Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Geology

Natural Resources: Definition and Classification

Natural resources are all those elements of nature that we can use to meet our needs and to ensure our survival and welfare.

Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

• Renewable Resources: These are resources that can be regenerated after use, such as water, soil, or energy that originates from solar radiation. They are renewable provided that the rate of consumption does not exceed that of regeneration; otherwise, irrational use can lead to their exhaustion.
• Non-Renewable Resources: Once consumed, these resources cannot be recreated, such as coal and oil.

Soil: Definition and Potential Uses

Soil is the top layer of the Earth's surface, formed by the weathering of parent rock. It serves as the medium for... Continue reading "Understanding Earth's Resources: Materials, Energy, and Geology" »

Composition of the Solar System

The Sun is the star of our planetary system. It has a medium size between a sphere of incandescent gases and other stars. It owes its energy to the thermonuclear reactions that occur in its nucleus, where it reaches a temperature of 15 million degrees. On its surface, it is 6,000 degrees Celsius. The sun revolves around its axis.

Planets are celestial bodies orbiting the Sun, whose mass is sufficiently large for them to be almost spherical and have cleared their orbits. They differ among their "inner" or terrestrial planets. These include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are near the Sun and have a small, rocky surface. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are further away from... Continue reading "Solar System Composition and Planet Formation" »

Oceanic Plate Boundaries: A Comprehensive Look

Constructive Boundaries (Mid-Ocean Ridges)

Constructive boundaries are dorsal oceanic ridges. These are fracture zones where hot mantle material rises to the surface, causing intense volcanic activity. This volcanism produces large volumes of basalt, creating new oceanic crust. Convection currents produce divergent forces (rifting) that tend to separate the two sides of the fracture. Magma rises from within, forming the ridge's relief. The depression between the edges, occupied by the fracture, is called a Rift. In the Rift area, the crust is thin and heavily fractured.

Transform Fault Boundaries

Transform faults are discontinuous, winding ridges. Often, a ridge is interrupted and continues a few miles... Continue reading "Oceanic Plate Boundaries: Constructive, Transform, and Destructive" »

Building Details

Architect, Dates, Location

Architect: Lluís Domènech i Montaner
Dates: 1905 - 1908
Location: Barcelona (Catalonia)

Style and Materials

Style: Modernism
Materials used: Iron, glass, ceramics, and bricks

Construction System

Construction System: Building materials

Formal Analysis

Structural Support

This building's structure is supported by iron beams and columns, built with industrial materials. Key closing elements are brick and glass. The roof is considered a forerunner of the curtain wall.

The form of support is similar to the Gothic style, where weight is supported by beams, reminiscent of the Gothic style's splendor in Catalonia.

Covering Elements

Covering elements include the Catalan vault, a type of brick vaulting where bricks are laid... Continue reading "Palau de la Música Catalana: Modernism in Barcelona" »

The Spanish Plateau: Inner Mountain Ranges and Ridges

The Plateau, a dominant feature of the Spanish landscape, occupies the center of the Iberian Peninsula and accounts for 45% of Spain. During the Alpine movements, the plateau's block fractured into two parts:

The Northern Sub-Plateau

With an average altitude of 800-850m, the northern sub-plateau extends from east to west and is drained by the Duero River network. Rivers on this plateau have carved their way through the landscape, creating a varied topography. The presence of hard Hercynian materials has led to the formation of pits and gorges.

The Southern Sub-Plateau

Averaging 500-700m in altitude, the southern sub-plateau is divided into two parts by the Toledo Mountains. It is characterized... Continue reading "Spanish Plateau: Relief and Geological Features" »

C. Principles of Centralization and Decentralization

The Principle of Centralization as opposed to Decentralization.

The Principle of Devolution as opposed to Concentration.

The merger means that powers are concentrated in higher administrative bodies.

D. The Principle of Coordination

This principle refers to a series of techniques designed to coordinate the actions of multiple government administrations to achieve unity, ensuring consistency within their respective territories. Coordination usually seeks the voluntariness of the various administrations (not imposed) and integrates different techniques into two main groups:

• Functions: These relate to the development of joint plans, instructions, or guidelines that one management body issues to another,

The Spanish Civil War: A Nation Divided (1936-1939)

The Military Uprising and Initial Divisions

On July 17, 1936, a military uprising began in Melilla, Morocco. Over the next few days, this rebellion extended across the Spanish peninsula and its archipelagos, despite the initial passivity of Prime Minister Santiago Casares Quiroga. The insurrection, led by Generals Emilio Mola, Gonzalo Queipo de Llano, Manuel Goded, and Francisco Franco, achieved significant early successes in areas such as Galicia, Old Castile, Andalusia, and the Canary Islands.

However, the uprising faced strong resistance and ultimately failed in key regions like the Basque Country, Catalonia, and Madrid, where it encountered its greatest setbacks. In summary, this military... Continue reading "The Spanish Civil War: Origins, Battles, and Aftermath" »

Item 11: Impacts in the Atmosphere

Sources of Air Pollution

Natural Sources

Natural sources are more significant than those related to human beings, but they are spread around the planet:

• Volcanic eruptions: Emit sulfur compounds, carbon, nitrogen, and suspended particles.
• Natural forest fires: Release CO2.
• Finest sediment particles: They are lifted by wind in areas of low vegetation, such as deserts.

Anthropogenic Sources

Anthropogenic sources result from human activity. Artificial sources can release pollutants but also promote natural emissions.

Among them are transport, industrial processes, and household heating.

Local Effects of Air Pollution

Photochemical Smog

Photochemical smog can be defined as a mixture of toxic substances formed in the lower

Animal Kingdom: Fundamental Characteristics

Animals are multicellular organisms that possess tissues, and their nutrition is heterotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms.

Vertebrates: Animals with a Backbone

Vertebrates include:

• Fish
• Amphibians
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Mammals

They are characterized by having an internal skeleton that includes a vertebral column (backbone).

Invertebrates: Animals Without a Backbone

Invertebrates encompass a vast group, including:

• Porifera (Sponges)
• Coelenterata (Cnidarians)
• Worms
• Mollusks
• Arthropods
• Echinoderms

These animals may have an internal or external skeleton, or no skeleton at all, and they lack a vertebral column. They can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments.

Porifera (Sponges):

Understanding Fossils: Records of Past Life

Fossils are the only "documents" of the past, providing crucial information about how life existed historically. They serve to determine:

• Shape, size, and anatomy.
• Lifestyle and diet.
• Geographical distribution.

Fossils, Sediment, and Rock Formation

The sediment that buried the body became the rock containing the fossil today. Therefore, the environment in which the organism lived is usually the same in which the rock was formed.

Dating Rocks Using Fossils

If we know the time period an organism lived, we can determine the age of the rock containing the fossil, allowing us to date it.

Characteristics of Index Fossils

Index fossils are essential for correlating rock layers and must meet specific criteria:

• Lived