The Earth System Part One - The Geological Record Lynn S. Fichter - Fichtels@jmu.edu James Madison University; 7100E Memorial Hall - phone 8-6531

Study Guides Use the Power Points lectures as study guides (links to the right). I update them as necessary each time they are used and contain the most recent permutation of the subject matter. When I make up a test I go through the power points slide by slide, reminding myself of what we discussed and emphasized, and compose questions from that. My tests follow the order and logic of the power points almost exactly. There is a story and logic to everything we study, and if you get in the rhythm of the stories and logic it will all flow more smoothly. Sample Test #1   > Sample Power Point of Mineral/Rock/Volcanic ID     During the test a Power Point like this will be running continuously. There is a protion of the test where you select the appropriate identifications.     If you let the Power Point run you will get a sense of the timing for each slide. Also, if you sit in the back of the room, and cannot see these well enough from back there, you may come to the front to see them better.   This sample test is from the last time the course was taught. Use it to understand how I put my tests together. However, I rewrite tests each time I teach the course. Questions will be similar, but will be new.

Power Point Presentations Some of these Power Point presentations are large, so give them time to download on your computer. It may take a couple of minutes. I have converted them in pdf files to make them smaller. If you cannot get them here, write and let me know and I will find a way of getting them to you. You can also download them from the lecture room computer or the Geology Compter Lab. Monday - First Day PP-1. Earth is an Open System - our subject this semester is trying to come to understand this planet we live on. We cannot do it all; the subject is enormous. But, to understand the Earth we must come to understand how non-equilibrium systems behave, and that is what we do on the first day. Tuesday - Second Day PP-2. How Do Things Evolve PP-3. Open System Earth PP-4. Rock Forming Minerals You can see pictures and descriptions of the rock forming minerals at this web site. >> Minerals Home Page >> Alphabetical Listing of Minerals Wednesday - Third Day PP-5. Igneous Rocks An Igneous Rock Web Sites with pictures and descriptions is at: >> Alphabetical Listing with links >> Bowen's Reaction Series with clickable links to pictures >> Self Test to study by >> Volcano Review - United States Geological Survey web link. >> Also, go to Google, click images, and type in the type of volcano or lava flow. It is amazing how many pictures are out there; a virtual field trip. PP-6. Lava Flows and Volcanoes Thursday - Fourth Day PP-7. Fractionating Evolution of Igneous Rocks Monday - Fifth Day PP-8. Sedimentary Rock Origin and Classification >> Sedimentary Rock Web Site >> Sedimentary Rock Evolution >> Sedimentary Rock Evolution Flow Chart - Key PP-9. Follow the Energy - floods, hurricanes, tornados, and other "disasters." Why do they occur and how can we explain them? PP-10. Depositional Environments How depositional environments and sedimentary rocks evolve. PP-11. Metamorphism Add heat and pressure; bake. >> Metamorphic Rock Web Site END TEST UNIT ONE New Handouts Computer Programs From Systems Power Points Download a copy of Xnext Download a copy of the Bak-Sneppen model

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