Week 8 Blog: Geology



 













What did you do in lab this week? In lab this week we did an experiment exploring different types of sand with a microscope, I attached two of my favorite ones. It was really cool seeing what each sand looked like very close under the microscope. Then, we looked at fossils that were found in Iowa. Then, we took a field trip to Macbride Hall to see the museum which was very neat. 

What was the big question? How can fossils tell us more about what our planet was like before we were here? 

What did you learn in discussion this week? 

The Devonian Period In Iowa: Around 419 to 359 million years ago, most of Iowa was covered by warm, shallow seas. During this time, the area was home to a wide variety of sea life, including: Brachiopods, Trilobites, Corals, Crinoids, Cephalopods, Armored fish.

Types of Sand:Water-formed sand: Smooth, shiny, and grains are usually the same size. Glacier-formed sand: Also smooth and polished, but the grain sizes vary.Wind-formed sand: Dull, frosted, pitted, and very fine in texture.

Rock Cycle: Rocks are constantly changing through processes like melting, breaking down, and reforming.Weathering: When rocks are broken down by the environment Mechanical weathering: Rocks break into smaller pieces without changing their makeup (leads to detrital sedimentary rocks) Chemical weathering: Chemical reactions change the rock’s composition (leads to chemical sedimentary rocks)Erosion: The movement of broken-down rock by water, wind, or glaciers

Law of Superposition: Sedimentary rock layers build up over time, with newer layers on top and older ones below. This is used figure out the relative age of rock layers. 

Wind Erosion: Wind can only carry small particles, but it can wear down larger rocks over time.Wind shadows form behind objects where wind slows down and drops sediment.Wind shapes the land by carving and depositing material.

Water Erosion: Rivers are powerful forces of erosion and come in different “ages” based on energy, not time. Young rivers: Fast, steep, full of energy; they cut deep “V-shaped” valleys and move large materials like boulders. Mature rivers: Slower than young rivers, with moderate energy. Old rivers: Slow-moving, winding (meandering), and carry fine sediment. They form features like oxbow lakes and erode riverbanks. Rivers eventually flow into deltas, where they deposit sediment.

Glacier Erosion: Glaciers move rock and sediment like giant bulldozers.Two types: Continental glaciers: Covered Iowa during the Ice Age, flattening most of the land except areas like the Driftless Region in northeast Iowa. Mountain glaciers: Found in places like Colorado, they carve out dramatic landforms like arêtes, horns, and cirques. Glaciers create wide, “U-shaped” valleys as they move.

Online Chapter: 

1. What did you learn? While reading chapter 8 I learned more about the law of superposition, sand, and the Devonian period. I learned about the Law of Original Horizontality, which I found to be really interesting. It is the idea that rock layers are formed horizontally because gravity pulls down on the rock when it is formed. 

2. What was most helpful? The photo that explained the Law of Original Horizontality was the most helpful for me because being able to visualize this law helped me understand it better. 

3. What do you still need more information on? I am curious about other fossils that have been found in Iowa. Have dinosaurs ever been found?

4. What questions/comments/concerns do you have? What is the oldest rock found in Iowa?

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