Historical Geology (GEOL 210) Home Page

SYLLABUS AND COURSE INFORMATION

 

LECTURES

Types of Plate Boundaries

Lines of Evidence in Support of Plate Tectonic Theory

Geologic Time Scale

Geologic Time I: Relative Age Dating

Geologic Time II: Absolute Age Dating

Fossils and Evolution

Origin of the Universe and Solar System

Hadean and Archean Earth and Life History

Proterozoic Earth History

Proterozoic Life History

Paleozoic Earth History

Paleozoic Life History

Mesozoic Earth History

Mesozoic Life History

Cenozoic Earth History

Cenozoic Life History

 

Example Quiz 1

 

Test 2 Handout 1 (Information needed for test 2 discussion question 1)

Test 2 Handout 2 (Information needed for test 2 discussion question 2)

 

Test 3 Handout 1 (Information needed for test 3 discussion question 1)

Test 3 Handout 2 (Information needed for test 3 discussion question 2)

 

Test 4 Handout 1 (Information needed for test 4 discussion question 1)

Test 4 Handout 2 (Information needed for test 4 discussion question 2)

 

 

ASSIGNED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

 

Test 1: Discussion Questions

Discussion Question 1: Discuss in detail the requested 4 lines of evidence that support Plate Tectonic Theory

Discussion Question 2: Discuss in detail the requested 4 lines of evidence that support Evolution Theory

 

Test 2: Outline for the Discussion Questions

Discussion Question 1: Discuss in detail the Proterozoic tectonic evolution of ancient North America

1. Begin with a description of Laurentia, ancient North America, at the end of the Kenoran orogeny

2. Hudsonian orogeny (When? Outcome?)

3. Grenville orogeny/formation of Rodinia (When? Where? Which cratons collided with which margin of ancient North America?)

4. Rifting of Rodinia (When? Yielded what ocean basin, what continents? Spreading along the MOR pushed Laurentia in what direction?)

5. Formation of a passive continental margin around ancient North America

6. Formation of Carolinia (What is Carolinia? Where did it form?  When? Significance?)

 

Discussion Question 2: Discuss in detail the Precambrian evolution of life

1. Appearance of prokaryotes (When? What are prokaryotes? Are they anaerobic or aerobic, heterotrophs or autotrophs? Likely source of nutrients for earliest prokaryotes was?)

2. Development of fermentation by prokaryotes (When? What is fermentation, its importance? Is it an anaerobic or aerobic process? Are fermenting prokaryotes anaerobic or aerobic, heterotrophs or autotrophs?)

3. Appearance of cyanobacteria/development of photosynthesis (When? What is photosynthesis, its importance? Is it an anaerobic or aerobic process? Are cyanobacteria prokaryotes heterotrophs or autotrophs?)

4. Appearance of eukaryotes (When? What are eukaryotes? Are they anaerobic or aerobic?)

5. Appearance of Ediacaran (Vendian) fauna (When? What are they?)

 

 

Test 3: Outline for the Discussion Questions

Discussion Question 1: Discuss in detail the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of ancient North America

1. Begin with description of the location, orientation, and type of plate boundary along the eastern margin of ancient North America in the Late Cambrian

2. Taconic orogeny (When? Involved collision of what with which margin? Outcome?)

3. Acadian orogeny (When? Involved collisions of what continent, what volcanic island arc with which margin? Outcome = formation of what supercontinent/accretion of what arc?)

4. Formation of the Antler Arc (When? Where? Along what kind of plate boundary?)

5. Accretion of the Antler Arc (When? Where?)

6. Ellsmere orogeny (When? Where? Likely caused by collision with which craton?)

7. Formation of the Klamath Arc (When? Where? Along what kind of plate boundary?)

8. Alleghanian/Ouachita orogeny (When? Involved collisions of what parts of which supercontinents with which margins? Outcome?)

 

Discussion Question 2: Discuss in detail the Paleozoic evolution of plants

 

 

Test 4: Outline for the Discussion Questions

Discussion Question 1: Discuss in detail the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of eastern North America

1. Begin with a short overview description of Pangaea

2. Formation of the rift basins (When?  Between which continents?  Orientation?  Name of the sediments deposited in them? )

3. Formation of the diabase dikes (When?  Where?  Orientation?)

4. Onset of rifting between Laurentia and Gondwana (When?  Where?  Began opening what part of the Atlantic Ocean basin?)

5. Onset of formation of a passive continental margin (When?  Where?  What is a passive continental margin?)

6. Onset of rifting followed by ceasing of rifting of Greenland from North America (When?)

7. Onset of rifting between North America and Europe (When?  Began opening what part of the Atlantic Ocean basin?)

8. End with the Zuni transgression (When?  Advanced how far inland?  Began deposition/formation of what?)

 

Discussion Question 2: Discuss in detail the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of western North America

1. Begin with short overview of the type of plate boundary that existed along the western margin of North America

2. Formation of the Klamath arc (also called Sonomia) (When?  What is the name of the plate that was being subducted?)

3. Accretion of the Klamath arc (When?  During what orogeny?)

4. Change from a Japan-type to an Andean-type plate boundary following accretion of the Klamath arc

5. Nevadan orogeny (When?  Caused formation of what? In what region of the Cordillera?)

6. Sevier orogeny (When?  Caused what? In what region of the Cordillera?)

7. Laramide orogeny (When?  Caused what? In what region of the Cordillera?  Formed what Cordilleran mountain range?)

 

 

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USEFUL LINKS

Earth’s Geologic History

Earth’s Geologic History

USGS Tapestry of Time and Terrain

 

Volcanic Eruptions

USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports

USGS Regional Maps of Active Volcanoes

 

Earthquakes

NEIC Current World Seismicity

South Carolina Seismic Network

Great Tsunamis

USGS Earthquake Event Page

 

Geological Surveys

USGS

SCGS

 

Weather

Intellicast US Radar Loop

Intellicast Charlotte Radar Loop

Realtime Satellite Images from GOES

Sea Surface Temperatures

Jet Stream Position

US Drought Monitor