|
12. Minerals: The Materials of Earth 17. Sedimentary Rocks: The Key to Past Environments 19. Running Water I: Rivers, Erosion and Deposition |
Episode 8. Earth's StructuresWhat causes the forces which shape the earth's landscape? Discuss the development of sedimentary layering. How is the principal of Original Horizontality used to decipher earth history? What is an outcrop? What is a geologic cross-section? What are the 3 main categories of geologic structures? What causes rocks to fold? Describe anticlines and synclines. Diagrams would probably help. Which tectonic environment forms folds: spreading ridges or subduction zones? Why? What causes rocks to fracture instead of fold? Describe the difference between dip-slip, strike-slip, and oblique-slip faults. Describe normal, reverse, and thrust faults. Diagrams would help. Discuss compressional and tensional stresses. What is the difference between plastic strain and elastic strain? What happens if the elastic limit is exceeded? What is an unconformity and how do they form? What is a nonconformity? Why do they represent the greatest lapse in time? Why is folding especially important to economic geology? How are gas, oil, and water trapped by earth structures? How does the study of structural geology relate to our modern society? Download the PDF version here |