General Geology

GEO 201
Introduction to earth and rock
types

Introduction
What is Geology?
Greek Name
Geo= Earth,
Logos = science .
So geology is the science of the Earth.

Introduction
Why should we study geology?
We are fundamentally dependent
on Earth's resources to function
as a society

Age of Earth
The earliest estimates of the age of
the Earth were not based in science
at all, but were determined from
biblical interpretations that the Earth
formed a mere 6010 years ago, in
4004 B.C.
Radiometric age
datingofmeteoritematerial showed
that theage of the Earthis 4.54
Billion Years

Earth Layer Structure

Earth Layer Structure

Earth Layer Structure

Crust
Oceanic 7 km thick, dark igneous rock
basalt, young (<180 my), dense (3.0 g/cm3)
Continental 70 km thick, granitic rock, old
(up to 4000 my), less dense (2.7 g/cm3)

Mantle
Contains 82% Earths volume, depth 2900
km

Core
Iron-nickel ,minor oxygen, silicon, sulfur
Extreme pressure highly dense (11 g/cm3)

Earth Layers Physical Properties

Lithosphere
Cold, strong rock exhibits rigid behavior
5 to 250 km thick

Asthenosphere (upper Mantle)

Soft weak layer, partial melting
Depth of 660 km

Mesosphere (lower Mantle)

Between 660 and 2900 km depth

Core (differing mechanical

strengths)
Outer liquid, generates Earths magnetic field
Inner behaves as solid due to immense
pressure
GEOS 101

Basic Rock Types

Igneous Rocks
EXTRUSIVE

Igneous Rocks
Extrusive rocks can be divided into
two categories based on color:

Dark colors black-brown-red

1- Basalt

2-Obsidian

Igneous Rocks
Light colors white-gray-pink
Rhyolite

Igneous Rocks
Intrusive rocks can also be divided
into two categories based on color:
Dark colors black-brown-green
Gabbro

Igneous Rocks
Light colors white-gray-pink
Granite

Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary
rocks are divided into two categories
Chemical

Metamorphic Rocks
Two types
Rockofsurrounding
Tectonic
metamorphism
forces
a magma body get cooked and changes

Metamorphic Rocks
1- Contact
Metamorphism:
Deep underground,
zones of
metamorphism
form around the
hot magma

Metamorphic Rocks
2- Regional Metamorphism
Tectonic forces smash continents
together. The rocks get heated and
become semi-molten. The added
pressure causes the mineral to
separate into bands

Metamorphic Rocks
Examples

Rock Cycle
Sedimenta
ry

Erosion

Sediments

Rocks

Heat & pressure

Erosion
Erosion

Metamorphi
c

Igneous
Rocks

Rocks

Heat

Cooling
Magma