Yellowstone Thought Questions:
Intended Audience: This activity was part of the 2003 Teaching Petrology in the 21st Century workshop. It is designed for an undergraduate required course in petrology.
Location:
Yellowstone National Park (drive through tour).
Summary:
Context:
These questions are designed for use by students from a petrology course for geology majors. They may be answered during a day-long trip through Yellowstone National Park.
Goals:
The goals of this activity are to present regional examples of petrology concepts and to encourage critical thinking in students as they participate in a field trip through Yellowstone National Park.
Notes and Tips:
Since it is a National Park, sample collection is not allowed by participants. Participants should also stay on trails and be aware of wildlife around them.
Assessment and Evaluation:
Students have met the goals of this activity if they are engaged in the field trip experience and are able to thoughtfully and accurately answer the thought questions provided.
Materials and Handouts:
- Yellowstone Thought Questions (Microsoft Word 27kB Dec1 03) and figures
References:
- Perkins and Nash, 2002, Location and tectonic setting of the Yellowstone hotspot track (Acrobat (PDF) 200kB Dec1 03)
- Smith, R.B. and L. Siegel, 2000, Yellowstone-Snake River Plain map
- Leveling data, courtesy of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
- Smith, R.B. and L. Siegel, 2000, Seismicity of Yellowstone region, 1973-1996
- Focal depths, courtesy of Bob Smith, University of Utah
- Perkins and Nash, 2002, Silicic volcanism of the Yellowstone hotspot (Acrobat (PDF) 133kB Dec1 03)
- Space-time progression of Yellowstone hotspot (Acrobat (PDF) 93kB Dec1 03), courtesy of Barbara Nash and Mike Perkins, University of Utah
- Isotopic history of Yellowstone hotspot (Acrobat (PDF) 107kB Dec1 03), courtesy of Barbara Nash and Mike Perkins, University of Utah
- Christiansen, R.L., 2001, Major ash flow tuffs and stratigraphic units of Yellowstone (Microsoft Word 53kB Dec1 03)
