Geological Time
Geological time can be expressed in millions of years ago (ma).
When did life appear and what order did phyla evolve?
Some changes through Geological Time
1. The breakup of landmasses Pangea, Laurasia, Gondwana through geological time
2. Oxygen concentration in the earth's atmosphere
3. Atmospheric Carbon dioxide concentration
4. Global temperatures
5. Glacial and Interglacial Cycles
Watch the video below to visualize the retreat of ice sheets from the Last Glacial Maximum (21,000 years ago or 19,000 B.C.) to the present.
6. Changes to Sea Levels over geological time
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7. Changes to Biodiversity over the last 540 million years
Rock-Forming Minerals
Task 1 Searching for and Identifying the minerals in rocks
Granite is a rock that was once molten. It cooled deep in the earth’s crust and so it has very large crystals.
It is a good rock to study as we can see the large crystals of the different minerals that make it up. |
Wave Rock, Hyden, WA is a granite outcrop.
Granite formed deep within the earth’s crust. How is it that granite is found on the surface of the earth today? |
Make observations of the rock granite under the binocular microscope. Draw the granite showing the large, interlocking crystals. Label their colours. Minerals Rocks are mixtures of minerals. Minerals are pure substances (compounds or elements). Because they are elements or compounds minerals have recognisable, specific properties. Instructions In pairs 1. Work through the minerals, rotating them through the whole team. Click on the buttons to the right to learn about the properties of minerals 2. Observe the minerals beneath the binocular microscope. 3. Describe as fully as you can what you observe. Write in the table as a guide. 4. Try scratching each mineral with your fingernail, the copper coin and the iron scissor blade. 5. State which mineral is the hardest, softest and why you think this. 6. Put a few drops of acid on each mineral. Note if there is any fizzing. 7. Wash each mineral after the acid treatment. What is the name of this mineral? |
2.51_rock-formingmineralstable.doc | |
File Size: | 1265 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Use the Mineral Density table to help you calculate the density of the mineral samples.
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If you have finished learning about the properties of the minerals you could apply this knowledge to build a dichotomous key for the idenitificataion of the minerals samples.
Task 2 Apply your knowledge to key and identify the minerals found in Granite
2.55_identifying_the_minerals_in_granite.docx | |
File Size: | 766 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Some Common Rock-Forming minerals
Task 3 Geological FieldWork
The aim is to interpret the geological setting of the rocky outcrop upon which our College is built.
A note on Geological drawing.
Accurate, neat drawings are a means to increase your skills of observation. As well as this they help communicate your observations to others. From accurate neat drawings we can make inferences about the formation of the structure. 1. Draw with a sharp pencil on blank paper. 2. Show North with an Arrow. 3. Show a scale. 4. A key of rock types or structures is useful too. |
2.6_3_field_work_and_interpretation.docx | |
File Size: | 101 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Task 4 The Geological History of the Perth Basin
The notemaking sheet below accompanies the PowerPoint presentation and the iMovie.
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