Geology is everywhere. Would you like to know how to read the rocks and landscape, and how to make sense of debates over natural resources? These 36 half-hour lectures introduce you to the study of minerals, rocks, soils, and the processes that operate on them through time. A science that is surprisingly intuitive, accessible, and concrete, geology has the excitement of a never-ending detective story, replete with clues to the complex past, and future, of our planet.
Nature of Earth: An Introduction to Geology
Get a brilliant introduction into a truly fascinating and relevant topic in this course that teaches you the fundamentals of geology.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ZS97 from
Excellent introduction course to the geology
Prof. Renton is among the few best lecturers I have ever had. He passes on his wealth of knowledge to the audience with clarity, simplicity, and a sense of subtle humor from time to time. It is a very enjoyable and informative course for me to take, and I wish I had it way earlier, so I could appreciate the nature better while I was traveling around. Wish he had provided us more courses along the line, so we could have deeper understandings on certain interesting topics, e.g. how shear joints actually form, why limestone caves have almost 90 degree angle intersections, how the US topography shaped by the nature, more examples of where different rocks and minerals found... I think Prof. Renton just lured us to learn more! So sad to learn he passed away, but glad the Great Courses keep his lectures alive, and we can still benefit from them.
Date published: 2024-04-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Earth Science teacher from
Easy to understand.
The teacher's frequent use of photos and diagrams makes the material easy to understand. His delivery style is warm and relaxed, which I have found typical with geology professors.
Date published: 2024-03-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Boss Hoss from
One of the Best
Totally fantastic! I took several geology courses during my undergrad years (early 1970's) and I thought I would have a basic understanding of geologic processes, but I have to admit Dr. Renton's teaching methods and presentations showed me how far the science has advanced since that time and how much I really don't know. I highly recommend this course to anyone who has any interest in the world we live in.
Date published: 2024-01-12
Rated 4 out of
5
by
funnysunshine from
Excellent instructor, needs update or addendum
One of my favorites instructors so far, really enjoying it and yielding deeper understanding of the subject. However the course is old, so I am left wondering what should have been updated. Would be very helpful for Great Courses/Wondrium to date the courses and provide addendums
Date published: 2023-12-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
avviano from
Excellent course and very good lecturer!
This is an excellent course. John Renton has a way of making the topic as exciting and suspenseful as a hollywood blockbuster. I was drawn in from the beginning and enjoyed every bit of the course. Great job!!!
Date published: 2023-11-04
Rated 2 out of
5
by
DDDDDDDDDDD from
Nature of Earth
While there is no doubt the lecturer knows his subject and is very passionate , the harsh reality is there is too much chemistry in this course. With no science background I personally find it too technical to understand properly.
Date published: 2023-10-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
fengdotdev from
great teacher give life to the content teach
great course and the professor keep the content fun and alive 10 of 10
Date published: 2023-09-05
Rated 1 out of
5
by
SSE1 from
Zero knowledge of astrophysics
Lectures 1 & 2, creation of universe and solar system with Earth, is not based of current understanding of the big-bang, or physics, or thermonuclear reactions, or creation, life and death of stars. or dark matter, or cosmic dust, or gravity, or space-time, etc, etc . . nothing!!
Date published: 2023-07-09
Overview
About
Dr. John J. Renton is Professor of Geology at West Virginia University where he has been teaching for more than 40 years. He earned his bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Waynesburg College and went on to earn his master's degree and Ph.D. in Geology from West Virginia University. Professor Renton is the recipient of several awards for his success in teaching, including the Outstanding Educator Award from the Eastern Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, and the Outstanding Teacher Award from the West Virginia University Foundation. Professor Renton is the author of the textbook, Planet Earth. He has also authored or coauthored 45 papers and has been part of more than $4 million of coal-related research grants.
01: Origin of the Universe
In the beginning, there was no need for geology because there were no rocks, minerals, or Earth. This lecture takes a "big picture" look at the formation and early evolution of the universe....
31 min
02: Origin of the Solar System
The planets formed from a disc of cosmic dust rotating around the Sun. The composition of the planets varies. Those nearest the Sun are made of rock, while those most distant are made of gases....
30 min
03: Continental Drift
Until the 20th century, geologists believed that the size, shape, and location of the continents had been fixed in their present configuration for billions of years. Then the theory of plate tectonics changed everything....
30 min
04: Plate Tectonics
This lecture describes plate tectonics-the rifting of continents and spreading of the sea floor; the force that drives this process; and the cyclic creation, breaking up, and reformation of supercontinents....
30 min
05: The Formation of Minerals
A full understanding of Earth's origin, the evolution of its surface, and how processes shape the land requires knowledge of minerals, how they form, and their basic classification....
30 min
06: Classification of Minerals
Minerals are classified by their dominant, negatively charged grouping (anion). By far, the major rock-forming minerals are silicates built around the silicate anion. All other minerals are classified as non-silicates....
29 min
07: The Identification of Minerals
For the average geologist in the field, mineral identification is made based on a series of physical properties. Color streak, cleavage, acid reaction, and hardness are four such tests....
31 min
08: Kinds of Rocks
Of the three types of rock-igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic-igneous rocks constitute 80 percent of Earth's crust. They are classified and named based on their texture and mineral composition....
30 min
09: Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks form from the products of weathering and cover 75 percent of Earth's land surface. As a result, they are the type of rock that is normally seen exposed at Earth's surface....
31 min
10: Metamorphic Rocks
A metamorphic rock is any rock that forms from a previously existing rock as the result of heat, pressure, and chemically active fluids. This process takes place only at great depth....
31 min
11: Volcanic Activity
This lecture introduces volcanism, which is associated with three types of sites: convergent plate margins, divergent plate margins, and hot spots. The composition of magma is crucial in determining the intensity of an eruption....
29 min
12: Phases of Volcanic Activity
The site of an eruption and the type of magma involved govern whether the resulting volcano will be a cinder cone, a shield volcano, or a strato- or composite volcano. Eruptions are further classified based on severity....
30 min
13: The Hawaiian Islands and Yellowstone Park
The Hawaiian Islands resulted from the movement of the Pacific plate over a volcanic hot spot. Yellowstone Park also sits over a hot spot that caused violent eruptions in prehistory. Another such eruption is likely....
29 min
14: Mass Wasting-Gravity at Work
Although mass wasting is one of the most important processes responsible for the evolution of the landscape, most people are unaware of its existence. The driving force of mass wasting is gravity....
29 min
15: Mass Wasting Processes
This lecture describes how mass wasting works and where to observe it. Although flows, slides, and falls account for the most dramatic forms of mass wasting, by far the greatest change is achieved by creep....
30 min
16: Weathering
Weathering is any process whereby rocks either disintegrate or decompose. The primary agent of physical weathering is the freezing and thawing of water, known as frost wedging....
31 min
17: Soils and the Clay Minerals
This lecture explores why soils are so critical to sustaining plant life. Clay minerals turn out to be the key component. Different climates have characteristic soil types, some of which are ideal for agriculture....
29 min
18: Climate and the Type of Soils
Soil is the end product of a complex series of factors, the most important of which is climate. The type of soil that forms is controlled by the combination of annual precipitation and temperature....
31 min
19: Streams-The Major Agent of Erosion
Despite holding only a tiny fraction of the world's fresh water, streams are the major agent of erosion wherever water can exist, including the desert. Streams are either interior (terminating inland) or exterior (ending in the ocean)....
31 min
20: Sculpting of the Landscape
Surprisingly, there is no scientific consensus on the process of landscape evolution. One prominent theory, proposed by William Davis, sees land evolving through three stages of maturity due to stream erosion....
29 min
21: Stream Erosion in Arid Regions
With minor modifications, Davis's theory on the three stages of a stream's life holds true for arid regions as well as humid regions. Nevada is typical of the process of stream erosion in arid regions....
30 min
22: Ice Sculpts the Final Scene
Glaciers are second only to streams as an agent of erosion. In areas such as the Alps and Canadian Rockies, the combined effects of stream and glacial erosion have carved some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet....
31 min
23: Groundwater
Earth's largest readily available source of fresh water is groundwater. This lecture looks at the types of rock most suitable for storing groundwater. Those that produce water most easily are classified as aquifers....
31 min
24: The Production of Groundwater
Overproduction of an aquifer usually results in the lowering of the water table. Groundwater is not a renewable resource. It may take hundreds of thousands of years to replace a gallon of groundwater with a new gallon....
28 min
25: Karst Topography
One of the most spectacular results of groundwater in action is karst topography-irregular topography created by the surface and groundwater dissolution of underlying soluble rock, usually limestone....
31 min
26: Groundwater Contamination
Nearly every human activity, from fertilizing yards to parking cars, has the potential to contaminate groundwater. Poorly designed and built landfills rank high among potential contaminants....
30 min
27: Rock Deformation
Deformation is any process in which rock changes in size and/or shape. The three types of deformation are elastic, plastic, and brittle, corresponding to rocks that "bounce back," bend, and break....
30 min
28: The Geologic Structures
Rock structures form as a result of the application of stress beyond the strength of the rock. The three basic rock structures are folds, faults, and joints. This lecture focuses on folds, which are caused by compression....
31 min
29: Faults and Joints
Faults and joints comprise the two types of brittle deformation. Rocks move along faults. There is little or no movement along joints. One well-known fault is the San Andreas, a strike-slip fault....
31 min
30: Earthquakes
Earthquakes occur in the same regions as the most violent volcanoes. Both result from the activity of convergent plate or divergent plate margins. Convergent plate margins produce the most violent of both events....
30 min
31: Damage from Earthquakes
The intensity of an earthquake refers to the observed results of the quaking and the amount of damage. An earthquake's magnitude measures the amount of Earth movement. Tsunamis are an earthquake-generated phenomenon....
30 min
32: Seismology
Earthquakes have been detected for centuries with simple devices, but the ability to study the full impact of earthquakes awaited the invention of a seismograph that could not only detect but actually measure Earth movement....
31 min
33: The Formation of Mountains
Mountains are of four types: volcanic, domal, block-fault, and foldbelt. The most impressive are foldbelt mountains such as the Himalayas, which are created by colliding plates at zones of subduction....
30 min
34: Orogenic Styles
Orogeny refers to the processes that create foldbelt mountains. These form under three scenarios: ocean-continent collisions, ocean-island arc-continent collisions, and continent-continent collisions....
31 min
35: Economic Geology of Coal
Coal comes from wood that has been preserved in environments where oxygen and microbial activity is low. Coal is ranked by its carbon content, which varies widely in the abundant deposits in the United States....
29 min
36: Economic Geology of Petroleum
Petroleum is formed when marine material is buried in porous rock capped by an impermeable layer. Predictions about the inevitable decrease and disappearance of oil resources appear to be all too accurate....
32 min
