Milestone 1
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School
Southern New Hampshire University *
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Course
PHY103
Subject
Geology
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by AmbassadorDolphinPerson1004
Write a report detailing the underlying geology of the project site. Using the cross
section, topographic map, and soil profile for your final project, be sure to fully explain any
geologic features present and include elements relative to the formation of those features by
addressing the critical elements below. Also, detail how you derived each of your conclusions.
Lastly, discuss how the base geology might relate to the proposed surface development. The
materials needed for this milestone can be found in the Assignment Guidelines and Rubrics
section of the course:
Rock Stratigraphy:
List the various rock types, in order, from the surface (A)
downward. Identify subtypes (detrital, extrusive, etc.) of each rock layer.
o
A.
Limestone (Biochemical Sedimentary Rock)
o
B.
Sandstone (Detrital Sedimentary Rock)
o
C.
Limestone (Biochemical Sedimentary Rock)
o
D.
Coal (Organic Sedimentary Rock)
o
E.
Siltstone (Detrital Sedimentary Rock)
o
F.
Coal (Organic Sedimentary Rock)
o
G.
Sandstone (Detrital Sedimentary Rock)
o
H.
Schist (Foliated Metamorphic Rock)
o
I.
Granite (Intrusive Igneous Rock)
Relative Dating:
Detail which rock types are the oldest/youngest in the sequence. Detail
how you derived your conclusions.
o
From oldest to newest in regards to the rock types are Granite, Schist, Siltstone,
Coal, Sandstone, and Limestone.
o
I derived my conclusion by looking at the Stratigraphy and Cross Section and
seeing which are closest to the surface. The majority of the rocks in the
Stratigraphy and Cross Section are Sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks form at
the surface and as layers accumulate, they each record the nature of the
environment at the time (Lutgens, et al., 2021). As time passes, new layers are
formed. So, the layers closer to the bottom are older than the layers closest to the
surface.
Geologic Features
: Identify any present geologic features (faults, folds, etc.). Detail each
and infer how these features formed within this environment.
o
A present geologic feature would be fault which cuts through all the layers
offsetting each layer. This fault formed within the environment due to a
displacement to mass movement.
Depositional Analysis
: Infer the environmental conditions present during the deposition
of each sedimentary layer.
o
The environmental conditions present during the deposition of each sedimentary
layer help geologists reconstruct many details about Earth’s history. Detrital rocks
such as Sandstone and Siltstone (layers B, E, and G) are transported
accumulations of solid rock debris formed by both mechanical and chemical
weathering processes. Chemical sedimentary rocks such as Limestone (layers A
and C) are 90% formed from biochemical sediments secreted by marine
organisms and the other 10% consists of chemical sediments that precipitated
directly from seawater.
The organic sedimentary rock coal (layer F) is produced
by biochemical activity and contains organic matter (Lutgens, et al., 2021).
Soils:
Using the soil profile and the topographic map, what can you detail about the
potential for erosion across the cross section? What leads you to this conclusion?
o
The potential for erosion according to the topographic map and soil profiles is
slight with the exception of the areas with higher elevation such as the areas
closer to the mountains. The soil profiles show that profiles 2 and 3 most likely
come from the cross section with higher elevation since there is little to no topsoil
due to erosion. Profile 1 has a deeper topsoil indicating minimal erosion.
Surface Impacts
: Provide a quick analysis of how the underlying geology might impact
an overlying neighborhood.
o
The underlying geology might impact and overlying neighborhood because the
first rock layer is limestone which is easily weathered by chemicals. Such
chemicals could lead to sinkholes causing the neighborhood to be swallowed into
a sinkhole.
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Works Cited
Lutgens, F. K., Tarbuck, E. J., & Tasa, D. G. (2021). Foundations of Earth Science (9th ed.).
Pearson Education (US).
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780135851616
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2023).
Fault Geology.
Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/fault-geology
King, H. K. (n.d.).
Limestone: What is Limestone and How is it Used?
Geology.com.
https://geology.com/rocks/limestone.shtml