Week

Date

Topic

Chapter

1

8/23

Introduction to course, expectations, organization

2

8/28-30

California ’s geologic provinces: reading a geologic map; characteristics of each province;

geologic time

Page 63; Ch. 2, 4; handout

3

9/4

9/6

Labor Day Holiday

The connection between geology and California ’s economy

handouts

4

9/11-13

Why are there volcanoes in California ? Subduction zones, volcanoes, volcanic rock, volcanic hazards

Chapter 5

5

9/18-20

Volcanic eruptions in California ; geothermal energy

Chapter 5; pages 305-306

6

9/25-27

Exam #1 (September 25^th): California geologic provinces, location and characteristics; volcanoes, volcanic rock, hazards, volcanic eruptions and geothermal energy

California deserts

Chapter 6

7

10/2-3

California deserts: continued

Chapter 7

8

10/9-11

The root of an ancient volcanic arc: The Sierra Nevada Batholith; evidence of an ancient subduction zone

Exotic terrains:movie

Field Trip: Marin Headlands-10/14

Chapter 8

9

10/16

10/18

What geologic processes produced gold and how did this influence California ’s history?

Glaciation in the Sierra Nevada : Why and the resulting landforms

State Park Oral Reports Due

Chapter 8

10

10/23-25

Water in California

Chapter 10

11

10/30

11/1

Water in California : continued

Exam #2 (November 1^st): California deserts and associated features; The Sierra Nevada and associated features; water

Chapter 10

12

11/6-8

The Coast Ranges : where we live

Coastlines, The San Francisco Bay and associated marshes

Chapters 12

Chapter15

13

11/13

11/15

Coastlines: continued

Earthquakes, faults and hazards

Chapter 13

14

11/20

11/22

 The San Andreas Fault and its influence on California ’s landforms

Term Paper due: 11/20

Class cancelled: field trip release day

Chapter 14

15

11/27

11/29

Large earthquakes in California and their influence on legislation, insurance and preparedness

Oil and energy in California

Class notes

Pages 452-462 ; 514

16

12/4-6

Oil and energy in California

17

12/12

Tuesday

1215-1430

Exam # 3 (December 12^th): The Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay, marshlands, Bay Area faults, earth material and hazards; California coastlines and associated processes