GEOLOGY 230 EVOLUTION OF THE EARTH Lynn S. Fichter - Fichtels@jmu.edu Dept. of Geology & Environmental Science James Madison University MSC 7703 233 Miller Hall (600) 568-6531 |
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QUICK ACCESS TO THE FOLLOWING
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 Course Syllabus Test Schedule Reading Assignments Field Trip Schedule Part One - The Rock Record Part Two - The Evolution of Life Part Three - Evolution of the Earth Lecture Books: > JMU Copy Center Lecture Notebook. This is the most essential book you need; it will be used every single class during the semester. Otherwise there is no formal text book for the course. Lab Books/Supplies: > Fichter, L.S., and Poche', D.J., 2001, Ancient Environments and the Interpretation of Geologic History, 3rd Edition, Macmillan Publishing Company, 310 pages. > A Handlens, 10X, purchased from the Geology Club or bookstore. |
Reading pdf files Many of the pages linked below are Adobe pdf files. Clicking on the link will open an Adobe reader and load the page. From there you can print the page. If you have trouble loading or printing them, see suggestions at the link above. Final Exam Time: Wednesday, May 7, 10:30 - 12:30 Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10-11; T/T 8-10; By appointment; or anytime I am in my office, which is most of the time, and not immediately tied up with something else. Just come by, or call to see if I am available. |
The web sites listed below support the Geology 230: Evolution of the Earth (i.e. historical geology) course taught by Lynn Fichter in the Department of Geology and Environmental Studies at James Madison University. They include the course syllabus, study guides, examples of tests, and other sites that support the course, such as solutions to homework problems, and review materials for parts of the course people usually have lots of questions about, etc. This site may change as the semester progresses. If there are things you need or want to have available here just let me know and I will get them up. The course is divided into three sections, each with a study guide and test (color coded below). The final exam is the third test. It is not comprehensive. |
Part One - The Rock Record Its Origin and Ordering |
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Study Guides and Sample Tests
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Supporting Pages
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Study Guide #1 This part of the course takes about 28 50-minute lectures. It is the longest section, and covers the widest range of knowledge. The readings are located on the shelf in Room 209. Ask if you can't find them. Remember, they may not be removed from the class room, except to photocopy. Sample Test #1> Evol. chart for Test #1 > Key to Sample Test #1 |
Igneous Rock Study Collection Bowen's Reaction Series Minerals Rock Web Sites: The first lab is a review of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Then the next few labs examine clastic and carbonate sedimentary rocks. There is no substitute for actually handling and studying rocks, but web sites exist for each groups of rocks, as well as for minerals. The sites are filled with pictures and descriptions of common and sometimes not so common rocks and might be helpful in your review work. The clickable page above will access all the mineral/rock/tectonic sites. Or, access them individually below. > Igneous Rocks > Metamorphic Rocks > Sedimentary Rocks > Minerals Reading Ternary Diagrams - Before coming to the 2nd lab you need to know how to read a ternary diagram, described at the links below Reading Ternary Diagrams - you must know this Clastic Sedimentary Rock Classification - this is where we are going in lab
Labeled Sediment Evolution Page Multiple Cycle Evolution of Sedimentary Rocks
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Part Two - The Evolution of Life And Its Impact on the Evolution of the Earth |
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Study Guide #2 This part of the course takes about xx 50-minute lectures. Sample Test #2 Page of Test Illustrations> Key to Sample Test #2 |
Chaos and Complexity Theory
Cellular Automata: - How They are Created and Work. I assigned as homework the working out of some Cellular Automata (CA). This link directly accesses instructions on calculating cellular automata. This and other CA and chaos/complexity links are also below. Chaos/Complexity Computer Programs - We used a number of programs to illustrate chaos principles. All these programs are available in the Geology Computer Lab, Miller 224. In addition to homework, you are also welcome to just play with the programs; some are really neat. Above link introduces programs and troubleshoots. New Handouts
Attractors: Strange and Otherwise Properties of Complex Systems Autocatylitic Networks Evol. Devel. of Bacterial Energy PathwaysGaia Theory
Selected Influences of Life's Reactions On Atmospheric Gasses and the Rock Record
- color version with arrows - pdf file Archaean-Proterozoic Transition - Analysis of the Daisyworld model; pdf file. Gaia Theory - page of links; want to review or learn more about Gaia; these links are very good to excellent. The Fossil Record of Life -A summary of life's history - pdf file. Anthology of Early Fishes - pdf file. Labrynthodonts and Early Reptiles - pdf file. Mammal Like Reptiles and Mammals - pdf file. Early Diapsid Ruling Reptiles - pdf file. |
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Note that the third test is the final exam and it is not comprehensive. Just work from study guide #3. However, be sure you have mastered the Wilson Cycle, and the Tectonic Rock Cycle. |
Part Three - Geologic Evolution of the Earth And All the Tectonic Theory Supporting It |
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Study Guide #3 This part of the course takes about 8 50-minute lectures. (Actually it takes a lot more, but by this time the semester is over, and there is no more time.) Sample Test #3And below accumpanying illustrations >A Selection of Cross Sections >Plate Boundaries and Relationships Defined by Plate Tectonic Theory >A Wilson Cycle >Archaean Outcrop Maps >Key to Sample Test #3 Central Appalachian Basin Lab
You can download additional copies of the fence diagrams for the Basin Analysis problem from thisFence Diagrams You will find there three files labeled cab1-2.bmp, cab2-3-4.bmp, and cab4-5-6.bmp. Click on one of the files and a dialogue box will open. You can then save it to a disc or your hard drive, OR if you want it will open in Paint where you can draw over the diagram. Note that these files are set up on 8 1/2 x 14 inch paper (legal size), and that the strip logs are smaller than the ones I handed out in class. Also, the images are not as crisp as the ones I gave you but they are readable. A few had asked if they could construct their fence diagrams in Paint and turn them in that way, and that would be great :-) |
New Handouts
Local and Evolutionary Attractors - four page pdf file One Page Illustrations of Local and Evolutionary Attractors A Normative (Suite) Classification of Igneous Rocks - One page pdf file summary classification of the suites. Changing Geosynclinal and Plate Tectonic Concepts - pdf file Plates - labeled diagram of plate boundaries Phanerozoic Sea Level Curves
Labeled Wilson Cycle Diagrams
Rift Systems Volcanic Arc Systems Continent-Continent Collision Sequence Continent-Continent Collision - last stage
Archaean Crustal Evolution Diagrams
Greenstone Belts Archaean Tectonic Rock Cycle Sedimentary FractionationWeb Links
Classification of Igneous Rocks - when talking of the tectonic evolution of igneous rocks the suite classification is the easiest to use. This site reviews igneous rock classification. Evolution of Igneous Rocks - concepts of the evolution of igneous rocks are essential to understanding the models we are going to pursue. If you need a refresher, review this link. WILSON CYCLE - the Wilson cycle is the most complicated idea we pursue all semester. It synthesizes and summarizes everything you have learned in one model. I develop the model in class but it frequently comes too fast. This page repeats the model in detail. It will be on the final exam.Be sure to see self tests for review. TECTONIC ROCK CYCLE - All semester long we start with simple ideal models, expand them into complicated models, and then redevelop new simple models that incorporate all the new information. In terms of the physical/chemical evolution of the earth the tectonic rock cycle incorporates the entire earth, all in one model. This page repeats the model in detail. It will be on the final exam.Be sure to see self tests for review. |
| Last Update: 01/05/01 | e-mail: (Fichtels@jmu.edu) |