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Part 1: GeoExpore Saskatchewan

1.

Saskatchewan is divided into two geologically distinct regions. One is the Precambrian

Canadian shield in the northern part, and the other is the Phanerozoic western Canadian

sedimentary basin in the southern part. The parts of the north of Saskatchewan are rugged and

forested different from the south that is a plateau with sand dunes in some areas. The north has

also had many lakes and bedrock exposures. The rocks in parts of the north are metamorphosed

sedimentary rocks, metamorphosed volcanic rocks, metamorphosed granite gneisses and granite

intrusions from the Paleoproterozoic era. On the other hand, the southern parts are covered by

younger Proterozoic sedimentary rocks belonging to the Athabasca super-group. Some of these

rocks include mudstones, sandstones, carbonates, and conglomerates. The edge of the Canadian

Shield, sedimentary Phanerozoic rocks overlies older Precambrian rocks. Blowouts characterize

the sand dunes in the south. The sand dunes were formed by wind movement over glacial

deposits after the retreat of the last ice sheets in the region. However, some dunes are active,

while most of the dunes in the south have been stabilized by vegetation. The plains in the south

have deposits of sand and silt, which mask the underlying rock morphology. The north has rocks

that contain uranium deposits, while the south has oil deposits.

2.

The three main types of tectonic place boundaries include convergent boundaries,

divergent boundaries, and transform boundaries. Convergent boundaries occur in places where

two plates are colliding with each other. When two places collide, they form a subduction zone

where the denser plate is subducted and sink below the less dense plate. The part of the denser
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plate that is forced under eventually melts and is destroyed. Converging boundaries lead to the

formations of mountain ranges both in the continents and in the ocean. Divergent boundaries

occur where two tectonic plates move away from each other. This movement in different

directions creates space filled with molten magma from below and forms new crust material.

Divergent boundaries within continents form rifts while those in oceans form mid-oceanic

ridges. The last type of plate boundary is the transform boundary. This boundary is formed when

two tectonic plates slide past each other in a horizontal motion. In this boundary, the crust is

neither created nor destroyed. When plates slide past each other in transform boundaries, they

cause stress in the rocks of both plates that cause an earthquake once a certain threshold is

passed. In Saskatchewan, the cratons are viewed to have been the precursors of the mode day

continents. It is thought that they moved about while on tectonic plates. The orogenic belts in

Saskatchewan represent the points along which two or more tectonic plates were joined

(Rainbird et al., 2007). The cratons would have been mountain ranges before they were worn out

by erosion to their present state. Their formation would have been similar to the formation of the

Himalayas Mountains through the convergent meeting of tectonic plates.

3.

Saskatchewan has many operational mines producing minerals such as silica sand,

sodium sulfate, potash, uranium, clay, bentonite gold, coal, salt, meta-kaolin, bentonite, and

some rare earth metals. Saskatchewan also produces energy resources such as uranium, crude oil,

and natural gas. Its geology also provides the production of geothermal power and hydropower,

which is facilitated with the rivers in the province. The Athabasca basin in Saskatchewan
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contains enormous deposits of mineral elements such as gold, copper, lead zinc and uranium.

These minerals are found embedded in coarse fluvial and marine clastic sediments deposited in

the basin in the region's geological history. The clastic layers and the Precambrian rocks in

Saskatchewan provide some of the highest-grade uranium deposits in the world (Mercadieir et

al., 2013). Hot zones in the crust of some sections of Saskatchewan have enabled the production

of geothermal power in the province. The geological rock formations in the province have also

played a role in the formation of oil and natural gas found in the region. The Athabasca Basin in

northern Saskatchewan has rocks that contain high-grade uranium deposits. This basin supplies

up to 20% of the global uranium. The basin has sandstone sediments that lie above the uranium

ore. On the other hand, the western Canadian sedimentary basin is important as it contains one of

the largest petroleum and natural gas reserves.

4.

Ice age refers to the long periods in earth's history characterized by a reduction in global

temperatures, which resulted in extensive global ice sheets and glaciers. The ice age lasted

millions of years and has played a significant role in shaping various land formations worldwide

(Peltier, 1982). The ice age alternates with the greenhouse period in which all the ice sheets melt.

The ice age has been responsible for the formation of various features observed today. In

Saskatchewan, the Athabasca sand dunes formed from san that had been initially deposited in

places where glacial rivers entered glacial lakes. As the glacial lake levels dropped post the ice

age, the action of wind led to the formation of the sand dunes in the province. The ice age is also

responsible for the formation of elongated teardrop-shaped hills in Saskatchewan. These hills

were formed by the action of moving ice in the region during the ice age. Rock scratches called

striae in different parts of the province were also formed by glacial movements over the rocks.
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5.

A drainage basin is an area that contributes the water it receives from precipitation to

river networks in a region. Saskatchewan has various drainage basins. One of the drainage basins

in the Arctic drainage basin. This basin found in the northern parts of the province supplies water

to several rivers in the region. Ice plays a vital role in the region's hydrology since most of the

land is underlain by permafrost. The second drainage basin in Saskatchewan is the Western

Hudson Bay and Mississippi drainage. This drainage basin covers most of southern

Saskatchewan. Most of the surface water in the region flows from these basins and other

neighboring basins. Most of the streams in Saskatchewan do not flow to the ocean or any sea.

Instead, the drainage is internal. Most of the streams in Saskatchewan are small as they originate

from spring snowmelt.

Part 2: Geology and the world

1.

Relevance of geology

Geology has become increasingly important in the modern world. Geology has helped

understand the earth’s processes, the structures and composition of the earth, and the processes

involved in the formations of different formations on earth. With the current growth in world

population, geology has played a critical role in the global food supply. Through geology, ideal

growing areas across the globe have been identified by assessing conditions such as soil quality

in different geological regions (Wielmaker et al., 2001). The increased population growth has
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necessitated a boom in infrastructural development in different parts. Geology has played a vital

role in this as it has enabled people to establish the best sites to build essential structures such as

roads and other infrastructures. Geology has also helped in protecting the growing population

against environmental hazards such as flooding. Geology has helped create maps that can predict

the regions more prone to flooding hence helping warn people before the rains come. Geology is

vital today as it has enabled protect people from landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

By analyzing soils and water saturation of sails in different regions, geology has helped warn

people in areas at risk of landslides. Understanding volcanic processes help create maps that

predict the lava flows in a volcanic eruption; hence has been essential in protecting people

against volcanism. The study of the earth's history through geological formations plays a vital

role in understanding climate change. With this, geology has helped create prediction models of

climate change and how it is going to affect the world population. The relevance of geology can

also be seen in how it has helped identify natural resources such as oil and natural gas with are

essential with the growing energy demands as a result of global population growth. The study of

rocks has also enabled identify deposits of essential metals that are crucial in the development of

the modern world.

2.

Geology of the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii consists of islands that were built up by volcanoes from the ocean floor. Hawaii

is located in one of the volcanic hot spots of the world (Macdonald et al., 2021). The islands sit

in the middle of the Pacific tectonic plate. For millions of years, volcanic activity has deposited
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materials to form the islands, with each island having at least one primary volcano. A shield

volcano is formed in Hawaii as gently the fluid lava produces sloping mountain flows in the

islands. The islands are made primarily of igneous volcanic rocks formed when magma solidifies

and crystalizes. The volcanos have formed olivine basalts and basalts rocks, which form due to

the fluidity of the larva. The basaltic rocks from the chain of islands are mainly tholeiitic basalt

with a relatively low percentage of silica. The rocks are rich in iron and magnesium. These rocks

also have crystals that are very small and give the rock its smooth texture. Sections of the

Hawaiian Islands have cliffs next to the ocean formed due to marine erosion. Hawaii also has

sedimentary rocks such as limestone. The limestone in Hawaii was formed when some sections

of the island underwent a series of emergences and submergences that left marine fossiliferous

limestone exposed. The islands also have black sandy beaches made of basalt and are created

when lava flows into the ocean.

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