Rocks can contain radioactive elements that breakdown (decay) over time at a set rate.  We can use this decay to work out the age of the rocks.  In this episode, we do a brief look at the process, and how we know it works. Visit our Members Section - Over 90 teaching resources that are classroom-ready to help you teach Earth science. Check them out! Support the show ..read more

Where did the Theory of Plate Tectonics come from? How did it evolve? What started it all off and how did new evidence change the theory? Visit our Members Section - Over 90 teaching resources that are classroom-ready to help you teach Earth science. Check them out! Support the show ..read more

What drives the movement of the Earth's huge lithospheric tectonic plates? In this episode, we talk about mantle convection currents and slab pull - the too well-accepted theories for what is driving Plate Tectonics. Visit our Members Section - Over 90 teaching resources that are classroom-ready to help you teach Earth science. Check them out! Don't miss a thing!   Join our email list. Support the show ..read more

Why do we see such variation in the sand around the world - white, yellow, black and green, and more!  What can the grains of sand tell us about the age of the sand?   And how can sand on an island that contains just black rocks have white sand?    This one is for the sand collectors! Support the show ..read more

Earth scientists in the field recognize that a sequence of rocks may be missing layers of rocks that represent a period of time.  We call those unconformities.  In this episode, we discuss what an unconformity is and the four main types of unconformities - angular, paraconformity, disconformity, and nonconformity. Don't miss a thing!   Join our email list. Support what I do to help you... Support the show ..read more

How do we know about the inside of the Earth?   Using earthquake waves and visitors from out of space (meteorites), we can see the layers and work out the chemistry of the layers that make up our planet. Visit us at GEOetc.com to learn more about our amazing planet! Support the show ..read more

Trilobites are amazing fossils!  They can be used for accurate correlation between sedimentary layers because they evolved rapidly, lived in almost all marine environments, and have exoskeletons that were easy to preserve.    Here is a link to the activities mentioned in the episode: Trilobite ID Trilobite (and other fossil) models Support the show ..read more

What is a glacier?  How is it formed?  Where can I find them and how are they classified? Support the show ..read more

A dike is a planar igneous intrusion that cuts through the existing rocks.  They have always fascinated me - and in this episode, I talk a little about them and why I think they are awesome! Support the show ..read more

Why does the island of Iceland exist?  Learn how two major geological phenomena occur together to make this amazing and unique place on our planet.  Plate Tectonics and Mantle Plumes interact to provide us with a beautiful island. Support the show ..read more