Introduction

As a child, I would go on walkabouts through any wild spaces I could find and I would marvel at the rocks supporting me as I climbed over them on my journey.

What drew me to the rocks were how they would catch the sunlight and reflect it; how there seemed to be different colours that made them up. I wondered what forces; what processes could create such awesome crystals in the rocks and what sort of history those crystals witnessed.

At that time, geology and geomorphology were foreign concepts to me and it took over 30 years of study and experience to achieve a full appreciation for those rocks I encountered on my adventures, and the crystals that made them up. My studies and vocational experience have taken me through seismology, gold research and exploration, mining inspection, construction aggregates, and academia.

There are many, including my environmental and civil engineering technology students, who do not have decades to commit to developing a working understanding of the Earth and the specific geological and geomorphological contexts they may find themselves working in. Therefore, this textbook is designed to provide a brief introduction to the concepts of geology and geomorphology, with an Ontarian perspective. It serves as a good starting point for individuals who have neither prior experience nor knowledge in geology nor geomorphology.

In order to adequately explain concepts that unfold in four dimensions (3 dimensions with time as the fourth), an electronic format is used to leverage enhanced illustrations. These illustrations include traditional 2D figures; however, videos, animations, and interactive figures are also used to help create a deeper understanding.

Join me on this journey.