Introduction to Physical Geology

Thompson G.R.R., Turk J.

Table of contents :
Front Cover……Page 1
1 – Geology and the Earth……Page 2
1.1 The Science of Geology……Page 4
1.2 Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism……Page 6
1.3 Geologic Time……Page 7
1.4 The Earth’s Origin……Page 9
1.5 Geologic Change and the Environment……Page 12
Focus on: Hypothesis, Theory, and Law……Page 14
Summary……Page 15
2 – Plate Tectonics A First Look……Page 18
2.2 The Earth’s Layers……Page 20
2.3 Plates and Plate Tectonics……Page 24
2.4 The Anatomy of a Tectonic Plate……Page 27
2.5 Consequences of Moving Plates……Page 28
2.6 The Search for a Mechanism……Page 29
Focus on: Alfred Wegener and the Origin of an Idea……Page 32
2.7 Supercontinents……Page 35
Summary……Page 36
3 – Minerals……Page 38
3.2 Elements,Atoms,and the Chemical Composition of Minerals……Page 40
3.3 Crystals:the Crystalline Nature of Minerals……Page 42
3.4 Physical Properties of Minerals……Page 43
Focus on: Chemical Bonds……Page 44
3.5 Rock-Forming Minerals, Accessory Minerals,Gems,Ore Minerals,and Industrial Minerals……Page 49
3.6 Mineral Classification……Page 51
Summary……Page 55
4 – Igneous Rocks……Page 58
4.1 Rocks and the Rock Cycle……Page 60
4.2 Igneous Rocks:the Origins of Magma……Page 61
Focus on: Terms Commonly Used by Geologists……Page 64
4.3 Classification of Igneous Rocks……Page 66
4.4 Common Igneous Rocks……Page 69
4.5 Partial Melting and the Origins of Common Igneous Rocks……Page 70
Summary……Page 71
5 – Plutons and Volcanoes……Page 74
5.1 The Behavior of Magma……Page 76
5.2 Plutons……Page 77
5.3 Volcanic Rocks and Volcanoes……Page 80
5.4 Violent Magma: Ash-Flow Tuffs and Calderas……Page 87
5.5 Risk Assessment: Predicting Volcanic Eruptions……Page 90
Summary……Page 91
6 – Weathering and Soil……Page 94
6.2 Mechanical Weathering……Page 96
6.3 Chemical Weathering……Page 99
Focus on: Reprasentative Reactions in Chemical Weathering……Page 100
6.4 Chemical and Mechanical Weathering Operating Together……Page 101
6.5 Soil……Page 103
6.6 Soil-Forming Factors……Page 104
Summary……Page 108
7 – Sedimentary Rocks……Page 110
7.2 Clastic Sedimentary Rocks……Page 112
Focus on: Naming Sedimentary Rock Units……Page 114
7.3 Organic Sedimentary Rocks……Page 117
7.5 Bioclastic Rocks……Page 118
7.6 Sedimentary Structures……Page 119
7.7 Interpreting Sedimentary Rocks: Depositional Environments……Page 122
Summary……Page 123
8 – Metamorphic Rocks……Page 126
8.2 Metamorphic Changes……Page 128
8.3 Types of Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks……Page 131
8.4 Measuring Metamorphic Grade……Page 137
Summary……Page 138
9 – Geologic Time A Story in the Rocks……Page 140
9.2 Relative Geologic Time……Page 142
9.3 Unconformities……Page 144
9.5 Correlation……Page 146
9.6 Absolute Geologic Time……Page 147
Focus on: Carbon-14 Dating……Page 149
9.7 The Geologic Column and Time Scale……Page 152
Summary……Page 154
10 – Earthquakes and the Earth’s Structure……Page 156
10.1 What is an Earthquake?……Page 158
10.2 Earthquake Waves……Page 160
10.3 Earthquake Damage……Page 166
10.4 Earthquakes and Tectonic Plate Boundaries……Page 167
10.5 Earthquake Prediction……Page 172
10.6 Studying the Earth’s Interior……Page 173
10.7 The Earth’s Magnetism……Page 176
Summary……Page 177
11 – Ocean Basins……Page 180
11.2 Studying the Sea Floor……Page 182
11.3 Sea-Floor Magnetism……Page 183
11.4 The Mid-Oceanic Ridge……Page 185
Focus on: Global Sea-Level Changes and the Mid-Oceanic Ridge……Page 189
11.5 Sediment and Rocks of the Deep Sea Floor……Page 190
11.6 Continental Margins……Page 191
11.7 Island Arcs……Page 194
11.8 Seamounts and Oceanic Islands……Page 196
Summary……Page 198
12 – Geologic Structures, Mountain Ranges, and Continents……Page 200
12.1 Rock Deformation……Page 202
12.2 Geologic Structures……Page 203
12.3 Mountains and Mountain Ranges……Page 211
12.4 Island Arcs: Mountain Building During Convergence Between Two Oceanic Plates……Page 212
12.6 The Himalayan Mountain Chain: a Collision Between Continents……Page 213
12.7 The Origin of Continents……Page 219
Summary……Page 220
13 – Mass Wasting……Page 222
13.2 Factors That Control Mass Wasting……Page 224
13.3 Types of Mass Wasting……Page 226
13.4 Three Case Studies: Mass Wasting Triggered by Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions……Page 232
13.5 Predicting and Avoiding Landslides……Page 233
Summary……Page 234
14 – Streams and Lakes……Page 236
14.2 Streams……Page 238
14.3 Stream Erosion……Page 239
14.4 Stream Deposits……Page 242
14.5 Downcutting and Base Level……Page 244
14.6 Drainage Basins……Page 250
14.7 Floods……Page 253
14.8 Lakes……Page 256
Summary……Page 257
15 – Ground Water……Page 260
15.1 Characteristics of Ground Water……Page 262
15.2 Movement of Ground Water……Page 264
15.3 Use of Ground Water……Page 265
15.4 Ground-Water Pollution……Page 269
15.5 Ground Water and Nuclear Waste Disposal……Page 273
15.6 Caverns and Karst Topography……Page 274
15.7 Hot Springs and Geysers……Page 277
15.8 Geothermal Energy……Page 278
Summary……Page 279
16 – Deserts……Page 282
16.1 Why do Deserts Exist?……Page 284
16.2 Desert Landforms……Page 286
16.3 Two Desert Landscapes in the United States……Page 289
16.4 Wind in Deserts……Page 290
Summary……Page 296
17 – Glaciers and Ice Ages……Page 298
17.1 Formation of Glaciers……Page 300
17.2 Glacial Movement……Page 301
17.3 Glacial Erosion……Page 305
17.4 Glacial Deposits……Page 309
17.5 The Pleistocene Ice Age……Page 313
Summary……Page 316
18 – Coastlines……Page 318
18.1 Waves, Tides, and Currents……Page 320
18.2 The Water’s Edge……Page 324
18.3 Emergent and Submergent Coastlines……Page 325
18.4 Sandy and Rocky Coastlines……Page 327
18.5 Development of Coastlines……Page 331
18.6 Global Warming and Sea-Level Rise……Page 333
Summary……Page 334
19 – Geologic Resources……Page 336
19.4 How Ore Forms……Page 338
19.5 Mineral Reserves……Page 344
19.6 Coal……Page 345
19.7 Mines and Mining……Page 346
19.8 Petroleum and Natural Gas……Page 348
19.9 Nuclear Fuels and Reactors……Page 352
Summary……Page 354
20 – The Geological Evolution of North America……Page 356
20.2 The Craton……Page 358
20.4 North America: 1 Billion Years Ago……Page 360
20.5 North America: A Half Billion Years Ago……Page 361
20.6 Breakup of Pangea Iii……Page 362
20.7 Building of the Western Mountains……Page 363
20.8 The Pleistocene Ice Age and the Arrival of Humans in North America……Page 370
Summary……Page 372
Appendix A – Systems of Measurement……Page 374
Appendix B – Rock Symbols……Page 378
Glossary……Page 380
Back Cover……Page 398
Web site……Page 0