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58 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Geology |
The scientific study of the earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the changes it has undergone or is undergoing. |
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Physical Geology |
Geology concerned with the physical and chemical aspects of the earths crust throughout the earths history. |
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Engineering Geology |
The branch that deals with the relationships between man and geologic hazards. |
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Historical Geology |
The branch of geology concerned with ancient life and the process of evolution. |
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Uniformitarianism |
The process which act to shape the earth's surface today are the same process which have acted throughout the earths history: or "The Present is key to the past". |
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Scientific Method |
-Make Observation -Develope Hypotheses -Test Hypotheses -Interpret and Modify based on results |
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Multiple Working Hypotheses |
Deriving as many hypotheses as possible to explain a given set of facts. |
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Define: Rocks |
A mixture of minerals in a solid state. (in many rocks crystals and minerals can be identified) |
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3 classifications of Rocks |
-Igneous: "Fore Born" solidified from magma
-Sedimentary: formed by the consolidation of deposits of sediment
-Metamorphic: Igneous or sedimentary rocks which have been altered by increased heat, pressure, or hyrdrothermal solutions |
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What is the Rock Cycle |
Heat and Pressure.....Melting-Cooling/Crystallization....Erosion/weathering... compaction/cementation... |
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The Organization of matter |
All matter is made of only 3 particles in various configurations (electrons, protons, and neutrons) |
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Define: Mineral |
A homogeneous, naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition, a characteristic atomic structure, and a specific set of physical properties which are used in identification. |
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What is Crystal Form? |
The external shape of a mineral is a reflection of the internal arrangement of the atoms as the crystal grows. |
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What are the types of crystal cleavage? |
-Basal -Prismatic -Cubic -Rhombohedral -Octahedral -Dodecahedral |
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What is Facture? |
Mineral that has cubic crystal form but no cleavage. |
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What are Striations |
Parallel lines running across a crystal face or cleavage plain. |
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What is hardness and how can it be determined? |
Resistance of a mineral to abrasion (Moh's Hardness Scale) |
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What is Specific Gravity? |
A measure of the relative weight of a mineral compared to water. |
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What is Color and Streak? |
Color and Color of the mineral when powdered |
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5 additional properties of minerals: |
-Magnetism -Odor -Taste -Reaction to acid -Feel (Tenacity-resistance to breakage)
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Most abundant elements in the earths crust by weight? |
-Oxygen (O, 46.6) -Silicon (Si, 27.7) -Aluminum (Al, 8.1) -Iron (Fe, 5.0) -Calcium (Ca, 3.6) -Sodium (K, 2.6) -Magnesium (Mg, 2.1) Total 98.5% |
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Silicate Mineral |
MInerals made of combinations of Si and O with other elements. |
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Important Silicate Minerals and how they vary? |
-Quartz (2.6) -Orthoclase Felspar (2.6) -Sodic Plagioclase (2.6) -Calcic Plagioclase (2.8) -Mica Group (2.9) -Amphibole Group (3.3) Pyroxene Group (3.3) -Olivine (3.3)
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Define: Felsic |
Igneous rocks composed almost entirely of light colored silicates. |
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Define: Intermediate |
Contains at least 25% dark silicate minerals. The other dominate mineral is Plagioclase Fledspar. |
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Define: Mafic |
Containing mostly dark colored silicates |
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What is Silicate Tetrahedron? |
Structure with 4 oxygen atoms surrounding a silicone atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals. |
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2 Criteria for Igneous Rock Classification |
Composition and Texture |
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How does composition affect color? |
Igneous rocks made up of Felsic minerals tend to be light colored. Mafic rocks tend to be dark colored |
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6 types of Igneous rock textures: |
-Phaneritic: Crystals large enough to be seen with the eye -Aphanitic: Not large enough to be seen with the eye -Porphyritic: mixture of visible and non visible -Glassy: No crystals -Cellular: gas escaping leaves bubbles in rock -Fragmental: pieces of ash and lava welded together. |
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Specific Gravities of Granite, Diorite, and Gabbro. |
Granite (2.7) Dorite (2.8) Gabbro (3.0) |
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Describe Bowen's hypothesis for the origin of Igneous Rocks? |
Mafic rocks are the parents of all Igneous rocks. Mafic magma can be separated into other type magmas by fractionation. |
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Principles of Reactions: |
(See Diagram) |
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Continuous Reactions: |
Atom structure does not change, but atoms are removed and replaced by similar atome. |
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Discontinuous Reactions: |
entire atomic structure changes at each step in the series
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Intrusive igneous activity |
Magma is forced into existing rock but doesn't reach the surface |
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Extrusive Igneous activity |
magma forces its way upward until it escapes at the earths surface |
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3 methods in which magma can move upwards |
-Squeezing into weaknesses in the rock layers -Stoping - pre existing rocks breaks off and magma filled space. -Melting of the overlaying rock |
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Define: Pluton |
Igneous rock masses formed when magma solidifies underground |
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Define: Concordant |
Pluton boundaries are parallel to the layering of the country rock. |
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Define: Discordant |
pluton boundaries not parallel to to the layering of the country rock. |
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Define: Tabular Pluton |
Thin flat shape of a pluton |
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Define: Massive Pluton |
pluton that is large in all dimensions |
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Define: Still |
Tubular, Concordant |
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Define: Dike |
Tabular Discordant |
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Define: Lopolith |
Tubular, Concordant (spoon shaped) |
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Define: Laccolith |
Massive Concordant (Dame shaped) |
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Define: Stock |
Massive, Discordant (projection off a batholith) |
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Define: Batholith |
Massive, Discordant |
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Define: Flood Basalt
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Next to granite in the importance as an igneous rock. Vast accumulation of basalt on continents |
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Define: Columnar Jointing |
Columns of lava formed by shrinking of the lava during cooling. |
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list the different compositions of lava |
Rhyolite-Felsic Andesite- Intermediate Basalt- Basic |
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Define: Aa, Pahoehoe, and Pillow lavas |
Aa- Blocky Jagged Pahoehoe- Smooth, Ropey Pillow- Rounded Billowy (underwater) |
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List the types of volcanos |
Composite Volcano - formed by eruption of felsic or intermediate lavas Basaltic Cinder Cone- smallest type Shield- flat shaped Caldera- exploded volcano |
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Ring of Fire and Nue'e Ardente |
Ring of Fire- Chain of volcanic and earthquake activity surrounding the Pacific Ocean |
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Why do rocks weather at the earths surface? |
Because many of the minerals used to make up the rocks are unstable at the earths surface. |
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3 types of products resulting from complete igneous weathering |
Clastic- products of clay or unaltered mineral grains Chemical- products of minerals that were in solutions Biochemical- containing the actions of organisms. |
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