450 likes | 460 Views
GEOLOGY – EARTH’S STORY. Lesson 1. “The Present is the Key to the Past” - By geologist James Hutton, late 1700’s. Copy this statement into your notebook. Then write a few sentences about how studying the present could reveal the story of earth’s history. Catastrophism.
E N D
GEOLOGY – EARTH’S STORY Lesson 1
“The Present is the Key to the Past”- By geologist James Hutton, late 1700’s Copy this statement into your notebook. Then write a few sentences about how studying the present could reveal the story of earth’s history.
Catastrophism • A Principle that states that all geological change occurred suddenly. • Catastrophes happened- Rare, sudden, events, for e.g. Earthquakes, The Noachian flood, Tsunamis, Mudslides, Creation?
Uniformitarianism • In 1795 by philosopher/scientist James Hutton • Wrote that earth’s landforms were constantly and gradually changing
Hutton observed… • Natural forces breaking down rock… • Rivers carry rock particles downstream… • Deposition of sediments, forming new layers. Eventually forming new rock… • He thought new rock will eventually be uplifted – or from volcanoes – creating new landforms. • The cycle will start over again. • He judged from the slowness of the processes that Earth must be incredibly old!
Uniformitarianism is a Principle that states that the same geological processes shaping the earth today have been constantly, slowly, and gradually, at work, throughout earth’s history
Charles Lyell • In 1830 published a book, “Principles of Geology” • Was a friend of Hutton • and of Charles Darwin, and was influenced by Darwin’s theory of Evolution.
The great Debate! • A HAPPY MEDIUM • Most modern scientists believe both principles are at work in nature
Most geological change is gradual e.g. erosion • Catastrophic events do happen e.g. earthquakes
Example: An asteroid impacting the Earth is believed to have led to dinosaur extinction • Tsunami in Japan, 2012 • Earthquake in Chile, 2015 • More?
Activities A. Apply – Do the Making Assumptions activity. Work with your seat partner! B. 1. Why do Earth scientists need the Principle of Uniformitarianism in order to make predictions? • Compare and Contrast Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism?
Relative Dating: “Which Came First?” Section 6-2
What is Relative Dating? Relative Dating uses a number of Principles or Laws • Compare one rock layer to another to determine if one is older or younger • Does NOT give specific age of rock.
Laws/Principles used are: • The Law of Uniformitarianism • The Law of Catastrophism • The Law of Superposition • The Law Inclusions • The Law of Cross-Cutting • Principle of Original Horizontality • Unconformities, and Disturbances,
The Principle of Superposition top younger rocks bottom older
The Geological Column • What is it? • What is it used for? • Dating rocks – by make comparisons • Identifying layers in puzzling or disturbed rock sequences
Younger rocks lie above older rocks in undisturbed sequences “Younger over older”
Disturbancescaused by forces within the earth • Intrusion - • Fault - • Tilting - • Folding -
Law of Intrusion or Cross-Cutting • Anything cutting across a rock layer is younger. The rock had to be there first! • Cross cuts can be • Igneous Intrusions, or • Igneous Extrusions, or • Faulting (earthquakes)
Intrusion – cross-cutting Is the dike the youngest or oldest?
A diabase dike crosscutting horizontal limestone beds in Arizona
Faults Go To: http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/earthsc202notes/quakes.htm
Law of Inclusions • Pieces of rock found in other layers are always older
Inclusions Which came first, the ant or the amber?
If a rock (Rock B) contained fragments of another rock body (Rock A), B must be younger than the fragments of rock A it contained. The intruding rock (Rock A) must have been there first to provide the fragments.
Activities • P138 Activity with text chapters on note-cards. • Construct the Geological Column using cutouts.
UnconformitiesGaps in the record • Is a surface that represents a missing part of the geological column – show missing time. • Gaps caused by erosion
Types: • Nonconformities • Disconformities • Angular Unconformities
Nonconformity Grand Canyon overlying sedimentary rocks Missing eroded layers igneous/metamorphic rocks below the nonconformity
At Corrie, England, the red rocks are early Permian, and they lie unconformably, and at a slight angle, on greyer rocks of Carboniferous age.
Disconformity - A disconformity is an unconformity between parallel layers of sedimentary rocks which represents a period of erosion or non-deposition. A Nonconformity - exists between sedimentary rocks and other rocks when the sedimentary rock lies above and was deposited on the pre-existing and eroded metamorphic or igneous rock.
Nonconformities continued An angular unconformity is an unconformity where horizontally parallel strata of sedimentary rock are deposited on tilted and eroded layers
Hmwk • Complete Text Qus. • Worksheet • Prepare for Quiz
View • Discovery Education Video: “Rocks of Ages”