Hello Geo 113,

This is just a reminder that I will be giving a talk to today in room 260 regarding my thesis work. This talk will highlight some of the research currently ongoing in the department. Here is a bit about the talk...

We are back in action this Friday, April 1, at 3:00. This week, Mr. Tyler Bodine will present "A Geological Examination of the Big Clifty Sandstone (Chesterian) of South Central Kentucky"

The Big Clifty Sandstone is a heavy-oil reservoir and an important component of the extensive development of caves and karst features in Mammoth Cave National Park. The Big Clifty Sandstone often consists entirely of quartz sandstone. However, local variation in lithology such as shale and limestone have been described but are poorly understood. This study incorporates multiple methodologies and data sets such as facies analysis and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) to understand how lithological facies changes vary throughout this unit. This talk will assess how changes in local geology can impact asphalt rock mines and cave development in South Central Kentucky. Although the focus is on geology, this talk will include an assessment of the environmental impact of asphalt rock mining as well as a brief history of this industry which has occurred in Kentucky since the 1800s.

Hope to see some of you there. 

This post is just for fun! Here are some fun geology related photos!

These are some of the photos taken from my time as a graduate student here at WKU. The Illinois Basin contains many wonderful rock formations and natural play areas so get out and explore! Let me know if you have any questions. 

Congratulations on finishing the rock quiz! I know many of you worked hard preparing.


This week you will begin to understand sequence of events diagrams in geologic time. In order to help you with these efforts I am including links to the following websites.

USGS Geologic Time
Sequence of events diagram

Be sure to learn your geologic time scale! Very important!

Here is a sample sequence of events diagram, similar to the one that will be on the next quiz... be sure to practice identifying relative age on this diagrams.

Let me know if you have any questions... T

Hello 113 Students,

I hope you all are enjoying the snow day and gearing up for your mineral quiz next week. If you did not see the videos on minerals I posted from youtube check out the last post. Today I want to post a lecture regarding igneous rocks. Remember that all rocks are composed of different types of minerals, and this is why learning the minerals will help you in studying for igneous rocks. Here is a lecture on igneous rocks that should prepare you for class tomorrow.

Igneous Rock Lecture

Here is an explanation of classification schemes for igneous rocks

Classification of Igneous rocks

See you tomorrow or Wednesday...

Hello 113 Students,

Several students asked me to post about the difference between fracture and cleavage so I am going to link a few videos below.
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5

I hope you find something here that is helpful. Remember to practice! The only way to become an expert at mineral ID is to look at minerals over and over. Please email me with questions at tyler.bodine040@topper.wku.edu or come by my office on the third floor of EST room 323.


Your quiz will be worth 100 points and ask for three physical properties and name of mineral.


Best of luck studying!

Tyler

Hello All,

Here is another great website to help you in your goal of learning the minerals.

Minerals

Hope this helps.

Please email or reply here with questions if you have them!

Remember that you will need to spend time looking at the minerals to learn them.

Minerals!

Here are some useful links as you begin the process of learning more about minerals this week.
http://geology.com/minerals/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MvXv66b5h4
https://www.uky.edu/KGS/rocksmn/

Please comment if you have questions.

I am also including some photos of minerals in thin section per our conversation in class today. These photos were taken here at the WKU Geology Department...

                                         Calcite

                                          Feldspar

                                         Pyroxene