Category Archives: UREES101

Mendon Ponds Park – A Preview

This one I’m writing as a preview for my introductory geology students. This week, we’ll be running field trips out to Mendon Ponds Park to look at glacial geology and to practice reading topographic maps. There will also be a bit of rock identification going on too.

Today I took my son and we went on the hike that my students will be taking throughout the week. We had to make sure the trails were clear.

And of course we brought our cameras.Continue reading “Mendon Ponds Park – A Preview”

Misconceptions – Rocks and Minerals

There are many misconceptions about geological concepts. There is a list here, developed by Kent Kirby of the University of Minnesota. This post is to debunk some of those misconceptions. There will be others. Find them here.

Misconceptions:

A. Rocks (and minerals) grow.

B. Coarse-grained rocks are rough, fine-grained rocks are smooth

C. Coarse-grained sedimentary rocks cooled slowly, coarse-grained igneous rocks formed in areas of high depositional energy, etc.

D. With minerals, the term ‘massive’ texture means that the samples are big.Continue reading “Misconceptions – Rocks and Minerals”

Misconception – The Rock Below Tectonic Plates is Liquid

There are many misconceptions about geological concepts. There is a list here, developed by Kent Kirby of the University of Minnesota. This post is to debunk two of those misconceptions. There will be others. Find them here.

Misconception: Asthenosphere is liquid and/or the lower mantle is liquidContinue reading “Misconception – The Rock Below Tectonic Plates is Liquid”

Common Misconceptions about Geology

There are many misconceptions about geological concepts. There is a list of these misconceptions here, developed by Kent Kirby of the University of Minnesota.

As I read through the list, I realized that almost all of them are concepts addressed in the first semester of an introductory geology class. Since I teach an introductory geology class, I thought I might go ahead and address these misconceptions. Continue reading “Common Misconceptions about Geology”

Misconception – Crust and Lithosphere are the Same Thing

There are many misconceptions about geological concepts. There is a list here, developed by Kent Kirby of the University of Minnesota. This post is to debunk one of those misconceptions. There will be others. Find them here.

Misconception: Crust and Lithosphere (or plates) are synonymous termsContinue reading “Misconception – Crust and Lithosphere are the Same Thing”

Cleavage … and Fracture

Did that catch your eye?

Yes, this is a geology post. I’m thinking about cleavage because it came up in class today. I would really like to do a demonstration of cleavage by smashing a calcite crystal to bits in front of the class. Don’t think that’s going to happen, alas.

But since I was thinking about it, I thought I’d write about it. So…Continue reading “Cleavage … and Fracture”

The Size and Age of the Universe

As I prepare for my fourth semester of teaching introductory geology, I remember that the first couple of lectures usually throw me. I decided to prepare in advance for the moments I look at my notes and have no idea where I was going.

Yes, kids, it happens. I am not an expert in everything that might ought to be covered in an introductory geology classes. Sometimes I get flummoxed when I’m lecturing about things that are not within my realm of expertise.Continue reading “The Size and Age of the Universe”