Energy and Mines Overview of Alberta Geology

What is Geology? WikipediaWikipedia: “the science and study of the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth. The field of geology encompasses the study of the composition, structure, physical properties, dynamics, and history of Earth materials, and the processes by which they are formed, moved, and changed.” How is this scientific discipline relevant to the study of energy and mines?

Geologic Time Wikipedia: “The geologic time scale encompasses the history of the Earth. It is bracketed at the young end by the dates of the earliest solar system material at Ga. (gigaannum: billion years ago) and the age of the Earth at 4.54 Ga, at the beginning of the informally-recognized Hadean eon. At the young end of the scale, it is bracketed by the present day in the Holocene epoch.”Wikipedia Ga: Solar system formationSolar system formation 4.54 Ga: Accretion of Earth c. 4 Ga: End of Late Heavy Bombardment, first lifeLate Heavy Bombardment c. 3.5 Ga: Start of photosynthesisphotosynthesis c. 2.3 Ga: Oxygenated atmosphere, first snowball Earthatmospheresnowball Earth 730–635 Ma (megaannum: million years ago): two snowball EarthsMa 542± 0.3 Ma: Cambrian explosion – vast multiplication of hard-bodied life; first abundant fossils; start of the PaleozoicCambrian explosionfossilsPaleozoic c. 380 Ma: First vertebrate land animalsvertebrate 250 Ma: Permian-Triassic extinction – 90% of all land animals die. End of Paleozoic and beginning of MesozoicPermian-Triassic extinction Mesozoic 65 Ma: Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction – Dinosaurs die; end of Mesozoic and beginning of CenozoicCretaceous-Tertiary extinctionDinosaursCenozoic c. 7 Ma – Present: Hominins –c. 7 Ma: First hominins appearhominins –3.9 Ma: First Australopithecus, direct ancestor to modern Homo sapiens, appearAustralopithecusHomo sapiens –200 ka (kiloannum: thousand years ago): First modern Homo sapiens appear in East Africaka

Key Terms Geologic Time Chart – Visual depiction of geologic time making reference to eras, periods, epochs, dates, geologic and atmospheric development. Era – The largest category of geologic time. 6 are commonly described. Period – Time frames within the era. The most commonly known. 13 are commonly described. (Examples include Jurassic, Triassic, Cretaceous) Epoch – Can be described by name or in terms of time relative to the Period in question. 5 major epochs make up the Cenozoic era (Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene) Topography – The study and mapping of terrestrial features and man-made structures.

What is Topography? Topography is the study and mapping of terrain features and man-made structures. Topographic Maps “depict in detail ground relief (landforms and terrain), drainage (lakes and rivers), forest cover, administrative areas, populated areas, transportation routes and facilities (including roads and railways), and other man-made features.” (National Topographic System of Canada)National Topographic System of Canada

Assignment You will create a geologic time chart for Alberta that illustrates the following: –Eras, periods, and epochs of geologic time –Life development –Topographical descriptions for Alberta during each period that describe rock development and elevation.

How will I be marked on this assignment?

Resources Topography Geoscience Data Repository CTS Wiki

Other Resources I will locate some other resources for you and post them on the website or provide them in class. –I’ve located a software program for rock types, but I’ve not been able to print maps from it as of yet. Get started!