KWL

What we know about geology in the area.

• Iowa is impacted by deposition and erosion as evidenced by uplift in the west and continental glaciation.
• Iowa is underlain by Precambrian rock.
  

What We Want to Know: PBL Cedar Rapids area demonstrates evidence of past glacial history.

• What were the geologic forces that shaped Cedar Rapids?
• What are the major geologic time periods and their characteristics?
• How do lay people read the surface of the landscape?
  
• What are some pieces of evidence that we see today that indicate what happened in the past?
• What are some notable local sites we can visit to show students these forces?
• Why is Sioux Quartzite exposed in NW Iowa and SE South Dakota?
  

What We Learned about geology:

• Both repeated uplifts and erosion shaped Iowa's surface. {Uplifts in the west and repeated glaciations.} (Iowa Geological Society and Landforms of Iowa)
• Major geological time periods are readily available in geology books and take time to learn and understand.
• Reading the surface: Aerial maps, becoming familiar with characteristics of landforms such as pahas (nw to se), bogs (fines hold in moisture and remnants of glaciers), cut bank strata (top soil, subsoil, parent material and bedrock)
• Evidence from today and notable sites in Eastern Iowa: glacial erratics (Bever Park), alluvial deposits in the river (especially after the flood), eolian deposits (sand dunes in NE Iowa), Stainbrook Geological Preserve (glacial grooves), pahas (Hwy 13 and Mt. Vernon), and cut banks with exposed layers (Ely).
• Why is Sioux Quartzite exposed: During the Cretaceous Period these sandstones formed and then erosion took off layers that were on top. (pgs 80-82 Landforms of Iowa).