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Explore fundamental geological concepts through this comprehensive lecture series delivered by Central Washington University's Nick Zentner during Winter Quarter 2021. Master essential topics including relative and absolute age dating techniques, rock classification and formation processes, and the geological history of North America. Investigate metamorphic rock formation, examine local geological features like the Yakima River Canyon, and understand glacial processes including till formation and landform development. Delve into climate systems and their geological impacts, particularly focusing on the dramatic Ice Age floods that shaped the Pacific Northwest landscape. Study structural geology through fault and fold analysis, then progress to understanding Earth's interior structure and the mechanisms of sea floor spreading. Examine plate tectonic theory including plate boundaries, hot spot volcanism, and various styles of volcanic activity. Analyze significant seismic events including the Nisqually earthquake, Seattle fault system, and major Cascadia subduction zone earthquakes, while comparing them to global events like the Sumatra and Japan disasters. Investigate the complex geological history of the Pacific Northwest, including the Farallon Plate's role in regional development and the formation of Columbia River basalts. Explore the Cascade Range's volcanic evolution, Olympic Peninsula geology, and the fascinating story of Silletzia and exotic terranes that were accreted to North America. Conclude with specialized topics including Liberty Gold deposits and the formation of Ellensburg Blue agates, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical applications of geological principles.
