GEOL111 - Assignment 1
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Binghamton University *
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111
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Geology
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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GEOL 111 Homework 1
Due: Feb. 2, 2024 at 11:59pm on Brightspace
Instructions:
Answer all questions in your own words in the space provided on the ANSWER DOCUMENT or in the EXCEL WORKSHEET.
Answer completely and concisely
o
Provide all necessary information
Submit your completed assignment on Brightspace before the due date or within the allowed grace period
You are expected to submit your own work, in your own words.
Any use of AI, homework databases, other students’ work, etc. is against the academic integrity policy of BU.
You are welcome to come to office hours to ask questions! Contact your lab Tas or instructor for help if needed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPES OF PLATE BOUNDARIES AND MOTION:
Using Google Earth, we will investigate some features of Earth’s surface related to plate boundaries. You are free to use the web-based version of Google Earth through the Chrome browser (https://earth.google.com/web/), the app-based version, or the downloadable PC or Mac version of Google Earth Pro. (Using the direction W is the same as the negative value in the East direction. Example: 45
W = -45
E)
1.
[4 points] What type of plate boundary is off the Pacific Coast of the US at 45.281923
N, 130.059604
W? Explain what features support your conclusion.
2.
[4 points] What type of plate boundary is off the Pacific Coast of Alaska at 56.561622
N, 150.523701
W? Explain what features support your conclusion.
3.
[4 points] What type of plate boundary is in the Atlantic Ocean at 26.265372
N, 044.882101
W? Explain what features support your conclusion.
MID-OCEAN RIDGE SPREADING RATES AND SHAPE
The shape of mid-ocean ridges depends on how fast it is spreading. The exercises in this section will use Excel to compute and plot the profile of mid-ocean ridges below sea level based on spreading rates. Here are some resources to help you along with this exercise:
https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/multiply-a-column-of-numbers-by-the-same-
number-aeb8a7d5-bcbc-486e-b1f8-dbbdf355d7d1
https://peltiertech.com/multiple-series-in-one-excel-chart/
Review the “Seafloor Spreading and Excel” document provided
4.
[9 points] In the Excel worksheet given, compute the depth profiles (w) for the three spreading rates given the expression: w=-(D+C*sqrt(10*abs(X)/u)). In this equation, w is depth in km, D is the depth of the ridge center in km, C is a constant, X is the distance away from the ridge center in km, and u is the spreading rate in km/Myr.
5.
[9 points] Plot the three depth profiles together on a plot of Depth vs Distance from Ridge Center (Y-axis vs X-axis). Be sure to include all parts of a proper graph/plot (Title, axes labels, units, appropriate scale, etc.) Include these graphs as screengrabs below, but leave the graphs you created in your excel file, too. 6.
[5 points] Explain in your own words how the shape of a mid-ocean ridge, or ridge center, changes based on the rate of spread based on the results from your graph. What
are the similarities between all three of spreading centers? Next, using what you have learned in lecture about the mechanics of spreading centers (i.e., temperature, density), explain why the shapes of each are the way they are. HOT SPOTS AND HAWAII:
Use the image below and Google Earth to fill out the table below. In Google Earth, go to the Hawaiian island chain at 19.588324
N, 155.501656
W and measure the distance between the island pairs shown in the table (use the image to help if needed). Then, use the difference in ages between those island pairs to determine how much time passed between the formation of those two islands. With the distance, and time difference, calculate the plate speed of the Pacific plate during that time interval and its movement direction (plate direction is from the younger-aged location to the older-aged location).
7.
[6 points]
Segment
Time
Distance (km)
Plate Speed
Plate Direction
Difference (Ma
or Myr)
(mm/yr)
Hawaii-Nihoa
Nihoa-Midway
Midway-
Daikakuji
Daikakuji-Ojin
Ojin-Suiko
Suiko-Detroit
8.
[5 points] Doing your own research using internet resources (.org, .gov, .edu), research a geological hot spot on Earth and summarize in 3-4 sentences, in your own words, what you have learned about it. How does it form? When did this form? What are the hypotheses behind the reasons it’s there? TECTONICS: a city planner’s headache or a geologist’s dream? The image above shows the Hayward Fault in California which has had about 22 cm of slip since
this curb has been built. The average slip along the fault is about 1 cm/year. We haven’t discussed earthquakes yet, but that’s OK! 9.
[2 points] How long in years did it take the curb to move to its current position?
10. [2 points] How long in years will it take the curb to move a total of 1 meter from its original position?
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11. [2 points] In what year will the curb offset be 1 meter?
12. [4 points] How do you think this impacts city planning and construction?
13. [4 points] How does this fault slip rate compare to plate speeds you determined above for Hawaii? Explain why this might happen.
MINERALOGY: 14. [15pts] We humans rely on geology for just about everything in our lives. Choose three from the following list of minerals: kaolinite, muscovite, copper, gypsum, bauxite, quartz, calcite, Rare Earth Elements (REE; this is a group of minerals that can be discussed as a group). Do some research on how these minerals are used in the world today, along with the global impacts of obtaining these minerals (e.g., is the mining process destructive? Do we have a huge supply of material to mine?) and how you, personally benefit from these minerals. Write 3-4 sentences per mineral and provide at least three sources for your information (hyperlinks are fine, but at least two should be .org, .edu, .gov websites). Remember- everything must be in your own words.