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72 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
The study of the Earth |
Geology |
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Studies the features that build and erode the Earth's surface. |
Physical Geology |
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Principle that explains that the same physical and chemical forces working today, were also present in the past. |
Principle of Uniformitarianism |
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A density boundary between the crust and mantle. |
Mohorovicic Discontinuity |
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Crust is lighter and more buoyant than the denser mantle. |
Isostasy |
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Lava Lamp |
Convection Cells |
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Theory where 15 billion years ago a dense sphere of matter exploded, creating the universe. |
Big Bang Theory |
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Gravity collapsed a whirling mass and dust. |
Nebular Hypothesis |
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Man who proposed the Continental Drift Theory |
Alfred Wegener |
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Considered one of the "founding fathers" of the unifying theory of plate tectonics. He is best known for his theories on sea floor spreading. |
Howard Hess |
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A boundary in which two plates move apart, resulting in upwelling of material from the mantle to create new seafloor. |
Divergent Plate Boundary |
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A boundary in which two plates move together, resulting in oceanic lithosphere being thrust beneath an overriding plate, eventually to be reabsorbed into the mantle. (two Continental plates collide to create a mountain system.) |
Convergent Plate Boundary |
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A major strike-slip fault that cuts through the lithosphere and accommodates motion between two plates. |
Transform Fault |
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A boundary in which two plates slide past one another without creating or destroying lithosphere. |
Transform Fault Boundary |
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The process of thrusting oceanic lithosphere into the mantle along a convergent zone. |
Subduction |
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The study of minerals |
Mineralogy |
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Two minerals with the same composition but a different crystalline structure. |
Polymorph |
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The smallest unit of an element |
Atom |
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Positive charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. Determines the name and atomic number. |
Proton |
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Negative charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. Determines how elements join to form compounds. |
Electron |
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Adds mass to the element. |
Neutron |
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Ions |
Protons don't equal electrons |
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Combination of two or more atoms |
Compound |
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The boundaries of crystals are flat planes called ____________________. |
Crystal Faces |
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Combination of two or more minerals ( or form from living things ) |
Rocks |
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Molten rock (magma) that solidifies on (extrusive) or below (intrusive) the Earth's surface. |
Igneous Rocks |
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Broken-up rock fragments cemented together by groundwater; also organic or chemically formed in a fluid at or near Earth's surface. |
Sedimentary Rocks |
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Rocks changed by heat/pressure |
Metamorphic Rocks |
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Based on Density, Emil Wiechert explained the Earth was composed of what two layers? |
Mantle and Core |
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What proof did he have for his model of the Earth? |
Seismic Data |
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Name the two types of crust? |
Continental Crust and Oceanic Crust |
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Which is lighter out of Continental Crust and Oceanic Crust? |
Continental |
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What elements make up each layer of the Earth? |
Continental Crust (solid) |
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Which layer of the Earth moves the plates? |
Asthenosphere |
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Man has only drilled into what two layers of the Earth? (Direct Sampling) |
Continental crust and Oceanic crust |
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Earth is an open system with energy being added from where? |
External from the Sun and internal energy is generated from what two sources? Trapped Heat and Radioactivity in it's interior. |
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Planetary composition is related to what? |
The distance from the Sun |
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Why is the Earth so blue? |
The Earth is more than 70% water and water can exist in (solid, liquid, and gas) |
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The Earth's internal forces do what?
External forces? |
Internal - Build and shape the curst
External - wear away the surface by weathering and erosion |
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Give the proof for the Big Bang Theory. |
Microwaves and expanding universe (stars moving away from each other) |
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Give the proof for the Nebular Hypothesis |
Solar Nebula found around stars |
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What uses seismic waves to develop a 3-D model of the Earth's interior. |
Seismic Tomography |
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Solid rock that is trapped in lava flow |
Xenolith |
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List the 3 proofs for describing the layers of the earth |
Direct Sampling
Seismic Evidence
Seismic Tomography |
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How deep has man drilled? |
Deepest Well = 8 Miles into the crust |
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List some of Wegener's proof of Continental Drift. |
1. Fit of the Continents 2. Fossil Evidence 3. Structural Trends (Mountain Ranges) 4. Age of the Rocks 5. Glacial Deposits |
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What was Wegener's biggest mistake? |
He didn't know about the athenosphere |
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The Sea-Floor Spreading Theory states: Old Sea floor is lost at the ___________; New Sea floor is added at ___________. |
Lost at trenches; added at rifts |
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Paleomagnetic proof for sea-floor spreading works because rock rich in what element will line up with the magnetic poles? |
Iron |
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The oldest sea floor is found near the _______?
Youngest sea floor is at the _________? |
Oldest - Continents
Youngest - Rifts |
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Hot mantle plumes are created when what layer releases energy? ____________. Give an example of a hot spot _________________. |
Outer core |
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What is the only layer of the earth that can subduct? |
Oceanic Crust |
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The plate Tectonic Theory combines what two theories? |
Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading Theory |
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How did Hawaii and Yellowstone (Wy.) form? |
Mantle Plumes |
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What can initiate rifting of a continent? |
Mantle Plumes |
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Give the 5 part definition for a mineral: |
1. Solid at room temp 2. Natural 3. Inorganic (generally) 4. Definite chemical composition (or range of chemicals) 5. Definite Arrangement of atoms - which creates a crystalline Structure |
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The truest methods for identifying minerals are ___________________ and _____________? |
Chemical Composition and Crystalline Structure |
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Cations have a __________ charge because they have (more) electrons than protons; Anions have a _____________ charge because they have (less) electrons than protons. |
Cations - Positive
Anions - Negative |
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Minerals form by: __________________ |
Crystallization |
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When do minerals form? 4 ways |
1. Lowering temp below melting point 2. Liquids evaporate 3. High heat and pressures 4. Low Temperature |
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Most minerals are chemically classified as ______________________. |
Silicate Minerals |
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The basic building block for all silicates is the __________________ composed of ___ Si atoms and ____ oxygen atoms. |
Silicate Ion
1 Si atoms 4 Oxygen atoms |
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Single Chain silicates share what element between tetrahedrons in one dimension? |
Oxygen |
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Double Chain silicates have two parallel chains with every other tetrahedron sharing a __________ atom with the adjacent chain. |
Oxygen |
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Sheet silicates have each _____________ sharing 3 oxygen atoms. |
Tetrahedron |
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Framework silicates share all ______ oxygen atoms by adjacent tetrahedrons. |
4 |
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The most common mineral on Earth? |
Quartz or Feldspar |
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Name the chemical bond described below: A. A weak residual force B. Electrons are shared C. Electrons are transferred |
A. Van Der Waal's B. Covalent Bonds C. Ionics Bonds D. Metallic Bonds |
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How do igneous rocks form? |
Form as molten rock crystallizes |
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How do sedimentary rocks form? |
Form by lithification |
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How do metamorphic rocks form? |
Form by recrystallization in solid |
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Tell what type of rock forms at these plate tectonic settings
Divergent ___________ at rift ___________along edges of continents
Convergent (O to C) __________
Transform _____________ |
Divergent: Sedimentary at rift, Sedimentary along edges of continents.
Convergent (O to C): Igneous Convergent (C to C): Metamorphic buried deep and sedimentary along edges of continent
Transform: Metamorphic |