Earth Science 2 (Geology)
This course, which is a continuation of Earth Science, will explore the field of geology and the study of the Earth, with an emphasis on how that relates to mining and mining issues. The goal of the course is to understand and appreciate what geologic products and processes are, such as rocks, minerals, and deep time, as well as how those things impact our lives, economies, and our environment. Other areas of study that are incorporated into the course are basic principles of chemistry and topics relating to resource use, management, and sustainability. Arizona is a mineral and mining mecca, and much of the class content will also be focused on how minerals are used and mined in our own state, as well as on how these mining practices affect our environment, ecosystems, and health. In addition, one of Tucson’s largest events is the annual Gem and Mineral Show, and there will be an opportunity to go and explore this world-class showing of minerals, rocks, gems, and fossils from around the world as well.
Unit One: An Introduction to Geology
Objectives:
Overview of basic principles and concepts in the science of geology, learn the principles of stratigraphy and how rock strata are studied, analyze the fossil record and each of the major eras of geologic time, explore the geologic history of Arizona
Handouts/ Materials:
Course Syllabus, 'Dawning of Curiosity', 'Geologic Time', 'A Brief Overview of Earth's History', Geologic Timeline Project Guidelines, 'Geologic History of Arizona'
Assignments/ Activities:
Dawning of Curiosity Questions, Geologic Time Questions, A Brief Overview of Earth's History Questions, Geologic Timeline Project, Geologic History of Arizona Reading Activity, Geologic History of Arizona Questions, Binder Check 1, Unit Quiz One
Supplementary Links:
How do scientists date fossils?
How do fossils form?
Smithsonian interactive timeline
Interactive timeline from UC Berkeley
Another one from NOAA
Another one from the British Geological Society
Good explanation of the geologic column
Scientists find meteorite older than the solar system
Lost continent discovered in Earth's geologic history- 'Greater Adria'
What did the earliest life look like?
A wild discovery about fungi just changed Earth's evolutionary timeline
The Permian extinction- 'The Great Dying'
Here's what happened in the impact crater that killed the dinosaurs
Scientists find fossils from the last day of the Cretaceous Period
Another article about this incredible find
Geologists have now closed the case on the Cretaceous extinction with Iridium dust find
Evolution of walking upright possibly linked to supernova
Scientists search for the beginning of the Anthropocene
What fossils will our civilization leave behind?
Human-made materials now equal the weight of all life on Earth
Billion-year old chunk of North America found stuck to Australia
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Overview of basic principles and concepts in the science of geology, learn the principles of stratigraphy and how rock strata are studied, analyze the fossil record and each of the major eras of geologic time, explore the geologic history of Arizona
Handouts/ Materials:
Course Syllabus, 'Dawning of Curiosity', 'Geologic Time', 'A Brief Overview of Earth's History', Geologic Timeline Project Guidelines, 'Geologic History of Arizona'
Assignments/ Activities:
Dawning of Curiosity Questions, Geologic Time Questions, A Brief Overview of Earth's History Questions, Geologic Timeline Project, Geologic History of Arizona Reading Activity, Geologic History of Arizona Questions, Binder Check 1, Unit Quiz One
Supplementary Links:
How do scientists date fossils?
How do fossils form?
Smithsonian interactive timeline
Interactive timeline from UC Berkeley
Another one from NOAA
Another one from the British Geological Society
Good explanation of the geologic column
Scientists find meteorite older than the solar system
Lost continent discovered in Earth's geologic history- 'Greater Adria'
What did the earliest life look like?
A wild discovery about fungi just changed Earth's evolutionary timeline
The Permian extinction- 'The Great Dying'
Here's what happened in the impact crater that killed the dinosaurs
Scientists find fossils from the last day of the Cretaceous Period
Another article about this incredible find
Geologists have now closed the case on the Cretaceous extinction with Iridium dust find
Evolution of walking upright possibly linked to supernova
Scientists search for the beginning of the Anthropocene
What fossils will our civilization leave behind?
Human-made materials now equal the weight of all life on Earth
Billion-year old chunk of North America found stuck to Australia
Supplementary Films:
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Unit Two: Earth Chemistry
Objectives:
Overview of the structure of atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds, introduce the periodic table, understand basic principles of chemistry and chemical bonding
Handouts/ Materials:
'Matter, Elements, and Atoms', 'Metals', 'Nonmetals and Metalloids', 'Chemical Bonding'
Assignments/ Activities:
Matter, Elements, and Atoms Questions, Periodic Table Activity, Periodic Table Questions, Alien Periodic Table Activity, Chemical Bonding Questions, Chemical Formulas Worksheet, Binder Check 2, Periodic Table Check, Midterm Exam
Supplementary Links:
Play the 'states of matter' interactive game
Scientists unlock the secrets of Einsteinium
Excellent interactive Periodic Table with all the info
Interactive Periodic Table
Another really nice interactive Periodic Table
Another good interactive Periodic Table
See the first-ever video of atoms bonding
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Overview of the structure of atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds, introduce the periodic table, understand basic principles of chemistry and chemical bonding
Handouts/ Materials:
'Matter, Elements, and Atoms', 'Metals', 'Nonmetals and Metalloids', 'Chemical Bonding'
Assignments/ Activities:
Matter, Elements, and Atoms Questions, Periodic Table Activity, Periodic Table Questions, Alien Periodic Table Activity, Chemical Bonding Questions, Chemical Formulas Worksheet, Binder Check 2, Periodic Table Check, Midterm Exam
Supplementary Links:
Play the 'states of matter' interactive game
Scientists unlock the secrets of Einsteinium
Excellent interactive Periodic Table with all the info
Interactive Periodic Table
Another really nice interactive Periodic Table
Another good interactive Periodic Table
See the first-ever video of atoms bonding
Supplementary Films:
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Unit Three: Minerals and Mineral Characteristics
Objectives:
Basic overview of minerals and mineral formation, identify common mineral characteristics such as hardness, cleavage, specific gravity, and other properties; learn about rock formation, rock types, and the rock cycle
Handouts/ Materials:
'How Geology Affects Us', 'Minerals', 'The Scientific Method', 'Rocks and Rock Types'
Assignments/ Activities:
Salt Crystal Lab, Mineral Identification Lab I, Mineral Identification Lab II, Rock Identification Worksheet, Binder Check 3, Unit Quiz Two
Supplementary Links:
Mindat.org- a great mineral online database
Minerals.net- another good mineral database
Super deep diamond reveals minerals from the mantle never before-seen
These human-sized crystals formed in especially strange ways
Unearthly minerals might be abundant on Saturn's moon Titan
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Basic overview of minerals and mineral formation, identify common mineral characteristics such as hardness, cleavage, specific gravity, and other properties; learn about rock formation, rock types, and the rock cycle
Handouts/ Materials:
'How Geology Affects Us', 'Minerals', 'The Scientific Method', 'Rocks and Rock Types'
Assignments/ Activities:
Salt Crystal Lab, Mineral Identification Lab I, Mineral Identification Lab II, Rock Identification Worksheet, Binder Check 3, Unit Quiz Two
Supplementary Links:
Mindat.org- a great mineral online database
Minerals.net- another good mineral database
Super deep diamond reveals minerals from the mantle never before-seen
These human-sized crystals formed in especially strange ways
Unearthly minerals might be abundant on Saturn's moon Titan
Supplementary Films:
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Unit Four: Mining and Mining Issues
Objectives:
Explore the use of minerals in everyday life, overview of the history of mining and current mining practices; understand the environmental, social, and other issues and concerns related to mining and ways to mitigate them, particularly within the Sonoran Desert region
Handouts/ Materials:
'Common Uses of Minerals', 'Mining', 'Overview of Modern Mining', 'Negative Impacts of Mining', 'Rosemont Copper', 'The Rosemont Copper Controversy', Rosemont Mine Debate Guidelines, 'Gemstones'
Assignments/ Activities:
Mining Questions, Modern Marvels: Copper Questions, Overview of Modern Mining Questions, Negative Impacts of Mining Reading Activity, Negative Impacts of Mining Questions, Rosemont Mine Debate, National Geographic: Splendid Stones Questions, Binder Check 4, Final Exam, Course Evaluation
Supplementary Links:
Oak Flat's Arizona land is sacred to the Apache. They're fighting to save it from copper mining
Supplementary Films:
Objectives:
Explore the use of minerals in everyday life, overview of the history of mining and current mining practices; understand the environmental, social, and other issues and concerns related to mining and ways to mitigate them, particularly within the Sonoran Desert region
Handouts/ Materials:
'Common Uses of Minerals', 'Mining', 'Overview of Modern Mining', 'Negative Impacts of Mining', 'Rosemont Copper', 'The Rosemont Copper Controversy', Rosemont Mine Debate Guidelines, 'Gemstones'
Assignments/ Activities:
Mining Questions, Modern Marvels: Copper Questions, Overview of Modern Mining Questions, Negative Impacts of Mining Reading Activity, Negative Impacts of Mining Questions, Rosemont Mine Debate, National Geographic: Splendid Stones Questions, Binder Check 4, Final Exam, Course Evaluation
Supplementary Links:
Oak Flat's Arizona land is sacred to the Apache. They're fighting to save it from copper mining
Supplementary Films:
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