This lab is due at the start of your next lab period.