Oct 2 Notes - Prof. Andrew Caruthers PDF

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Prof. Andrew Caruthers...

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Oct 2 Class Notes Sierra Nevadas & Yosemite Yosemite, Mono Lake, Devil's Postpile Natl. Pks. John Muir – Naturalist, Author, Env. Philosopher Schooled in “Observation of Nature” Founder of the Sierra Club “Father of the Natl. Pks. Strong Advocate for wilderness preservations Argued that clues in the landscape told story that climate was once much colder and large ice sheets (glaciers) shapped the Yosemite Valley. Josiah Whitney – Professor of Geology @ Harvard Chief CA Geo Survey Traditional education, schooled in “modern” known geological processes. Argued that Yosemite Valley could only have formed from a sudden [tectonic] event where valley suddenly dropped away and created the steep cliffs. Yosemite Valley NE/SW Valley Several NE → SW flowing rivers. Rocks vs. Minerals Rocks are aggregates of Minerals (combinations & conglomerations) Sandstone Rock in Mantle → Magma → Igneous Rock → Sediment → Sedimentary Rock → → Metamorphic Rock → Sedimentary Rock → Metamorphic Rock → Magma → Sediment → Sediment Large Crystals (think Granite) = Slow cooling...