Historical Geology (GEOL 210) Home Page
SYLLABUS AND COURSE
INFORMATION
LECTURES
Lines of Evidence in
Support of Plate Tectonic Theory
Geologic
Time I: Relative Age Dating
Geologic
Time II: Absolute Age Dating
Origin
of the Universe and Solar System
Hadean and Archean Earth and Life
History
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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