Here are the complete Table of Contents for all of the courses and modules. Use our Table of Contents to craft your own study guide or to help your decision to join our course. These TOC’s represent the most focused study guide for the ASBOG® Fundamentals of Geology, ASBOG® Practice of Geology, or the California Specific Exam that exists. Have more questions? Email anytime.

ASBOG® Fundamentals of Geology (FG or GIT)

Module 1 - General and Field Geology

• The scope of the study of Geology

• Applied Geology

• The “Three Revolutions” of geologic thought

• Significant events in the history of the Earth

• Principles of Relative Order of Events

• Simplified History of the United States

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

• Topographic Maps and Remote Sensing

• Geologic Maps and Interpretation

• Geophysics

• Seismic

• Electric

• Electromagnetic 

• Potential methods

Module 2 - Mineralogy and Petrology

• Minerals vs. Rocks

• Crystal Systems

• Physical Properties

• Optical Properties

• Specific Minerals

• Igneous Rocks

• Sedimentary Rocks

• Metamorphic Rocks

• Absolute Dating

Module 3 - Sedimentary Rocks and Stratigraphy

• Sedimentary Rocks

• Sedimentary Processes 

• Sedimentary Environments

• Textures

• Structures

Stratigraphy

• Correlation and Naming 

• Facies

• Transgressions and Regressions

• Fossils and Index Fossils

• Soil Horizons

Module 4 - Geomorphology and Surficial Processes

• Geomorphology

• Identify Landforms

• Classify Landforms

• Watersheds

• Fluvial Landforms

• Fluvial Deposits

• Glacial Landforms

• Glacial Deposits

• Glacial Engineering Geology

• Faults

• Landslides

• Maps & Remote Sensing

Module 5 - Structure, Tectonics, and Seismology

• Structural Geology

• Structural Review: Folds, faults, and the Rule of V’s

• Stresses defined

• Seismology

• Seismic waves

• Distance to epicenter

• Different seismic scales

• Plate Tectonics

• Seismology to study the zonation of the earth

• Deep earthquakes

• Plate Tectonics - driving forces, boundary types

• Lines of Evidence

Module 6 - Hydrogeology

• Hydrologic Cycle

• Principles 

• Water table, 3-point problem, groundwater maps

• Characteristics of Aquifers (and Aquitards)

• Porosity, hydraulic conductivity 

• Aquifer characterization, artesian conditions

• Must Know Equations

• Practical well hydrology

• Flow Nets

• Groundwater Contamination

• Conceptual site model 

• DNAPL &.L NAPL 

• Contaminant transport

• Groundwater cleanup

• Borehole Geophysics

• Gamma 

• SP 

• Resistivity

Module 7 - Engineering Geology

• Stress

• Total stress

• Pore water pressure

• Effective stress

• Strain

• Rock Mechanics

• Soil Mechanics

• Problem soils

• Soil compaction

• Subsidence

• Clays

• Limestones

• Slope Stability

• Seismic Hazards

• Fault studies

• PGA and attenuation relations

• Deterministic vs probabilistic analyses

• Liquefaction

• Site investigation

Module 8 - Economic Geology

• Ore Deposits

• Overall classification

• Orthomagmatic Deposits (Pt, Cr, Ni, Diamonds)

• Hydrothermal Deposits (Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn)

• Sedimentary Deposits (Fe, Al, U)

• Oil and Gas

• Where does oil come from?

• Source Rocks, Reservoirs, Caps, and Traps

• The Petroleum Play and the Petroleum System

• Shale Oil

• Coal

• Cyclothemes

• Geothermal Resources

ASBOG® Practice of Geology (PG)

Module 1 - Environmental Geology

• Drilling Methods and Wells - pros, cons, which to choose

• HSA, Air Rotary, Mud Rotary, GeoProbe

• Wells: construction and completion 

• Cathodic Protection Wells

• Contamination and Remediation

• Petroleum Contamination - Gas Stations

• Common chemistry, remediation techniques

• Dry Cleaners

• DNAPLs and LNAPLs

• Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

• Contributing factors

• Remediation

Module 2 - Hydrogeology

• Aquifer Characterization

• Defining Characteristics

• Must-Know Equations

• Environmental Hydrogeology

• Design of Groundwater Monitoring Systems

• Injection and Extraction Wells (Aquifer storage and recovery)

• Well Destruction/Abandonment

• Surface Water Hydrology

• Rating Curves, Hydrographs, Flood Statistics

• Unified Soils Classification System (USCS)

• USCS - know it

• CPT Classification

• Boring logs

California Specific Geology Exam (CSE)

Module 1 - Regulatory

• The Earthquake Acts

• Alquist-Priolo Fault Zoning Act (A-P Act)

• Seismic Hazards Mapping Act (SHMA)

• Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

• Well Standards and Drilling Methods

•  Leaking Underground Fuel Tanks (LUFT Manual) 

Module 2 - California Geology and Geologic Hazards

• High level California Geology

• Important geologic units

• Associated Hazards and Resources

• Radon

• Landslides 

• Liquefaction

• Acid Mine Drainage (and mercury)

• Saltwater Intrusion

Module 3 - Safety

• Trench Safety

• General PPE