Courses:

Course Info

• Course Number / Code:
• 12.001 (Spring 2008) 
• Course Title:
• Introduction to Geology 
• Course Level:
• Undergraduate 
• Offered by :
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Massachusetts, United States  
• Department:
• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences 
• Course Instructor(s):
• Prof. Lindy Elkins-Tanton 
• Course Introduction:
•  
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  12.001 Introduction to Geology
  
  
  
  

  Spring 2008

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Course Highlights

  
  
  

  
  
  12.001 Introduction to Geology
  
  
  
  

  Spring 2008

  
  
  

  

  An unconformity results from discontinuous deposition of sediments. (Image courtesy of NASA.)

  
  
  

  Course Description

  
  
  

  This undergraduate level course presents a basic study in geology. It introduces major minerals and rock types, rock-forming processes, and time scales; temperatures, pressures, compositions, structure of the Earth, and measurement techniques; geologic structures and relationships observable in the field; sediment movement and landform development by moving water, wind, and ice; crustal processes and planetary evolution in terms of global plate tectonics with an emphasis on ductile and brittle processes.