LibGuides: College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) (OER Hub): GEOL 1040: Physical Geology & Lab (GEOL 1041)

OER Materials for Physical Geology

Physical Geology – 2nd Edition by Steven Earle
Publication Date: 2019

Physical Geology is a comprehensive introductory text on the physical aspects of geology, including rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciation, groundwater, streams, coasts, mass wasting, climate change, planetary geology and much more. It has a strong emphasis on examples from western Canada, especially British Columbia, and also includes a chapter devoted to the geological history of western Canada. The book is a collaboration of faculty from Earth Science departments at Universities and Colleges across British Columbia and elsewhere.

Notice: A newer edition adapted from the title featured above is now available and it includes of over 200 interactive H5P activities and many additional images to support written content. It may be accessed at Physical Geology – H5P Edition

Listed on 78 syllabi at U.S. institutions according to Open Syllabus - OER Metrics as of 5/14//2025.

Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology by Bradley Deline; Randa Harris; Karen Tefend
ISBN: 9781940771366

Publication Date: 2016

Introduction to Geology is a textbook designed to ease new students into the often complex topics of Geology and the study of our planet and its makeup. The book assists readers through the beginning topics and nomenclature of Geology to familiarize them with Geology's version of the scientific methods. Readers will learn the various uses of the scientific method in geological terms. These include the time tested steps of observation, measurement, testing, and creating a hypothesis and ultimately various theories about diverse Geological fields. This collaborative text is the result of the partnership between Affordable Learning Georgia and the University of North Georgia Press.

Listed on 33 syllabi at U.S. institutions according to Open Syllabus - OER Metrics as of 5/14/2025.

Physical Geology Laboratory by Elizabeth Johnson
Publication Date: 2023

The purpose of this “book” is to help students practice skills to master learning objectives for physical geology laboratory. I hope you will find these materials helpful; however, they are not a substitute for attending class or help sessions. Pictures do not tell the whole story for minerals and rocks! It is very important to use other observations such as feel, hardness, and luster, which can only be done effectively in person.

Geology (Lumen Learning) by Lumen Learning
Publication Date: 2015

This survey course covers the fundamentals of geology and earth science, helping students understand how the Earth was formed and the forces shaping its continued evolution. It also introduces students to how geological resources are used in human civilization. Key topics include rock and mineral formation; weathering and soil formation; plate tectonics; Earth’s interior; crustal deformation; earthquakes and volcanoes; mass movement; hydrology; and applications of geological resources for human use.

These related titles are also available:

The Birth of the Anthropocene by Jeremy Davies
ISBN: 9780520289970

Publication Date: 2016-05-24

The world faces an environmental crisis unprecedented in human history. Carbon dioxide levels have reached heights not seen for three million years, and the greatest mass extinction since the time of the dinosaurs appears to be underway. Such far-reaching changes suggest something remarkable: the beginning of a new geological epoch. It has been called the Anthropocene. The Birth of the Anthropocene shows how this epochal transformation puts the deep history of the planet at the heart of contemporary environmental politics. By opening a window onto geological time, the idea of the Anthropocene changes our understanding of present-day environmental destruction and injustice. Linking new developments in earth science to the insights of world historians, Jeremy Davies shows that as the Anthropocene epoch begins, politics and geology have become inextricably entwined.
Atlas of the Rock-Forming Minerals in Thin Section by W. S. Mackenzie; C. Guilford
ISBN: 9781317873808

Publication Date: 2014-07-15

'Hurray for Mackenzie and Guilford for at last we have a pictorial guide to the rock-forming minerals! . . . such feasts of colour in mineralogy books are rare . . . an admirable guide' New Scientist
Volcanic Eruptions and Their Repose, Unrest, Precursors, and Timing by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
ISBN: 9780309454124

Publication Date: 2017-08-24

Volcanic eruptions are common, with more than 50 volcanic eruptions in the United States alone in the past 31 years. These eruptions can have devastating economic and social consequences, even at great distances from the volcano. Fortunately many eruptions are preceded by unrest that can be detected using ground, airborne, and spaceborne instruments. Data from these instruments, combined with basic understanding of how volcanoes work, form the basis for forecasting eruptions "where, when, how big, how long, and the consequences. Accurate forecasts of the likelihood and magnitude of an eruption in a specified timeframe are rooted in a scientific understanding of the processes that govern the storage, ascent, and eruption of magma. Yet our understanding of volcanic systems is incomplete and biased by the limited number of volcanoes and eruption styles observed with advanced instrumentation.
Geological Hazards by Mu. Ramkumar
ISBN: 9788190851275

Publication Date: 2021

"This book presents comprehensive information on the types of geohazards that impact not only the human society but also the natural resources as well. Authored by experts working on characterization and modeling geohazard phenomena and vulnerability of different regions of World towards specific types of geohazards. Individual chapters are devoted to every geohazard type, detailing it in terms of definition, types, causes, likely impacts on socio-economic milieu and natural environment, methods of mitigation and relief and rescue procedures. Case studies and specific chapters on systematic of geohazard vulnerability mapping, information dissemination and relief and rescue operations are also included in this book."
Erosion in Geomechanics Applied to Dams and Levees by Stephane Bonelli (Editor)
ISBN: 9781118577240

Publication Date: 2013-04-08

Erosion is the most common cause of failures at earth-dams, dikes and levees, whether through overtopping and overflowing, or internal erosion and piping. This book is dedicated to the phenomenon of internal erosion and piping. It is not intended to be exhaustive on the subject, but brings together some of the latest international research and advances. Emphasis is placed on physical processes, how they can be studied in the laboratory, and how test results can be applied to levees and dams. The results from several research projects in Australia, France, the Netherlands and the United States are covered by the authors. Our aim has been to share our most recent findings with students, researchers and practitioners. Understanding the failure of an earth-dam or a levee by erosion in a unified framework, whether internal erosion or surface erosion, requires continuous research in this field. We hope that the reader will gain knowledge from this book that leads to further progress in the challenging field of the safety of levees and dams.
The Rare Earth Elements by J. H. L. Voncken
ISBN: 9783319268095

Publication Date: 2015-12-24

This book deals with the rare earth elements (REE), which are a series of 17 transition metals: scandium, yttrium and the lanthanide series of elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium). They are relatively unknown to the wider public, despite their numerous applications and their critical role in many high-tech applications, such as high-temperature superconductors, phosphors (for energy-saving lamps, flat-screen monitors and flat-screen televisions), rechargeable batteries (household and automotive), very strong permanent magnets (used for instance in wind turbines and hard-disk drives), or even in a medical MRI application. This book describes the history of their discovery, the major REE ore minerals and the major ore deposits that are presently being exploited (or are planned to be exploited in the very near future), the physical and chemical properties of REEs, the mineral processing of REE concentrates and their extractive metallurgy, the applications of these elements, their economic aspects and the influential economical role of China, and finally the recycling of the REE, which is an emerging field.

Peay Search logo

Many more eBooks are available to access through PeaySearch. Try this strategy that searches for the subject keyword "physical geology" in books that are available online.

Depending on your subfield of interest, you may also want to search using the subject keywords Petrology, Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Sedimentary Geology, Stratigraphy, and Structural Geology

Woodward Library has full-text electronic access to current issues of the following titles (in addition to many other related journals and magazines).

Geology
Geology has been the Web of Science's #1 ranked "geology" journal for 15 years in a row.

The journal Geology publishes timely, innovative, and provocative articles relevant to its international audience, representing research from all fields of the geosciences. It is published by the Geological Society of America.
Geology Today
Geology Today is a magazine published by Wiley on behalf of the Geological Society of London and the Geologists' Association. Geology Today covers subjects of current interest in the Earth Sciences.
Open Journal of Geology
Open Journal of Geology (OJG) is an open, international, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the latest advancements in geology.

A list of journals categorized with the subject Geology can be found in PeaySearch. Some of these may include:

Anthropocene Review
Earth, Planets and Space
Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene
Geochronology
Geological Journal
Geosphere
Journal of Geology
Lithosphere
Sedimentology
Solid Earth
Terra Nova

Don't Panic Geocast
John Leeman and Shannon Dulin discuss geoscience and technology weekly for your enjoyment! Features include guests, fun paper Friday selections, product reviews, and banter about recent developments. Shannon is a field geologist who tolerates technology and John is a self-proclaimed nerd that tolerates geologists.

A list of other Geology podcasts is available from FeedSpot.

The following examples are available from free video services and library subscriptions.

Description: The video above is provided through Alexander Street Academic Video Online: Premium and is available to students through a subscription provided by Woodward Library. It provides access to thousands of videos with captions included. Students will need to authenticate with their library username and password when accessing these titles off-campus.

Academic Video Online: Premium
Streaming video for all subjects
Academic Video Online (AVON) delivers more than 66,000 video titles spanning the widest range of subject areas including anthropology, history, business, counseling, dance, ethnic studies, gay and lesbian studies, film, opera, religion, theatre, and more. AVON includes every kind of video material available with curricular relevance: documentaries, interviews, performances, news programs and newsreels, field recordings, commercials, and raw footage. Users will find thousands of award-winning films, including Academy®, Emmy®, and Peabody® winners as well as the most frequently used films for classroom instruction, plus newly released films and previously unavailable archival material. Publishers include A&E, Bullfrog Films, HISTORY®, Sony Pictures Classics, BroadwayHD™, 60 Minutes, PBS, BBC, Milestone Films and many more.

*Complete details for Academic Video Online: Premium including a full bibliography can be found at www.alexanderstreet.com/avon . A guide is available at http://proquest.libguides.com/AVON

More videos on the subject of Geology are available at the library database above. It features a new tool from ASP called Video Interaction Functionality that is now available to faculty members. This functionality promotes student engagement by allowing professors to embed assessment and pedagogical tools within the videos.

The playlist Volcanoes in the United States is available along with many other geology videos on the GeologyHub YouTube channel.

Physical Geology Lab Digital Rock & Mineral Kits
This guide was created to provide students access to the Rock & Mineral kits in a digital format. To view the specimens within each kit, simply select the kit which you wish to review from the left-hand menu. Each kit contains pictures along with descriptors of each rock and mineral.
Sketchfab: Museum of Mineralogy and Petrography, UAIC Museum of Mineralogy and Petrography, UAIC
Digital 3D models of Minerals and Rocks
Virtual Microscope (rock sample collection)
he VM project aims to make a step change in the teaching of Earth Sciences by broadening access to rock collections that are currently held in museums, universities and other institutions around the world. The Virtual Microscope allows users to examine and explore minerals and microscopic features of rocks, helping them to develop classiﬁcation and identification skills without the need for high-cost microscopes
Virtual Petrography
The Virtual Petrography Lab is a database of geologic thin sections and hand samples. A 'petrographic microscope' is a tool that shines polarized light through very thinly sliced slivers of rock, resulting in a dazzling caleidoscope of colours and patterns. Students can use these optical properties to identify the mineral composition of the rock. The combinations of minerals and the way they fit together to make a texture allows geologists to interpret the history of the rock sample.
Mineral, Rock, and Fossil Kits (available on reserve for GEOL 1041 at APSU Library)
These kits can be checked out at the Access Services Desk of Woodward Library
Virtual Field Experiences for Physical Geology Courses (Canvas from Virginia Community Colleges)
Virtual Field Experiences (VFEs) are contained within this CANVAS shell that can be used, adapted, modified, and added to based upon the needs of the instructor. The VFE modules are designed to be used in an introductory college level Physical Geology course to enhance online and hybrid learning environments.
GEOL 101 – Introduction to Physical Geology (Open Course Library)
Geology is a core science, along with physics, chemistry, and biology. It uses rigorous methods of inquiry that illuminate the history of the earth and its present-day geological activity. Geology allows us to discover how earth’s history and activity determine the state of the planet and its life forms. The study of geology also shows us how human behavior affects the earth. Topics we will cover include plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, rocks, minerals, geologic time, glaciers, rivers, geologic structures, layers of the earth, and reading maps. This course includes laboratory work and lab credit.

Geology Research Guide
by Michael Hooper Last Updated Mar 31, 2025 21 views this year

GeoRef
Geology and all related subjects
*lists citations and summaries of journal articles, government publications, and books

*covers geology and related disciplines

*covers items published from 1785 to present for North America and from 1933 to present for the rest of the world
Emergency Disasters Data Base (Em-Dat)
Mass disasters in the world from 1900 to present
*maintained by the Collaborating Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED

*search by country of origin or type of disaster

*covers over 12,800 mass disasters from 1900-present
Environmental Studies (Gale in Context)
Understand environmental issues that affect people globally through topic overviews, journals, news, and multimedia content.
Gale In Context: Environmental Studies provides detailed information on current environmental issues and processes from both a scientific and a social standpoint.

From climate change to automobile emissions, today’s environmental issues determine the destiny of tomorrow’s world. Gale In Context: Environmental Studies provides users with comprehensive information, empowering learners to critically analyze and understand important topics that affect people around the world. Explore topics and events within Earth systems, global change, pollution, populations, and more.

Integrating case studies, news, reference materials, academic journals, videos, and more, Environmental Studies is updated daily with relevant information. The resource offers nearly 400 topic, state, and province pages across the science, social studies, and humanities curriculum, including Water Privatization, Ecotourism, Air Pollution, Green Economy, and more.
Sustainability (JSTOR)
Research on environmental stresses and their impact on society
JSTOR Sustainability is a collection of journals, e-books, and research reports that provide multiple perspectives on environmental issues. The collection covers over 20 disciplines, including the Biological Sciences, Business & Economics, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Public Health, and Urban Studies.

The Sustainability collection on JSTOR is a growing and highly interdisciplinary set of content. The collection includes:

More than 140 journals in the core disciplines of environmental studies, business & economics, law, environmental science, aquatic and biological sciences, ecology, and urban studies and the built environment.

5,000 research reports from a minimum of 40 leading think tanks around the world (2,000 available now, more coming later in 2017-2018). The often hard-to-find research reports will include policy briefs, technical papers, white papers, and discussion papers from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, corporations, policy institutions, and academic centers.

10 open access journals (two available in early 2017, more coming soon)

More than 350 scholarly ebooks spanning the wide ranges of disciplines in the collection.