Physical Geology 101
Reading Material

The following is a list of links to reading material from a variety of sources. Use of some of this material is password protected and restricted to use by students currently enrolled in Physical Geology 101. This material may only be used for the purpose of completing the required reading assignments. All copyright laws apply. Electronic copying and distribution of this material is prohibited.
Mineral and Rock Identification Atlas, by Richard Harwood
Textbook/Lab Material for course: This book is available for purchase at Lulu.com
How to Succeed in the Course
How to Succeed & Expectations of Students
Introduction to Geology
Introduction and Origin of the Earth - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Continental Drift
This Dynamic Earth: Historical Perspective - United States Geological Survey web page
Continental Drift - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Earth's Interior
The Interior of the Earth - United States Geological Survey web page
Introduction and Origin of the Earth - read the section entitled "The Earth -- What is it?" - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Paleomagnetism & Seafloor Spreading
This Dynamic Earth: Developing the Theory - United States Geological Survey web page
Paleomagnetism and Sea Floor Spreading - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Plate Tectonics & Plate Boundaries
This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics - United States Geological Survey web page
This Dynamic Earth: World Map of Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Impact Craters, and Plate Tectonics - United States Geological Survey, Geologic Investigations Map I-2800, PDF file
This Dynamic Earth: Understanding Plate Motion - United States Geological Survey web page
This Dynamic Earth: Hotspots, Mantle Thermal Plumes - United States Geological Survey web page
This Dynamic Earth: Plate Tectonics and People - United States Geological Survey web page
Plate Tectonics - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Plate Motion - Driving Mechanisms
This Dynamic Earth: Some Unanswered Questions - United States Geological Survey web page
Minerals
Chapter 1: Mineral Physical Properties - Mineral and Rock Identification Atlas (Textbook for course; see note above)
Chapter 2: Mineral Identification - Mineral and Rock Identification Atlas (Textbook for course; see note above)
Minerals - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
The Definition of a Mineral - by Ernest H. Nickel, 1995, The Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 33, pp. 689-690. Mineralogical Society of America PDF File.
Mineral Definitions - Mineralogy Database web page.
Introduction to Mineralogy - Andrea Bangert web page.
Mineralogy: A historical review - Hazen, R.M. (1984) Mineralogy: A historical review: Journal of Geological Education 32, 288-298. PDF File.
The Rock Cycle
What is the Rock Cycle? - Idaho Museum of Natural History web page
Rock Cycle Diagram - Geology.About.com web page
Igneous Rocks
Magmas and Igneous Rocks - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Chapter 3: Igneous Rock Identification - Mineral and Rock Identification Atlas (Textbook for course; see note above)
Plutonic Rocks
Magmas and Igneous Rocks - read section entitled "Intrusive Environments" - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Volcanic Rocks
Volcanoes - read sections entitled "Magmas and Lava", and "The Products of Volcanic Eruptions" - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Chapter 4: Volcanic Rocks Identification - Mineral and Rock Identification Atlas (Textbook for course; see note above)
Volcanoes
Volcanoes - read section entitled "Volcanic Landforms", and all sections afterward - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Volcanoes - by Robert I. Tilling, USGS web page
Weathering and Erosion
Weathering and Soils - read section entitled "Weathering" - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Mass Movements - - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Sedimentary Rocks
Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Chapter 5: Sedimentary Rock Identification - Mineral and Rock Identification Atlas (Textbook for course; see note above)
Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Chapter 6: Metamorphic Rock Identification - Mineral and Rock Identification Atlas (Textbook for course; see note above)
Earthquakes
Earthquakes & the Earth's Interior - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Earthquakes - by Kaye M. Shedlock & Louis C. Pakiser, USGS web page
Crustal Deformation
Deformation of Rock - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page