About our author Vince Cronin is an award-winning geoscience educator who has served as a teaching assistant, teacher, or laboratory coordinator for introductory physical geology courses taught at several private and public colleges and universities since 1978. Dr. Cronin is currently Professor of Geosciences at Baylor University and is a licensed and certified professional geologist whose experience in applied and academic geology is quite broad. His research has included plate kinematics, crustal deformation, active faulting, clastic stratigraphy, topics in engineering geoscience, and geoethics.

• Laboratory 1 Filling Your Geoscience Toolbox ACTIVITY 1.1 A View of Earth from Above ACTIVITY 1.2 Finding Latitude and Longitude or UTM Coordinates of a Point ACTIVITY 1.3 Plotting a Point on a Map Using UTM Coordinates ACTIVITY 1.4 Scaling, Density, and Earth’s Deep Interior ACTIVITY 1.5 Investigating Earth’s Highs and Lows ACTIVITY 1.6 Unit Conversions, Scientific Notation, and Rates ACTIVITY 1.7 Graphing and Interpreting Data Laboratory 2 Plate Tectonics ACTIVITY 2.1 Plate Motion from Different Frames of Reference ACTIVITY 2.2 Plate Motion and the San Andreas Fault ACTIVITY 2.3 Measuring Plate Motion Using GPS ACTIVITY 2.4 Hotspots and Plate Motions ACTIVITY 2.5 How Earth’s Materials Deform ACTIVITY 2.6 Paleomagnetic Stripes and Seafloor Spreading ACTIVITY 2.7 Atlantic Seafloor Spreading ACTIVITY 2.8 Using Earthquakes to Identify Plate Boundaries Laboratory 3 Mineral Properties, Identification, and Uses ACTIVITY 3.1 Mineral Luster, Diaphaneity, Streak, and Color ACTIVITY 3.2 Mineral Shape ACTIVITY 3.3 Determining the Relative Hardness of a Mineral ACTIVITY 3.4 Determining Specific Gravity ACTIVITY 3.5 Mineral Analysis, Identification, and Uses ACTIVITY 3.6 The Mineral Dependency Crisis ACTIVITY 3.7 Urban Ore Laboratory 4 Rock-Forming Processes and the Rock Cycle ACTIVITY 4.1 Rock and the Rock Cycle ACTIVITY 4.2 Rock Inquiry ACTIVITY 4.3 What Are Rocks Made Of? ACTIVITY 4.4 Rock-Forming Minerals ACTIVITY 4.5 What Are Rock Texture and Fabric? Laboratory 5 Igneous Rocks and Processes ACTIVITY 5.1 Igneous Textures ACTIVITY 5.2 Investigating Mineral Grain Size in Igneous Rock ACTIVITY 5.3 Glassy and Vesicular Textures of Igneous Rock ACTIVITY 5.4 Minerals That Form Igneous Rocks ACTIVITY 5.5 Estimate the Percentage of Mafic Minerals ACTIVITY 5.6 Estimate Mineral Composition of a Phaneritic Rock by Point Counting ACTIVITY 5.7 Analysis and Interpretation of Igneous Rock ACTIVITY 5.8 Tectonic Setting of Some Major Volcanic Rock Types ACTIVITY 5.9 Geologic History of Southeastern Pennsylvania Laboratory 6 Sedimentary Processes, Rocks, and Environments ACTIVITY 6.1 Clastic Sediment ACTIVITY 6.2 Bioclastic Sediment and Coal ACTIVITY 6.3 Sedimentary Rock Inquiry ACTIVITY 6.4 Sediment from Source to Sink ACTIVITY 6.5 Sediment Analysis, Classification, and Interpretation ACTIVITY 6.6 Hand Sample Analysis and Interpretation ACTIVITY 6.7 Grand Canyon Outcrop Analysis and Interpretation ACTIVITY 6.8 Using the Present to Imagine the Past—Dogs to Dinosaurs ACTIVITY 6.9 Using the Present to Imagine the Past—Cape Cod to Kansas Laboratory 7 Metamorphic Rocks, Processes, and Resources ACTIVITY 7.1 Metamorphic Rock Inquiry ACTIVITY 7.2 Minerals in Metamorphic Rock ACTIVITY 7.3 Metamorphic Rock Analysis and Interpretation ACTIVITY 7.4 Hand Sample Analysis, Classification, and Origin ACTIVITY 7.5 Metamorphic Grades and Facies Laboratory 8 Dating of Rocks, Fossils, and Geologic Events ACTIVITY 8.1 Geologic Inquiry for Relative Dating ACTIVITY 8.2 Determining Sequence of Events in Geologic Cross-Sections ACTIVITY 8.3 Using Fossils to Date Rocks and Events ACTIVITY 8.4 Numerical Dating of Rocks and Fossils ACTIVITY 8.5 Infer Geologic History from a New Mexico Outcrop ACTIVITY 8.6 Investigating a Natural Cross-Section in the Grand Canyon Laboratory 9 Topographic Maps ACTIVITY 9.1 Map and Google Earth Inquiry ACTIVITY 9.2 Map Locations, Distances, Directions, and Symbols ACTIVITY 9.3 Topographic Map Construction ACTIVITY 9.4 Topographic Map and Orthoimage Interpretation ACTIVITY 9.5 Relief and Gradient (Slope) Analysis ACTIVITY 9.6 Topographic Profile Construction Laboratory 10 Geologic Structures, Maps, and Block Diagrams ACTIVITY 10.1 Map Contacts and Formations ACTIVITY 10.2 Geologic Structures Inquiry ACTIVITY 10.3 Fault Analysis Using Orthoimages ACTIVITY 10.4 Appalachian Mountains Geologic Map ACTIVITY 10.5 Cardboard Model Analysis and Interpretation ACTIVITY 10.6 Block Diagram Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory 11 Earthquake Hazards and Human Risks ACTIVITY 11.1 Earthquake Hazards Inquiry ACTIVITY 11.2 How Seismic Waves Travel Through Earth ACTIVITY 11.3 Locate the Epicenter of an Earthquake ACTIVITY 11.4 San Andreas Fault Analysis at Wallace Creek ACTIVITY 11.5 New Madrid Seismic Zone Laboratory 12 Stream Processes, Geomorphology, and Hazards ACTIVITY 12.1 Streamer Inquiry ACTIVITY 12.2 Introduction to Stream Processes and Landscapes ACTIVITY 12.3 A Mountain Stream ACTIVITY 12.4 Escarpments and Stream Terraces ACTIVITY 12.5 Meander Evolution on the Rio Grande ACTIVITY 12.6 Retreat of Niagara Falls ACTIVITY 12.7 Flood Hazard Mapping, Assessment, and Risk Laboratory 13 Groundwater Processes, Resources, and Risks ACTIVITY 13.1 Groundwater Inquiry ACTIVITY 13.2 Where Is the Nasty Stuff Going? ACTIVITY 13.3 Using Data to Map the Flow of Groundwater ACTIVITY 13.4 Karst Processes and Topography ACTIVITY 13.5 Floridan Aquifer System ACTIVITY 13.6 Land Subsidence from Groundwater Withdrawal Laboratory 14 Glaciers and the Dynamic Cryosphere ACTIVITY 14.1 The Cryosphere and Sea Ice ACTIVITY 14.2 Mountain Glaciers and Glacial Landforms ACTIVITY 14.3 Nisqually Glacier Response to Climate Change ACTIVITY 14.4 Glacier National Park Investigation ACTIVITY 14.5 Some Effects of Continental Glaciation Laboratory 15 Desert Landforms, Hazards, and Risks ACTIVITY 15.1 Dryland Inquiry ACTIVITY 15.2 Sand Seas of Nebraska and the Arabian Peninsula ACTIVITY 15.3 Dryland Lakes of Utah ACTIVITY 15.4 Death Valley, California Laboratory 16 Coastal Processes, Landforms, Hazards, and Risks ACTIVITY 16.1 Coastline Inquiry ACTIVITY 16.2 Introduction to Coastlines ACTIVITY 16.3 Coastline Modification at Ocean City, Maryland ACTIVITY 16.4 The Threat of Rising Seas Laboratory 17 Earth’s Dynamic Climate ACTIVITY 17.1 How Does Rising Temperature Affect Sea Level? ACTIVITY 17.2 Melting Ice and Rising Sea Level ACTIVITY 17.3 Using Tide Gauge Data to Model Sea-Level Change ACTIVITY 17.4 Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere ACTIVITY 17.5 The Climate Record from Cores ACTIVITY 17.6 Local Effects of Sea-Level Rise Cardboard Models GeoTools

About our author Vince Cronin is an award-winning geoscience educator who has served as a teaching assistant, teacher, or laboratory coordinator for introductory physical geology courses taught at several private and public colleges and universities since 1978. Dr. Cronin is currently Professor of Geosciences at Baylor University and is a licensed and certified professional geologist whose experience in applied and academic geology is quite broad. His research has included plate kinematics, crustal deformation, active faulting, clastic stratigraphy, topics in engineering geoscience, and geoethics.

• Laboratory 1 Filling Your Geoscience Toolbox ACTIVITY 1.1 A View of Earth from Above ACTIVITY 1.2 Finding Latitude and Longitude or UTM Coordinates of a Point ACTIVITY 1.3 Plotting a Point on a Map Using UTM Coordinates ACTIVITY 1.4 Scaling, Density, and Earth’s Deep Interior ACTIVITY 1.5 Investigating Earth’s Highs and Lows ACTIVITY 1.6 Unit Conversions, Scientific Notation, and Rates ACTIVITY 1.7 Graphing and Interpreting Data Laboratory 2 Plate Tectonics ACTIVITY 2.1 Plate Motion from Different Frames of Reference ACTIVITY 2.2 Plate Motion and the San Andreas Fault ACTIVITY 2.3 Measuring Plate Motion Using GPS ACTIVITY 2.4 Hotspots and Plate Motions ACTIVITY 2.5 How Earth’s Materials Deform ACTIVITY 2.6 Paleomagnetic Stripes and Seafloor Spreading ACTIVITY 2.7 Atlantic Seafloor Spreading ACTIVITY 2.8 Using Earthquakes to Identify Plate Boundaries Laboratory 3 Mineral Properties, Identification, and Uses ACTIVITY 3.1 Mineral Luster, Diaphaneity, Streak, and Color ACTIVITY 3.2 Mineral Shape ACTIVITY 3.3 Determining the Relative Hardness of a Mineral ACTIVITY 3.4 Determining Specific Gravity ACTIVITY 3.5 Mineral Analysis, Identification, and Uses ACTIVITY 3.6 The Mineral Dependency Crisis ACTIVITY 3.7 Urban Ore Laboratory 4 Rock-Forming Processes and the Rock Cycle ACTIVITY 4.1 Rock and the Rock Cycle ACTIVITY 4.2 Rock Inquiry ACTIVITY 4.3 What Are Rocks Made Of? ACTIVITY 4.4 Rock-Forming Minerals ACTIVITY 4.5 What Are Rock Texture and Fabric? Laboratory 5 Igneous Rocks and Processes ACTIVITY 5.1 Igneous Textures ACTIVITY 5.2 Investigating Mineral Grain Size in Igneous Rock ACTIVITY 5.3 Glassy and Vesicular Textures of Igneous Rock ACTIVITY 5.4 Minerals That Form Igneous Rocks ACTIVITY 5.5 Estimate the Percentage of Mafic Minerals ACTIVITY 5.6 Estimate Mineral Composition of a Phaneritic Rock by Point Counting ACTIVITY 5.7 Analysis and Interpretation of Igneous Rock ACTIVITY 5.8 Tectonic Setting of Some Major Volcanic Rock Types ACTIVITY 5.9 Geologic History of Southeastern Pennsylvania Laboratory 6 Sedimentary Processes, Rocks, and Environments ACTIVITY 6.1 Clastic Sediment ACTIVITY 6.2 Bioclastic Sediment and Coal ACTIVITY 6.3 Sedimentary Rock Inquiry ACTIVITY 6.4 Sediment from Source to Sink ACTIVITY 6.5 Sediment Analysis, Classification, and Interpretation ACTIVITY 6.6 Hand Sample Analysis and Interpretation ACTIVITY 6.7 Grand Canyon Outcrop Analysis and Interpretation ACTIVITY 6.8 Using the Present to Imagine the Past—Dogs to Dinosaurs ACTIVITY 6.9 Using the Present to Imagine the Past—Cape Cod to Kansas Laboratory 7 Metamorphic Rocks, Processes, and Resources ACTIVITY 7.1 Metamorphic Rock Inquiry ACTIVITY 7.2 Minerals in Metamorphic Rock ACTIVITY 7.3 Metamorphic Rock Analysis and Interpretation ACTIVITY 7.4 Hand Sample Analysis, Classification, and Origin ACTIVITY 7.5 Metamorphic Grades and Facies Laboratory 8 Dating of Rocks, Fossils, and Geologic Events ACTIVITY 8.1 Geologic Inquiry for Relative Dating ACTIVITY 8.2 Determining Sequence of Events in Geologic Cross-Sections ACTIVITY 8.3 Using Fossils to Date Rocks and Events ACTIVITY 8.4 Numerical Dating of Rocks and Fossils ACTIVITY 8.5 Infer Geologic History from a New Mexico Outcrop ACTIVITY 8.6 Investigating a Natural Cross-Section in the Grand Canyon Laboratory 9 Topographic Maps ACTIVITY 9.1 Map and Google Earth Inquiry ACTIVITY 9.2 Map Locations, Distances, Directions, and Symbols ACTIVITY 9.3 Topographic Map Construction ACTIVITY 9.4 Topographic Map and Orthoimage Interpretation ACTIVITY 9.5 Relief and Gradient (Slope) Analysis ACTIVITY 9.6 Topographic Profile Construction Laboratory 10 Geologic Structures, Maps, and Block Diagrams ACTIVITY 10.1 Map Contacts and Formations ACTIVITY 10.2 Geologic Structures Inquiry ACTIVITY 10.3 Fault Analysis Using Orthoimages ACTIVITY 10.4 Appalachian Mountains Geologic Map ACTIVITY 10.5 Cardboard Model Analysis and Interpretation ACTIVITY 10.6 Block Diagram Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory 11 Earthquake Hazards and Human Risks ACTIVITY 11.1 Earthquake Hazards Inquiry ACTIVITY 11.2 How Seismic Waves Travel Through Earth ACTIVITY 11.3 Locate the Epicenter of an Earthquake ACTIVITY 11.4 San Andreas Fault Analysis at Wallace Creek ACTIVITY 11.5 New Madrid Seismic Zone Laboratory 12 Stream Processes, Geomorphology, and Hazards ACTIVITY 12.1 Streamer Inquiry ACTIVITY 12.2 Introduction to Stream Processes and Landscapes ACTIVITY 12.3 A Mountain Stream ACTIVITY 12.4 Escarpments and Stream Terraces ACTIVITY 12.5 Meander Evolution on the Rio Grande ACTIVITY 12.6 Retreat of Niagara Falls ACTIVITY 12.7 Flood Hazard Mapping, Assessment, and Risk Laboratory 13 Groundwater Processes, Resources, and Risks ACTIVITY 13.1 Groundwater Inquiry ACTIVITY 13.2 Where Is the Nasty Stuff Going? ACTIVITY 13.3 Using Data to Map the Flow of Groundwater ACTIVITY 13.4 Karst Processes and Topography ACTIVITY 13.5 Floridan Aquifer System ACTIVITY 13.6 Land Subsidence from Groundwater Withdrawal Laboratory 14 Glaciers and the Dynamic Cryosphere ACTIVITY 14.1 The Cryosphere and Sea Ice ACTIVITY 14.2 Mountain Glaciers and Glacial Landforms ACTIVITY 14.3 Nisqually Glacier Response to Climate Change ACTIVITY 14.4 Glacier National Park Investigation ACTIVITY 14.5 Some Effects of Continental Glaciation Laboratory 15 Desert Landforms, Hazards, and Risks ACTIVITY 15.1 Dryland Inquiry ACTIVITY 15.2 Sand Seas of Nebraska and the Arabian Peninsula ACTIVITY 15.3 Dryland Lakes of Utah ACTIVITY 15.4 Death Valley, California Laboratory 16 Coastal Processes, Landforms, Hazards, and Risks ACTIVITY 16.1 Coastline Inquiry ACTIVITY 16.2 Introduction to Coastlines ACTIVITY 16.3 Coastline Modification at Ocean City, Maryland ACTIVITY 16.4 The Threat of Rising Seas Laboratory 17 Earth’s Dynamic Climate ACTIVITY 17.1 How Does Rising Temperature Affect Sea Level? ACTIVITY 17.2 Melting Ice and Rising Sea Level ACTIVITY 17.3 Using Tide Gauge Data to Model Sea-Level Change ACTIVITY 17.4 Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere ACTIVITY 17.5 The Climate Record from Cores ACTIVITY 17.6 Local Effects of Sea-Level Rise Cardboard Models GeoTools