Energy and MinesEnergy and Mines

Overview of Alberta GeologyOverview of Alberta Geology

What is Geology?What is Geology?

Wikipedia: “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 TimeGeologic 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 4.567 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.”

• 4.567 Ga: Solar system formation• 4.54 Ga: Accretion of Earth• c. 4 Ga: End of Late Heavy Bombardment, first life • c. 3.5 Ga: Start of photosynthesis • c. 2.3 Ga: Oxygenated atmosphere, first snowball Earth • 730–635 Ma (megaannum: million years ago): two snowball Earths • 542± 0.3 Ma: Cambrian explosion – vast multiplication of hard-bodied life; first abundant fossils; start

of the Paleozoic • c. 380 Ma: First vertebrate land animals • 250 Ma: Permian-Triassic extinction – 90% of all land animals die. End of Paleozoic and beginning of

Mesozoic • 65 Ma: Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction – Dinosaurs die; end of Mesozoic and beginning of Cenozoic • c. 7 Ma – Present: Hominins

– c. 7 Ma: First hominins appear – 3.9 Ma: First Australopithecus, direct ancestor to modern Homo sapiens, appear – 200 ka (kiloannum: thousand years ago): First modern Homo sapiens appear in East Africa

Key TermsKey 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?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)

AssignmentAssignment

• 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?

ResourcesResources• Topography 101

http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/topo101/index_e.php

• Geoscience Data Repositoryhttp://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php

• CTS Wikihttp://fcs-cts.wikispaces.com/CTS-Energy+and+Mines

Other ResourcesOther 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!