ES-128: Physical Geology Laboratory

In this laboratory course students will utilize the basic materials and tools of physical geology to identify common rocks and minerals. Students will also analyze and interpret geologic and topographic maps as well as aerial photographs. Specific topic areas to be studied include faults and folds, mass wasting, stream, eolian, glacial, coastal and slope processes, earthquake hazards and plate tectonics. Emphasis is placed on interactions between plate tectonics and the rock cycle, and how these interactions drive igneous rock formation, metamorphic rock formation, and the formation of sedimentary basins and landforms. Lab topics will also include: earthquake/volcano mapping, virtual earthquake and river flooding activity, weather rain gauge activity, geologic landforms, earth history. Pre- or Corequisite: ES 127. With ES 127, this course fulfills the Physical and Natural Place requirement in the General Education Curriculum.