• The Open University

The Earth in My Pocket: an Introduction to Geology

Get an introduction to geology. Discover where materials that make up everyday objects come from and how to use them sustainably.

20,780 enrolled on this course

A person holds a smartphone up to take a picture of a landscape – a representation of geology

The Earth in My Pocket: an Introduction to Geology

20,780 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

Get an introduction to geological processes

Everything we use that has not been grown either contains or relies on materials that have been sourced by a geologist.

On this online course, you will discover the link between volcanoes and your mobile phone, or why tiny marine wildlife is at the core of the plastics industry.

You will explore basic geological processes, focusing on how, where and why different rocks and natural resources form across the Earth.

You will also look at some of the environmental and sustainability considerations that geologists need to take into account when extracting and processing these resources.

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Building Stone

    • Photograph of a abstract metamorphic fold.

      What is a rock?

      In this activity, you will discover what igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks are, how they are formed and how you can identify them.

    • Photograph of chalcopyrite.

      Identifying rocks: going into the ‘field’

      In this activity, you have the chance to locate and identify your own rocks, all you need is a camera and some rocks. You don’t have to go far, have a look in your local shopping centre, high street or even a kitchen work surface.

    • Photograph of a nappe fold.

      The Rock cycle and Plate tectonics

      Ever wondered why mountains are found in certain places on the Earth and not others? In this activity, you will learn about how the Earth recycles rocks and how this affects the Earth’s crust.

  • Week 2

    Metals, metals everywhere

    • Photograph of an aluminium smelting plant taken at night time.

      Rocks in your phone?

      What’s your smartphone made of? How do we extract the minerals we need from the Earth? In this activity, you’ll find out about what we use man-made processes for, and when we rely on the geological sorting hat.

    • Photograph of copper.

      Copper

      In this activity, you will focus on one of the elements found in your mobile phone, copper, and find out why it is one of the most important metals used in the modern world.

    • Photograph of the statue of liberty.

      Why are you digging there?

      Finding the correct rocks to dig out of the ground does not happen by accident. In this activity you will look at how ancient and modern humans have found the metals they need.

  • Week 3

    Ubiquitous petroleum

    • Photograph of a shale outcrop.

      You’re joking, all that comes from oil?

      Oil is an essential part of modern society, it is all around us, from the obvious uses as a transport fuel, to less obvious uses in plastics and food production. In this first session you’ll learn the uses of oil and what it is.

    • Image of a nodding donkey/ pumpjack.

      Where does it come from?

      So oil comes from the ground, but how does it get there? In this activity, you’ll be learning how oil forms and how it becomes trapped in the rocks ready for us to exploit it.

    • Image depicting biostratigraphy through time.

      If it’s buried, how do we find it?

      In this activity, you’ll learn how geologists find and extract the oil once it’s been stored in a geological reservoir.

  • Week 4

    Breaking and fixing our planet

    • Image showing onshore gravel extraction.

      Different types of mining

      Over the last three weeks you’ve learnt about the amazing geological resources that can be obtained from the Earth. In this week’s first activity you’ll learn about some of the environmental impacts of extracting those resources.

    • Photograph of a bath tub with the tap running and the plug open.

      Geoengineering: crazy ideas or will they save the planet?

      Geoengineering is large scale, deliberate intervention in the Earth’s climate. In this activity, you hear from Dr Neil Edwards about increasing the size of the plug hole in the atmospheric bath tub.

    • Photograph of Parys mountain.

      Small bugs solve a lot of problems

      Mining not only produces a blot on the landscape, but a lot of water, which is often very acidic. In this activity, we investigate how bacteria could be used to solve many of the problems associated with mines.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify different igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
  • Assess and understand the origin, occurrence and availability of some natural physical resources associated with metals, oil and building stones
  • Apply and use numerical and graphical methods to interpret quantities and concentrations of different natural resources
  • Describe and appreciate societal and environmental issues associated with the sustainability of the Earth’s physical resources

Who is the course for?

The course is open to anyone with an interest in geology and the natural environment. It will be particularly useful for anyone considering an environmental science degree course or teachers who are looking for additional geology and geography resources to use in the classroom.

You will need a camera capable of taking a digital photo – a smart phone is fine. You will also need a Flickr account – this is free and easy to use.

Who will you learn with?

Anne Jay

I'm a lecturer in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences at the Open University. I research a type of volcano called large igneous provinces.

Marcus Badger

I am a Lecturer in Earth Sciences at the Open University. I use organic molecules preserved in rocks to study the past 66 million years of the Earth's carbon cycle and climate.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$79/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 11 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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