Practical Geology

Course Overview

Learn about the Earth’s history in a rock, a landscape, or a grain of sand from a seasoned field geologist who covers everything from backyard geology to the world’s most spectacular landforms.

Course No. 1736

This 24-lecture course with Professor James F. P. Cotter teaches you to:

• Identify rocks, minerals and fossils
• Read landscapes and geological formations
• Conduct safe field explorations
• Prospect for gold and valuable minerals
• Understand groundwater and soil systems

Through hands-on demonstrations and stunning geological sites, discover how to apply geology in your own backyard and beyond.

Key Topics Covered:

• Rock and mineral identification
• Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic formations
• Fossil hunting techniques
• River, desert and glacial landforms
• Volcanic and karst landscapes
• Soil formation and groundwater systems
• Gemstone and mineral prospecting
• Oil geology and extraction

Video Lectures

01: Reading the Rocks (36 min)

Introduction to geology and the concept of deep time.

02: Observing a Landscape and Its Landforms (33 min)

Five major influences on landscape formation across the US.

03: Find an Outcrop! Field Geology Up Close (30 min)

Safety tips and techniques for studying exposed rock formations.

04: Reading a River and the Nearby Land (31 min)

How rivers shape landscapes and create habitats.

05: The Beach: Spectacular Geology in Action (31 min)

Wave dynamics and sand grain analysis.

06: What Sedimentary Rocks Tell You (32 min)

Clastic rocks and their geological stories.

07: Desert Fans, Washes, Salt Lakes, and Dunes (31 min)

Arid region landforms and formation conditions.

08: Ice, Glacial Landforms, and Gravel Exposures (31 min)

Glacier physics and evidence of past glaciation.

09: Limestone and Karst: What Deep Time Can Do (33 min)

Limestone chemistry, fossils, and cave formation.

10: Reading Strata through Geologic Time (32 min)

Interpreting layered rock formations like the Grand Canyon.

11: Reading Fossils: Life in the Geologic Past (32 min)

Fossilization processes and preserved life forms.

12: Where and How to Look for Fossils (30 min)

Fossil hunting strategies and regulations.

13: How Soils Form and Erode (31 min)

Soil classification and fertility factors.

14: Groundwater and Water Wells (32 min)

Water table dynamics and well construction.

15: Medical Geology: From Healthful to Harmful (32 min)

Health impacts of geological substances.

16: Lava Flows and Volcanic Landscapes (31 min)

Volcano types and exploration precautions.

17: Collecting Minerals and Crystals (27 min)

Mineral identification through simple tests.

18: Granite: Igneous Rocks That Form at Depth (33 min)

Intrusive igneous rocks and batholith formations.

19: Metamorphic Rocks and Tectonic Features (32 min)

Foliated rocks revealing ancient mountain ranges.

20: Got Marble? Non-Foliated Metamorphic Beauty (28 min)

Marble, soapstone and other non-foliated rocks.

21: Is This Valuable? Gems and Meteorites (33 min)

Gemstone formation and meteorite identification.

22: Hunting Gold and Other Valuable Minerals (31 min)

Prospecting techniques and mineral classification.

23: Oil Geology, Oil Plays, and Oil Drilling (31 min)

Petroleum formation and extraction methods.

24: Human Landscapes and Practical Geology (33 min)

Applying geology to community and environmental issues.