Geology Syllabus 2011

Geology course outline—January 31, 2011

1 Introduction
What is geology?

2 Distinction between experimental and historical science
Scientific method
Falsification of hypotheses
Interpretation biased by world view

3 Creation/Origin of the Earth—Two World Views
Biblical & secular

4 What does Scripture say?
Is the Earth young or old?

5 What is the secular world view?

6 Geological features
a. Structure of the Earth
b. Plate tectonics
c. Rock types
Igneous
Metamorphic
Sedimentary
Rock cycle
d. Erosion
Water
Wind
Glacial

7 Catastrophic events
In recorded history
Mt. Saint Helens
Mount Tambora
Evidence from geological land forms
Long Valley Caldera
Scablands
Traps
Mass extinctions

8 Volcanoes
a Lava types
b Merapi, Indonesia 2010
c Pyroclastic flows

9 Fossils
Conditions for formation
Clues to the past
Antarctic
Arctic
Greenland

Lab possibilities
Chemistry—limestone
Microscopic examinations
Mineral density
Hardness
Photography
Terrain measurements (angle of inclination, orientation)
Flow rates and sedimentation vs particle size

Spring Semester Geology Exploring God's Creation

This will be a new class to explore the geological features in and around the Antelope Valley. This will include Vasques Rocks, Devil's Punchbowl, the Barstow Syncline, the San Andreas fault and volcanic features in the area. Get out your hiking boots because we will be spending a lot of time in the field. More details to follow.