TTC Video Practical Geology

TTC Video – Practical Geology
Lecturer: James F. P. Cotter, PhD Professor, University of Minnesota, Morris | Course No. 1736

Geology is probably the most accessible and enjoyable of all the sciences. You can do it almost anywhere. The equipment you need is minimal. It takes you outdoors, often to spectacular places. Best of all, the insights are astonishing-and practical. Consider these geological observations from everyday environments:

[]Sand: On beaches, playgrounds, golf courses, construction sites, and icy sidewalks, sand is ubiquitous, and it bears close inspection. The mix of minerals that make up the grains can tell you where the sand comes from. It may well derive from now-vanished mountain ranges, volcanoes, or coral beds.
[]Granite: Many kitchens have granite countertops. But are they really granite? The term is used loosely by contractors. Real granite has three types of visible minerals, all about the same size, without a larger structure or pattern. Other natural surfaces sold as granite might have different properties.

Dream Destinations for Practicing Geology

The course covers a dream list of geologic destinations, many in North America, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Washington’s Channeled Scablands, Yosemite National Park, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Mississippi River Delta, and Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier. Not everyone can make such trips, but you can still practice geology in your immediate surroundings, wherever you live.

[]Outcrops: You pass by outcrops all the time, especially on highways where roadcuts are ideal outcrops. They are like X-ray images of the local geology. If state law allows, pull over and see if you can decipher what’s going on. Professor Cotter provides safety tips and recommends resources and strategies.
[]Gravel pits: The poor man’s glacier, gravel pits are often ready-made excavations into glacial deposits. Some pits have sediments that represent almost every type of geologic process-rivers, wind, mudslides, glacial tectonics, and lakes. Organized trips are best, due to the inherent risks of open-pit mines.
[]Caves: Caves are very common in areas underlain by limestone, dolomite, or gypsum. In the United States, many cave formations record the time when North America was covered in ice sheets. Again, safety first! Cave exploration is an activity to be pursued only with an experienced group.

Rocks, Minerals, Gems, and More

Professor Cotter also delves into minerals, which are the substances that make up rocks. And he discusses crystals, the form that minerals take. He explains the conditions that create oil, gas, and coal, and how they are extracted. And he takes you hunting for some highly prized products of geologic forces, including these:

[]Gold: It’s still possible to pan for gold, just like the Forty-Niners during the Gold Rush. But first you need to zero in on streams that are the best bet, which means understanding how gold gets into rivers to begin with. Knowing where igneous rocks and hydrothermal activity have occurred is a big help.
[]Gems: Gemstones are mostly hard crystalline minerals that can be cut and polished to create jewels. In other words, they’re beautiful-but not in the rough, where they often look like ordinary rocks. Learn how different gems form, where they can be found, and fruitful prospecting techniques.
[]Fossils: Fossils are the preserved remains and traces of ancient life. They are so abundant that it’s not hard to find them-if you know where to look. Professor Cotter explains the geologic formations that are most likely to harbor fossils, what life-forms to expect, and the dos and don’ts of fossil collecting.

Be Prepared

It’s hard to think of a more invigorating and mentally engaging activity than geology. Wherever you go, the rewards are fresh air, interesting scenery, and an absorbing puzzle to solve. A century and a half ago, Grand Canyon explorer John Wesley Powell described the glories of field geology: “I climb up the granite to its summit and go away back over the rust-colored sandstones and greenish yellow shales, to the foot of the marble wall. . All about me are interesting geological records. The book is open, and I can read as I run.”

After taking Practical Geology, you, too, will be able to contemplate nature’s glories and read the gripping story of the geological record.
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