Geosphere
Divulge yourself in the beauty and magnificence of Earth.
Rock Formation and Processes
Encompassing our everyday life, rocks are keys to Earth's geologic past. We give special attention to how rocks are formed precisely for that reason. This handout will highlight the unique formation processes of the three types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) as well as provide a concise overview of the most important geologic concepts.
Mineralogy
Understanding minerals is the key to understanding the Earth. They are the building blocks of our planet and are our ways of interpreting the processes happening in inaccessible locations. This handout will cover the essential knowledge of mineralogy and, when combined with Rock Formation and Processes, serve as an excellent study guide for Science Olympiad's Rocks and Minerals event.
Volcanoes
Volcanism is the eruption of lava onto the surface of the earth, resulting in the formation of extrusive igneous rocks. Volcanism occurs in various geologic settings, producing a wide variety of different structures and deposits. The understanding of volcanoes and their associated geologic processes are critical to our understanding of Earth's geology and will be covered in this handout.
Weathering, Erosion, and Mass Wasting
The landscape of Earth seems relatively constant when viewed from a human timescale. However, Earth's surface is constantly being reshaped by the processes of weathering and erosion. A key idea to note for the following guide is the difference between the two processes, which is covered in this handout.
Earthquakes and Faults
Earthquakes are some of Earth’s deadliest natural disasters. They destroy homes and property, take the lives of thousands each year, and yet are a key component in understanding how Earth’s crust functions. The largest earthquakes are caused by faults in the lithosphere that can span continents and crush rock. These faults, and the effects they cause, will be detailed in this handout.
Mountain Building (Orogeny)
Orogeny, or mountain building, is a series of processes where the subduction or collision of plates generates one or more mountain ranges. This handout will examine the structures and mechanisms of a normal orogenic belt, as well as the relation between orogeny and plate tectonics.
Earth's interior
In the past, people believed that the Earth was a uniform ball made of iron or rocks. However, seismic data reveals that this is not the truth. In this handout, we will go through the mechanisms that "sliced" the Earth and see what the interior of our planet looks like.