Where does it come from? Why does it occur there? How important is it economically? Why?

1. Select one of the common ores in your state or region (such as northwest United States, southeast United States, or western Europe). Where does it come from? Why does it occur there? How important is it economically? Why?

2.As you approach and enter some typical mountain ranges, you will first encounter sedimentary rocks, then metamorphic rocks, and finally igneous rocks. Is this sequence reasonable? What would it mean if you encountered a different sequence?

3. Most gemstones, such as topaz, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, have a common mineral property that makes them gemstones. What is this property? Is that property responsible for their economic value? Why or why not?

4.Imagine that you are a geologist trying to find clues about what happens beneath the Earth’s surface. Would it be more productive to study contact metamorphosis or regional metamorphosis? Why?

5.What information do fossils provide about past life on Earth? What information do fossils not provide?..More on This Topic.....