Assignment Summary – Due Dates Page 1
Assignment # Due Date Description
1* Monday Pre-trip Geology Basics Questions 2* (Prior to Dinner) Pre-trip Grand Canyon Questions
3** Lava River Cave Tuesday Grand Canyon Stratigraphy – Stratigraphic cross-section is supplied, (Due Wednesday fill in the names of the rock layers, draw appropriate symbols for 4* morning prior to limestone (brick), sandstone (dots), shale (fine vertical lines) etc. departure) Also include ages of rocks layers and geologic time period for each. Include fossil types where appropriate.
Wednesday Meteor Crater Question Sheet – Use the visit to Meteor Crater 5** evening (Crater lecture, museum and film) as well as the handout to answer the questions. (Due Thursday morning prior to 6** Petrified Forest Assignment departure)
7** Dinosaur Trace Fossils (Must be done at site)
8** Trace Fossil Analysis (Done on site, nothing to turn in) Thursday evening
9** Sunset Crater / Wupatki Blowhole Questions – use visit & handout
Given before dinner, due before departure to dinner Final Make sure to turn in Color Pencils/Rule Sheet at this time. (Points will be deducted from your grade if these are not turned in.)
* Assignment can be done ahead of time ** Can be done during the day at site Pre-Trip Assignment #1 Name ______Geology Basics – Due Monday evening
Please use your Geology Basics handout to answer the following questions. This assignment will be due on Monday evening prior to eating dinner (about 5:00 PM).
______1. Which one of these is not a main rock type? A. Sedimentary B. Metamorphic C. Igneous D. Volcanic
______2. What main rock type is formed by the deposition of pre-existing rock? A. Sedimentary B. Metamorphic C. Volcanic D. Igneous
______3. What is the specific name of the rock that is formed under a clear, warm, shallow sea? A. Sandstone B. Limestone C. Granite D. Shale
______4. Which specific rock is composed of tiny grains of quartz cemented together? A. Basalt B. Limestone C. Granite D. Sandstone
______5. What is cross-bedding in Sedimentary rock? A. Layers of sandstone deposited at different angles and orientations. B. Sedimentary rock that is bedded crossly. C. The method by which quartz sand grains are cemented together D. Rock that is deposited in a deep sea environment.
______6. Which law states that rocks on the bottom are older than those on top? A. The Law of Planal Rock Structure B. The Law of Superposition C. The Law of Horizontal Positioning D. The Law of Horizontal Stratigraphy
______7. Which main rock type is formed from magma or lava A. Sedimentary B. Metamorphic C. Volcanic D. Igneous
______8. A black, heavy rock found near a volcano with tiny holes in it is most likely A. Basalt B. Limestone C. Granite D. Sandstone
01 Pre-trip Assignment.doc 8/30/2017 10:28:00 AM Page 1 of 4 Pre-Trip Assignment #1 Name ______Geology Basics – Due Monday evening
______9. What are two types of lava flows? A. Rhyolitic and basaltic B. Pahoehoe and aa C. Basalt and granite D. Basalt and pumice
______10. A lightweight, reddish rock with holes that floats in water is A. basalt B. tuff C. incredible D. pumice
______11. What do you call fossils of creatures that existed for only a short period of time during Earth’s history, and are used as an index to determine the age of the rock the fossil is in? A. Index fossil B. Reference fossil C. Short-lived life D. Historical fossil
______12. Using the Geologic Time Scale, how long ago did the Colorado River start cutting out the Grand Canyon? A. 200 million years ago B. 3 million years ago C. 65 million years ago D. 10 million years ago
______13. Rocks near the top of the Ground Canyon are Permian in age. How long ago was that? A. 65-110 million years ago B. 320-350 million years ago C. 3-5 million years ago D. 225-280 million years ago
______14. In what geologic era did the dinosaurs live? A. Mesozoic B. Cenozoic C. Paleozoic D. Quarternary
______15. How old are trilobite fossils in Cambrian rocks? A. 100 million years old B. 550 million years old C. 250 million years old D. 10 million years old
01 Pre-trip Assignment.doc 8/30/2017 10:28:00 AM Page 2 of 4 Pre-Trip Assignment #1 Name ______Geology Basics – Due Monday evening
______16. Which of these is NOT an example of a trace fossil? A. dinosaur footprint B. Worm burrow C. Ripple marks D. dinosaur bone
______17. Which of these is not a main class of volcano? A. Subductive B. Composite C. Shield D. Cinder
______18. The maximum height of a cinder cone is approximately _____. A. 500 ft B. 1000 ft C. 10,000 ft D. There is no limit
______19. Which type of lava forms a smooth, ropey surface? A. Viscous B. Aa C. Liquid D. Pahoehoe
______20. Which type of lava flows quickly and smoothly away from a volcano? A. Pahoehoe B. Aa C. Liquid D. Viscous
______21 Which type of lava forms a chunky, rough surface? A. Pahoehoe B. Aa C. Liquid D. Viscous
______22. What is the name of the black volcanic rock formed from rapidly cooling lava? A. Rhyolite B. Andesite C. Pumice D. Basalt
01 Pre-trip Assignment.doc 8/30/2017 10:28:00 AM Page 3 of 4 Pre-Trip Assignment #1 Name ______Geology Basics – Due Monday evening
In the diagram below, re-order the following events from oldest to youngest. Deposition of A Deposition of B Deposition of C Deposition of D Deposition of E Faulting of E & D Intrusion of F
______Which order is correct? A. Deposition of E, Faulting of E & D, Deposition of D, Deposition of C, Deposition of B, Intrusion of F Deposition of A,. B. Deposition of E, deposition of D, Deposition of C, Deposition of B, Faulting of E & D, Deposition of A, Intrusion of F. C. Deposition of E, deposition of D, Faulting of E & D, Deposition of C, Deposition of B, Intrusion of F, Deposition of A. D. Deposition of E, deposition of D, Faulting of E & D, Deposition of C, Deposition of B, Deposition of A, Intrusion of F.
01 Pre-trip Assignment.doc 8/30/2017 10:28:00 AM Page 4 of 4 Geology Assignment #2 Name ______Grand Canyon Pre-Trip Questions – Due Monday evening
Use the Grand Canyon handout to answer the following questions. This assignment is due Monday evening prior to dinner (about 5:00 PM).
______1. The youngest rocks at the south rim if the Grand Canyon are ____. A. Kaibab Limestone B. Toroweap formation C. Vishnu Schist D. Hermit Shale
______2. As you descend into the canyon, what happens to the age of the rocks? A. They get younger B. They get older C. The age varies up and down depending on the formation D. Old rocks don’t die, they just erode away.
______3. What types of fossils might you find in the Kaibab Limestone? A. Rodents, small mammals B. Dinosaurs and other reptiles C. Brachiopods, corals, worm burrows D. Ferns and other terrestrial plant life
______4. In the Coconino Sandstone, the criss-cross pattern in the rocks is called ___. A. a real mess B. angled bedding C. superposition D. cross bedding
______5. What type of fossils can be found in the Coconino sandstone? A. Animal tracks B. Plant impressions C. Dinosaur bones D. Amphibious animal bones
______6. The Supai Group contains four different formations. What are they? A.Hermit, Coconino, Redwall, Kaibab B. Esplanade, Wescogame, Watahomigi, Monakacha C. Watahomigi, Monakacha, Esplanade, Hermit D. Kemosabe, Joe, Pocohontas, Sackamawigi
______7. Why is Redwall limestone red? A. The iron oxides in the limestone ‘rusts’. B. The Limestone is naturally red in color. C. The exposed surface is stained by the Hermit Shale above it. D. It is only red when the sub hits it at a low angle.
02 Pre-Trip Grand Canyon.doc Page 1 of 1 Geology Assignment #2 Name ______Grand Canyon Pre-Trip Questions – Due Monday evening
______
______8. What is the main erosional agent at Grand Canyon? A. Wind B. Earthquakes C. Ice wedging D. Water
______9. What has limited the erosive action of the Colorado River in recent years? A. Construction of the Glen Canyon Dam B. Drought in the southwest has reduced water flow C. The construction of concrete levees and channels at the bottom of the river. D. The river has eroded down to erosion-resistant rock.
______10. How do we know most of the rocks exposed in the Grand Canyon were deposited under or near the water? A. Erosional patterns B. Fossils and rock types C. Geologists are guessing D. Fish bones
______11. What happened to the thousands of feet of rocks that are younger than the Kaibab Limestone? A. They were never formed B. They were removed to build the lodge. C. They were eroded away. D. It was mined by the Sinagua Indians to make concrete.
02 Pre-Trip Grand Canyon.doc Page 2 of 2 Geology Assignment #3 Name ______Lava River Cave
Do this assignment on site or after visiting the site. You can also use the article on these locations to find answers. Assignment is due Wednesday morning prior to departure.
______1 How long ago was Lava River Cave formed? A. 700,000 years ago B. 7,000 years ago C. 700 years ago D. Around the time of Fred Flintstone
______2. What is the name of the rock that forms from a lava flow like the one at Lava River Cave? A. Basalt B. Limestone C. Sandstone D. Hard Dark Rock
______3. What type of lava is required for lava tubes to form due to its low viscosity? A. watery lava B. pahoehoe C. aa D. wannahockaloogie
______4. Approximately how long did it take for this lava tube to form? A. minutes B. hours C. days D. years
______5. What was the temperature of the lava when it reached the surface? A. 212 F B. 1,000 F C. 2,000 Fe D. 1,000,000 F
______6. What are the wavy type surfaces on the floor of the cave called? A. wavy waves B. Expansion cracks. C. Flow ripples D. .Ankle slop
______7. Why is it so cold in the cave? A. Lumberjacks place ice in the cave to keep it cold B. It only felt cold to those who are cream puffs. Get tough! C. Cold air currents flow through the cave from subterranean passages. D. Basalt is an excellent insulator.
03 Red Mountain-Lava River Cave.docx 9/11/2019 8:33:00 AM Page 1 of 1 Geology Assignment #4 Instructions for Grand Canyon Stratigraphy Assignment – Due Wednesday Morning
Use the handout to color in the layers of the Grand Canyon, using a color similar to the real color for each layer, and using patterns to tell which type of rock each layer is made of. Use a brick pattern for limestone, dots for sandstone, fine horizontal lines for shale. In the boxes, list the name of the rock/formation, the age of the formation, the average thickness, and what fossils you might find or other important information. Your grade is based on thoroughness and neatness! Please use the handout that looks like this to complete this assignment:
Stratigraphy of the Grand Canyon Assignment Kaibab Limestone Formed under a shallow sea about 250 million years ago, this layer is 350 feet #4 thick. It was formed under a shallow sea and contains abundant fossils including brachiopods, corals, and echinoids. Yellowish-tan in color, it forms the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Limestone
Shale
Sandstone
04a Instructions for Assignment #4.doc Page 1 of 1 Geology Assignment #4 Grand Canyon Stratigraphy - Due Wednesday Morning Name ______
Kaibab Limestone Formed under a shallow sea about 250 million years ago, this layer is 350 feet thick. It was formed under a shallow sea and contains abundant fossils including brachiopods, corals, and echinoids. Yellowish-tan in color, it forms the rim of the Grand Canyon. Geology Assignment #5 Name ______Meteor Crater – Due Thursday morning prior to departure
Use the Meteor Crater handout, and your observations at Meteor Crater to answer the following questions: (Please note: DO NOT sit on the floor of the museum or block the aisles).
______1 Approximately how long does it take for a large meteorite to travel through our atmosphere? A. 10 seconds B. 2 minutes C. 10 minutes D. An hour or more
______2. How much speed did the meteorite that caused this crater lose on its trip through the atmosphere?? A. Less than 1% B. About 10% C. About 50% D. More than 75%
______3. What was the original size and speed of the meteorite? A. ¼ mile wide, 40,000 miles/hr B. 150 feet wide, 40,000 miles/hr C. 150 feet wide, 500 miles/hr D. 300 feet wide, 25,000 miles/hr
______4. How long ago was Meteor Crater formed? A. 50,000 years ago B. 10,000 year ago C. 5,000 years ago D. Over 100,000 years ago
______5. What percent of the meteorite was lost during its trip through the atmosphere? A. None B. Less than 1% C. Almost half D. About 99 %
______6. Who was the first to state that the crater was caused by meteorite impact? A Barringer B. Horton C. Shoemaker D. Gilbert
______7. Which one of these was NOT an argument used to prove the meteorite impact theory? A. The discovery of Coesite at the crater B. overturned sedimentary beds C. pulverized meteoric pieces found around the crater D. massive iron deposits at the floor of the crater
05 Meteor Crater.doc 4/26/2017 3:06:00 PM Page 1 of 1 Geology Assignment #5 Name ______Meteor Crater – Due Thursday morning prior to departure
______8. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacted what planet?? A. Jupiter B. Mars C. Earth D. The moon
______9. How large were the fragments from Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9? A. 2,000 feet B. 1.2 miles C. 15 miles D. 25 miles
______10. From the IMPACT WINTER exhibit, how long ago did the object that eventually killed off the dinosaurs impact Earth?? A. 250,00 years ago B. 65 million years ago C. 220 million years ago D. 500 million years ago
______11. How large was the dino-killing meteorite? A. 6 miles in diameter B. 10 miles in diameter C. 12 miles in diameter D. About the size of the moon. These questions will be answered on the observation deck or in the film).
______10. What was the meteorite that caused Meteor Crater composed of? A. Fe-Mg B. Ni-Fe C. Mg-Ni D. Ice
______11. Coesite and what other mineral are found only at impact craters? A. Stishovite B. Obsidian C. quartz D. Andesite
______12. The crater is 570 feet deep. The depth of this crater is ____ over time. A. increasing B. in a constant state of biomechanical flux C. constant D. decreasing
05 Meteor Crater.doc 4/26/2017 3:06:00 PM Page 2 of 2 Geology Assignment #6 Name ______Petrified Forest Assignment – Blue Mesa (Complete at site)
06 Petrified Forest.docx 9/5/2018 12:10:00 PM Page 1 of 1 Geology Assignment #6 Name ______Petrified Forest Assignment – Blue Mesa (Complete at site)
STOP #1: BLUE MESA
______1. What is the name of the layer that caps the rocks found in Blue Mesa? A. The Sonsela Sandstone/Conglomerate B. Kaibab Limestone C. Kayenta Sandstone D. Blue Mesa Basalt
______2. Use the picture on the previous page to answer questions 2-4): The distance between the two thin white sandstone layers (may also contain ash from volcanic eruptions) seem to be very close at “A” and much farther apart at “B”. What would cause the layers not to be horizontal like all the other layers in Blue Mesa? A. An earthquake fault separated the two B. The ash from the volcanic eruptions caused disheavalization C. The slope at B is much less than A creating an optical illusion. D. Vandals came by night, stole the missing material and are selling it to unsuspecting tourists.
3. There is a distinct overall color change in the layers here. Dark bluish grays (swamp or marine environments) on the bottom suddenly transition to tan and reddish colors (terrestrial deposits) towards the top. This boundary (shown by a double arrow) marks a distinct change in the climate of the region (perhaps caused by the movement of the area northwards due to continental drift away from the equator or by a major climate change like an ice age). Draw a visible line across the picture on the previous page that indicates this change in climate.
4. In the picture on the previous page, draw a solid dark line at the contact point (black arrow) between the Sonsela Member and the Blue Mesa rock group (near the top, you can tell easily as these two rock layers look entirely different).
______5. The black circle on the picture shows a hole where water comes out during storms. This is an example of A. burrowing B. tunneling C. sublithic drainage D. piping
06 Petrified Forest.docx 9/5/2018 12:10:00 PM Page 2 of 2 Geology Assignment #6 Name ______Petrified Forest Assignment – Blue Mesa (Complete at site)
STOP #2: JASPER FOREST The stratigraphic maps shown on the left represent the progression of the morphology of the region.
A. Layers are deposited over a period of about 160 million years (mostly stream deposits with some near-shore deposits). The newer deposits are at the top, older at the bottom.
B. The entire area is uplifted from near sea level to at least 8,000 feet (about 65 million years ago, about the same time that dinosaurs and many other species become extinct). During this uplift, streams begin to erode the top stratigraphic layers. None of the rocks seen today in this region have been exposed.
C. New deposits are made at the north end of the park, including volcanism (see pink region rising from below). About 10 million years ago.
D. The region today.
06 Petrified Forest.docx 9/5/2018 12:10:00 PM Page 3 of 3 Geology Assignment #6 Name ______Petrified Forest Assignment – Blue Mesa (Complete at site)
Use the map on the previous page to answer questions #6 and #7: ______6. In what stage were the rock layers tilted so that they were no longer horizontal. A. Stage A B. Stage B C. Stage C D. Stage D
______7. What is the name of the rock layer that was deposited last (is the youngest)? Use Map A (it’s easier there). A. Sonsela Member B. The Glen Canyon Group C. Volcanic rock near Headquarters Mesa D. Owl Rock Member
______8. Using the current map above, what is the relative age of the Moenkopi Formation (green layer at bottom)? A. About the age of the Owl Rock member. B. Younger that any rock on the map. C. Older than any other rock on the map. D. It is impossible to determine without digging a very large hole.
06 Petrified Forest.docx 9/5/2018 12:10:00 PM Page 4 of 4 Geology Assignment #7 Name ______Dilophosaurus Track Speed and Size– Due when leaving the site
Welcome to the “Chickenyard” named because the dinosaur tracks made at this location were making tracks like chickens do; pretty much loitering around. Using some simple math based on creatures living today, it is possible to determine several characteristics of the creatures who made these tracks just by looking at a footprint. We can also determine the speed of the animal by analyzing a trackway (3 or more footprints of the same animal going in the same direction). Let’s calculate the speed and size of our track-making Dilophosaurus.
1. Record the foot length (from the previous page) in the data table on the next page. 2.
Using the foot length, calculate the leg length by multiplying the foot length by 4.05. Enter that number in the data table on the next page.
3. Calculate the body length (from head to tip of tail) by multiplying the leg length by 3.50. Record this number in the data table.
4. Measure with a tape measure the stride length (in meters, stride length is the distance between two tracks of the same foot {left, and then another left, or right to another right}). Record your answer in the data table.
5. Use the formula below to calculate the speed the Dilophosaurus was moving when it made these prints. Record your answer in the data table.
1.67 1.17 speed(miles/ hr) 1.755dstride lleg dstride = stride distance in meters, lleg = leg length in meters.
Here’s an example. Let’s say you found a trackway where the stride distance is 2.0 meters and the leg length is 8.0 m. Enter the following into your calculator: 1.755*2.01.67*8.0-1.17 [ENTER]
To enter exponents on your calculator, use the power key (on the right side of the calculator, looks like this : ^ ). To enter the –1.17, use the (-) key and then the number 1.17.
07 Dino Tracks.doc Page 1 of 1 Geology Assignment #7 Name ______Dilophosaurus Track Speed and Size– Due when leaving the site
Data Table Foot length (in meters)
[Measure] Leg length (lengthleg in meters)
[multiply foot length by 4.05] Body length (in meters)
[multiply leg length by 3.50] Stride distance (distancestride in meters)
[measure, from one print to same side print] Speed of dinosaur (in miles/hr) 푚𝑖푙푒푠 1.67 −1.17 푆푝푒푒푑 ( ⁄ℎ푟) = (1.755)(푑𝑖푠푡푎푛푐푒푠푡푟푖푑푒) (푙푒푛𝑔푡ℎ푙푒푔)
07 Dino Tracks.doc Page 2 of 2 Geology Assignment #8 Name ______Interpreting Trace Fossils – Due Thursday evening
You are a geology student studying different trace fossils. Use your knowledge and imagination to solve the following scenarios presented before you.
Scenario #1: Interpret the following tracks – be prepared to list in order of events what happened – be as detailed as possible!
08 Interpreting Trace Fossils.docx Page 1 of 1 Geology Assignment #8 Name ______Interpreting Trace Fossils – Due Thursday evening
Scenario #2 – What do you think happened here?
08 Interpreting Trace Fossils.docx Page 2 of 2 Geology Assignment #8 Name ______Interpreting Trace Fossils – Due Thursday evening
Scenario #3:
08 Interpreting Trace Fossils.docx Page 3 of 3 Geology Assignment #8 Name ______Interpreting Trace Fossils – Due Thursday evening
Scenario #4: How many different trackways are there in this scene?
08 Interpreting Trace Fossils.docx Page 4 of 4 Geology Assignment #8 Name ______Interpreting Trace Fossils – Due Thursday evening
Scenario #5: What’s the play-by-play here?
08 Interpreting Trace Fossils.docx Page 5 of 5 Geology Assignment #9 Name ______Sunset Crater/Wupatki Blowhole Questions – Due when departing Sunset Crater
Use information from the Sunset Crater article, the Visitor’s Center, and the hike through the area to answer the following questions.
______1. What type of cone is Sunset Crater? A. Composite B. Cinder C. Shield D. Scoria
______2. How long ago did Sunset Crater erupt? A. 100 years B. 900 years C. 500 years D. 1250 years
______3. How high does the cone rise above the surrounding area? A. 500 feet B. 1,000 feet C. 1,500 feet D. 2,000 feet
______4. What event led to the establishment of Sunset Crater National monument? A. Ansel Adams petitioned it to congress B. A Hollywood film company wanted to blow it up making a movie. C. Teddy Roosevelt thought it should be preserved. D. The Indians who lived there wanted it preserved.
______5. There are two types of lava flows. Both are found here. What are the names of each? A. basalt and Cinder B. aa and pahoehoe C. Basalt and aa D. Basalt and Rhyolite
______6. After the eruption, what benefit did the surrounding area obtain? A. The basalt was fun for hiking. B. The dark cinders and basalt are good for farming once decomposed. C. It cleared away a lot of unwanted population. D. Nothing. What good can come from a volcanic eruption?
______7. What is a xenolith? A. A UFO that is lost B. A rock that is lost C. An assortment of basaltic lava flows that flow together. D. A unusual volcanic event.
09 Sunset Crater-Wupatiki Assignment.doc 4/26/2017 3:34:00 PM Page 1 of 1 Geology Assignment #9 Name ______Sunset Crater/Wupatki Blowhole Questions – Due when departing Sunset Crater
______8. What is the estimated minimum volume of the cave system that causes the blowholes to do what they do? A. 8 million cubic feet B. 8 billion square feet C. 8 billion cubic feet D. 8 gazillion cubic zackoids
______9. What rock formation is the cave system formed in? A. Moenkopi formation B. Coconino Sandstone C. Kaibab Limestone. D. Horton Coldstone
______10. Why is it not possible to explore the cave system? A. The narrow passages are too small for humans. B. The Native American Indians have not given the go ahead. C. Restrictions from the National Park Service D. Someone might get hurt
______11. According to the graph, what was the speed and the direction of the wind coming in/out of the blowhole at the 9 hour mark. A. 15 mph out of the blowhole B. 10 mph out of the blowhole C. 10 mph into the blowhole D. 15 mph into the blowhole
09 Sunset Crater-Wupatiki Assignment.doc 4/26/2017 3:34:00 PM Page 2 of 2