Geology
Earth Science for Everyone
DJ Lake inspires wonder, explaining challenging scientific concepts clearly and easily.
Read more
DJ Lake inspires wonder, explaining challenging scientific concepts clearly and easily.
DJ Lake inspires wonder, explaining challenging scientific concepts clearly and easily.
Starting billions of years ago at the beginning of time, we bring you right to the present day. The veil is lifted on why the Earth works as it does, how we know what we know about our planet, and how all this affects your daily experience of the world.
This course is an introduction to Earth Science topics through the history of geology and chemistry. It is aimed at giving the student knowledge of why and how we know what we know in Earth Science. If you are looking for a course that will teach you identification of common rocks & minerals, you might find another course more appropriate because the focus here is big-picture ideas.
..
- How are mountains made?
- Why do oceans exist?
- What is a crystal?
- How old is the Earth?
- and many more…
What's inside
Syllabus
Time and Context
What the course teaches you…
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Geology has been studied in a limited manner since antiquity. What are the big questions? Where do we begin?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
Read more
Syllabus
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Geology has been studied in a limited manner since antiquity. What are the big questions? Where do we begin?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
In this lecture we explore the Scottish Enlightenment and how sociopolitical conditions led to immense academic progress in geology. James Hutton, the father of modern geology, is introduced and we discover the importance of the unconformity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons, NASA/JPL
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
The concept of an unconformity is pivotal to the understanding of geologic time. Join me for a virtual field trip to a really neat unconformity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
We are still working on that same old problem...How old is the Earth? Lord Kelvin was an interesting figure in 19th century science. We will discuss his contributions, and the various problems encountered by other 19th century earth scientists.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
In geology we study the firmament: rocks. But what are rocks anyway? We need to delve into the atomic structure of matter before we can truly understand the interactions of rocks, crystals, and minerals.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons, Bohr Atom: fastfission/Wikimedia Commons
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
This lesson could alternatively be called: What you may or may not remember from high school chemistry. Radioactivity is an interesting phenomenon in nature. It is also crucial to geologists. Let's delve deep into the history of the sciences!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons, Uraninite: KGUR/Wikimedia Commons, Crookes Tube: D-Kuru/Wikimedia Commons
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
Not strictly to do with geology, but I find this interesting…
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Because my lesson on radioactivity turned into a major treatment of the history of chemistry and particle physics, we have to have a second attempt and finish it up!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons; Helium Spectral Bands: Shanepi/Technion Physics Lab/Wikimedia Commons; Double Slit Experiment: Dr. Tonomura/Wikimedia Commons; EM diagram: Inductiveload/NASA/Wikimedia Commons.
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
We learned all that stuff about radioactivity for good reason. Finally we have the tools to tackle the problem of Earth's age!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons, Uranium Decay Chain: Tosaka/Wikimedia Commons
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Now we know the age of Earth, but as usual answers lead to more questions. Where are the oldest rocks? What is Earth made of?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons, NASA Johnson Space Center Earth Crew Observations group-Progress 42P Reentering Earth's Atmosphere (ISS029E34031-ISS029E34121), Milky Way and Storms over Africa (ISS030E28525-ISS030E28692).
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Although we mainly think of planet "Earth", it would be more aptly called planet "Ocean". Most of the world is covered in water, and 99% of the liveable space is underwater!
What does this mean for earth scientists?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons, Blue Marble: NASA/JPL
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
The Swiss Alps are a traditional place of study for geologists. The formations are structurally complex, and a lot of pioneering work in geology was done in the Alps. We'll see what secrets those jagged peaks have reluctantly let slip.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons, Swiss Alps Satellite: NASA/JPL, Thrust Diagram: Mikenorton/Wikimedia Commons, Glarus Thrust: Hans G. Oberlach/Wikimedia Commons, Doldenhorn Nappe Folding: Woudloper/Wikimedia Commons.
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Have you ever noticed the nearly jigsaw puzzle fit of the continents? Check it out on a map, it's neat. Lots of scientists through history have picked up on that as well. In this lecture we'll see what the shape of continents implies…
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons, Fossil Belts Diagram: USGS
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
The ocean deeps are a mysterious place - in some ways more mysterious than space. War and political circumstances have historically provided funding for naval navigation. We'll look at the results, stemming from wartime bathymetric surveys, on the progress of earth science.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons, World Bathymetry Compilation: NASA/JPL
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
In medicine, we use X-rays and any number of other imaging techniques to see inside the body. Earth science has its own toolkit and we use it to look inside the Earth. Imagine doing an "ultrasound" on our planet...We can! What do we find inside the Earth?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons, Example Seismic Profile-USGS
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
What is actually out there on the ocean floors, thousands of kilometres from shore? Oceanographers and others have actually dragged seafloor dredges far out at sea to answer that question. They find the occasional rock, but not just any old kind of rock!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons, World Bathymetry Compilation: NASA/JPL, Pillow Lava Image/Video: USGS, NOAA.
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
In the 1950's a group of Stanford scientists made a discovery that changed Earth science forever. The studies used paleomagnetic data, and so fantastic were they, that some have called it "paleomagic"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
World Bathymetry Compilation: NASA/JPL
Vine, F.J., 1966. Spreading of the ocean floor: New evidence. Science, 154: 1405-1415.
Vine, F.J., 1968. Magnetic anomalies associated with mid-ocean ridges. (in Phinney, R.A.)
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
The Unifying Theory. Plate Tectonics. A deceivingly simple concept that has deep implications for every facet of geology. Here is an introduction…
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons, Tectonic Plates Map: USGS
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Let's discuss convergent, or destructive plate margins. We'll talk about two kinds of subduction, then I'll explain the concept of continental collisions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons, Diagrams based on USGS artwork, Himalayas: NASA/JPL
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Here we'll discuss the divergent, or constructive margins. These include seafloor spreading, and continental rifting. What drives these processes? How do they manifest themselves today?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
Blue Marble Project imagery for Iceland, Africa: NASA/JPL
World Bathymetry Compilation: NASA/JPL
NASA Johnson Space Center Earth Crew Observations (ISS timelapse with ISS034E15609-ISS034E16607)
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Let's put together some of the things we've learned and apply ourselves to a real problem. How did the Rocky Mountains form? We can't hope to answer that question fully in an 11 minute lesson, but let's at least cover the main thrust of the concept and see how geologists might approach such a question!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the art and imagery in this course is in the public domain, or original work based on academic sources. Please see below for any exceptions in this lesson.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
Topographic Map of North America (Shuttle Topography Mission Data): NASA/JPL
North American Tapestry of Time and Terrain: USGS (in collaboration with Canada, Mexico)-This is a phenomenal, inspiring map. You should consider buying one or downloading it from the USGS website.
Historical Topographic Map of North America: USGS
Other diagram inspiration: Various USGS artwork
Music Credit: Kevin MacLeod-Earth Prelude, Finding a Balance, Death of Kings 2
Good to know
Save this course
Save
Activities
Practice identifying rocks and minerals
Show steps
Practice identifying rocks and minerals using the online resources provided by the course.
Show steps
-
Visit the Virtual Mineral Museum
-
Use the Rock Identification Key
-
Take the online quiz on rock and mineral identification
Learn about the history of geology
Show steps
Learn about the history of geology and how our understanding of the Earth has evolved over time.
Browse courses on
Geological Time
Show steps
-
Watch the video lecture on the history of geology
-
Read the article on the history of geology
-
Complete the online quiz on the history of geology
Read _The Earth Through Time_ by Harold L. Levin
Show steps
Read _The Earth Through Time_ by Harold L. Levin to further deepen your understanding of the history of Earth and the processes that have shaped it.
Show steps
-
Read chapters 1-5 of the book
-
Complete the online quiz on the book
-
Attend the book discussion forum
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create a geological map of your local area
Show steps
Create a geological map of your local area to apply the concepts you've learned in the course.
Show steps
-
Gather data on the geology of your local area
-
Use a mapping software to create a geological map
-
Present your map to the class
Volunteer at a local museum or science center
Show steps
Volunteer at a local museum or science center to learn more about Earth Science and share your knowledge with others.
Browse courses on
Earth Science
Show steps
-
Contact a local museum or science center
-
Inquire about volunteer opportunities
-
Attend volunteer training
Attend a geology workshop or conference
Show steps
Attend a geology workshop or conference to learn more about the latest research and developments in the field.
Browse courses on
Earth Science
Show steps
-
Search for upcoming geology workshops or conferences
-
Register for a workshop or conference
-
Attend the workshop or conference
Practice identifying rocks and minerals
Show steps
Practice identifying rocks and minerals using the online resources provided by the course.
Show steps
- Visit the Virtual Mineral Museum
- Use the Rock Identification Key
- Take the online quiz on rock and mineral identification
Learn about the history of geology
Show steps
Learn about the history of geology and how our understanding of the Earth has evolved over time.
Browse courses on
Geological Time
Show steps
- Watch the video lecture on the history of geology
- Read the article on the history of geology
- Complete the online quiz on the history of geology
Read _The Earth Through Time_ by Harold L. Levin
Show steps
Read _The Earth Through Time_ by Harold L. Levin to further deepen your understanding of the history of Earth and the processes that have shaped it.
Show steps
- Read chapters 1-5 of the book
- Complete the online quiz on the book
- Attend the book discussion forum
Create a geological map of your local area
Show steps
Create a geological map of your local area to apply the concepts you've learned in the course.
Show steps
- Gather data on the geology of your local area
- Use a mapping software to create a geological map
- Present your map to the class
Volunteer at a local museum or science center
Show steps
Volunteer at a local museum or science center to learn more about Earth Science and share your knowledge with others.
Browse courses on
Earth Science
Show steps
- Contact a local museum or science center
- Inquire about volunteer opportunities
- Attend volunteer training
Attend a geology workshop or conference
Show steps
Attend a geology workshop or conference to learn more about the latest research and developments in the field.
Browse courses on
Earth Science
Show steps
- Search for upcoming geology workshops or conferences
- Register for a workshop or conference
- Attend the workshop or conference
Career center
Geologist
Geochemist
Park Ranger
Geotechnical Engineer
Science Teacher
Oceanographer
Cartographer
Museum Educator
Environmental Consultant
Science Policy Analyst
Natural Resources Manager
Hydrogeologist
Science Writer
Geophysicist
Environmental Scientist
Reading list
Save
Save
Save
Share
Similar courses
OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.
Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.
Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.
We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.
Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.
Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.
