1. Here is the Earth…
Don’t spend it all at once!

2. WHAT IS GEOLOGY? The study of rocks? NO!
Much more than just the study of rocks
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth,
its processes
& products

3. WHAT IS GEOLOGY?
Geology is truly interdisciplinary, including elements of:
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Geography
All subjects it combines particularly well with at AS/A2 level

4. WHAT IS GEOLOGY?
The many wide & varied topics studied in geology were united by the development of Plate Tectonic theory in the 1960’s.
This milestone in geological thought was equivalent in significance to the theory of evolution in biology

5. WHAT IS GEOLOGY?
Plate Tectonic theory led to greatly increased understanding of Earth Systems, processes & products

6. Introduction to Earth Systems
Earth: a complex,
dynamic system
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Mantle
Core
Energy & matter are exchanged & recycled among these sub-systems.

7. The problem of experiments
Geologists are interested in systems that are very big (hundreds of km)
That have evolved over long periods of time (millions of years)
So it is difficult to conduct controlled experiments.
They must observe the results of Nature’s experiments that are already complete.

8. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? Because Geology is all around us
Everything we use comes from the Earth
‘If you can’t grow it, you have to dig it up!’

9. GEOLOGY IN THE NEWS

10. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? HAZARD GEOLOGY
‘Civilisation exists by geologic consent, subject to change without notice’
- Will Durant

11. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY? HAZARD GEOLOGY Identify risk Predict where & when
Evacuate
Reduce impact

12. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
HAZARD GEOLOGY
Earthquakes

13. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
HAZARD GEOLOGY
Volcanoes

14. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
HAZARD GEOLOGY
Landslides

15. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Dams

16. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Buildings

17. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Roads

18. Engineering Geology

19. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Waste Management

20. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
SUSTAINABILITY
Resource management

21. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Global warming

22. WHY STUDY GEOLOGY?
So, if, after 5 years of studying the same old subjects you like the idea of trying something new & exciting…
Something with real relevance to the world around you on local, international & global scales….
Take Geology:
It’s Great!
It rocks!

23. WHAT WILL YOU STUDY IN GEOLOGY?
Be prepared to get your head around mind boggling concepts of time and space:
From events that took seconds & happened this morning
To events that took millions of years to happen hundreds of millions of years ago

24. Geologic Time & Uniformitarianism
Unformitarianism enables us to interpret features in rocks formed millions of years ago –demonstrated by mud cracks formed by desiccation of sediment today
“The present is the key to the past.”

25. WHAT WILL YOU STUDY IN GEOLOGY?
Be prepared to get your head around mind boggling concepts of time and space:
From Earth Structure & Plate Tectonics to the atomic structure of minerals

26. WHAT WILL YOU STUDY IN GEOLOGY?
Minerals
The processes & products of the rock cycle
Fossils & Geological time
Earth structure & Plate Tectonics
Geological Hazards
Geotechnical engineering

27. HOW WILL YOU STUDY GEOLOGY?
Lessons using:
Textbooks
Videos
Powerpoint presentations
Internet

28. HOW WILL YOU STUDY GEOLOGY?
Practical lessons
Observing
Testing
Measuring
Describing
Identifying
Interpreting:
Specimens
Geological photographs
Geological maps

29. HOW WILL YOU STUDY GEOLOGY?
Practical laboratory investigation lessons:
Planning
Observing
Measuring
Presenting data
Analysing data
Evaluating investigations

30. HOW WILL YOU STUDY GEOLOGY?
Practical fieldwork investigations:
Planning
Observing
Measuring
Presenting data
Analysing data
Evaluating investigations

31. HOW WILL YOU BE ASSESSED IN GEOLOGY?
WJEC Specification AS
GL1 Foundation
GL2 Investigative geology
GL3 Geology & the Human Environment

32. HOW WILL YOU BE ASSESSED IN GEOLOGY?
WJEC Specification A2
GL4 Extension geology
GL5 Geological Themes
GL6 Coursework
Laboratory investigations
Fieldwork investigations

33. WHAT DO I NEED TO STUDY GEOLOGY?
Interest
Enthusiasm
Ability to develop study skills
Good background in Science at GCSE

34. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH GEOLOGY?
Huge range of Careers in Geology
Potential for global travel & big salaries!

35. GEOLOGY:IT ROCKS! GEOLOGY: IT’S GREAT! GRAVELCRUNCHINMARSBARMUNCHIN
HAMMERTAPPINFEATUREMAPPIN
ROCKBASHINMINERALTESTIN
FOSSILKILLINNEVERLATEIN
FIELDWORKINALWAYSRAININ
MUDWALLOWINWELLYWEARIN
EXAMPASSIN..
MONMOUTH GEOLOGISTS!
GEOLOGY:IT ROCKS!
If you are interested in studying AS/A2 Geology see Mr Church
in room 54 (the room with a rock on the door)….you won’t regret it!