How Was the Grand Canyon Formed?
Like a stack of pancakes, younger rock layers pile on top of older layers. We use the law of superposition to reveal Earth’s age and Grand Canyon geology.
Geology
The Cenozoic Era: From Dinosaur Extinction to Human Evolution
The Cenozoic Era started with the extinction of dinosaurs and moved into the age of mammals.This led to the diversification and increase in size of mammals.
Was the Late Heavy Bombardment a Violent Stage in Earth’s History?
At the end of the Hadean Eon, the Earth was in the late bombardment stage. Earth and the entire solar system was pelted by asteroids, comets and objects.
How Does the Supercontinent Cycle Work?
If you went 200 million years back in time, Earth was 1 supercontinent. Now, it’s made up of 7 separate continents. This is the supercontinent cycle at work.
What Is Pangaea? Piecing Together the Supercontinent Jigsaw Puzzle
About 200 million years ago, all the continents were together as one giant supercontinent known as Pangaea. Over time, these continents have broken apart.
Mass Wasting: Weathering, Erosion and Transport
From the remarkable process of plates colliding and building mountains. They are only to be dismantled by mass wasting (weathering, erosion and transport).
What is Radioactive Decay Inside Earth?
Four radioactive isotopes inside Earth account for 50% of its internal heat. Like a slow cooker, they slowly release heat within the planet keeping it warm.
Continental Drift: A Tale of Moving Continents and Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics are deceptively slow. It’s just centimeters each year. Continental drift is the idea that continents passively move due to tectonic activity
Mantle Convection: Earth’s Plate Tectonic Conveyor Belt
Under the rigid layer of rock we live on, the Earth is plastic & more dense. Because of its fluid properties, mantle convection can occur within the Earth.
Metamorphic Rocks: Heat, Pressure and Metamorphism
If you take an existing rock and add immense heat or pressure to it, the rock becomes soft and pliable like cookie dough transforming into metamorphic rocks.
Antarctic Plate: The Drifting Continent of Antarctica
Antarctic plate holds the continent of Antarctica including the surrounding ocean. It shares borders with the African, Pacific & South American plate.
How Do Glaciers Form?
Like a rake scraping the dirt, glaciers leave a lasting impression on the land. They can erode mountains, transport vast amount of rock and reshape the land.
Coal Formation: How Coal Forms
Hydrocarbons, oil and coal formation in general are made from living organisms that have been compacted from intense heat and pressure millions of years ago.
Mountain Building: How Mountains are Made
When convergent plates collide, the lithosphere thrusts upwards. This geologic process of vertical upheaving are orogenies or mountain building events.
African Plate and the East African Rift Zone
The African major plate contains all of Africa as well as the surrounding oceanic crust of the Atlantic Ocean. It moves at an average rate of 2.5 cm per year.