Details Title: ESSC 108 1 Description: Rock types and processes Total Flash Cards: 87 Created: 10/01/2009 14:27:49		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Geology Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term Define science. Definition Science is a body of knowledge, but it is also a process known as the scientific method. Term Define hypothesis. Definition Tentative explanation that fits ALL the data. Term Define theory. Definition Well-tested and widely accepted view that the majority of scientists agree best explains the observable facts. Term Define scientific law. Definition A law is a theory that meets rigorous testing over long periods of time and can be modeled mathematically. Term What are the steps of the scientific method? Definition 1. Ask a question 2. Research 3. Form a hypothesis 4.Test your hypothesis 5.Analyze data and draw conclusions 6. Communicate your results Term What is the Principle of Uniformitarianism? Definition Chemical ans physical processes have remained unchanged over time.   Natural laws are time indepedent, but the rates are variable. Term The universe consists mostly of what two elements? Definition Hydrogen and Helium. Term Define fusion. Definition The process by which multiple like-charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus. Term What is the typical origin of elements 3-26? Definition Stellar fusion. Term What is the typical origin of elements above 26? Definition Supernova explosions.     Term What is the temperature (C) at the center of the earth? Definition 4500-6000 degrees Celcius. Term What is the temperature (C) on the surface of the sun? Definition Approximately 5500 degrees celcius. Term Define meridian. Definition Longitudinal lines running north and south around the earth. They intersect at the poles and measure east and west. Term Define Prime Meridian Definition The longitudinal line running through Greenwich England. Also known as the International Date Line. Term Define Longitude. Definition Degrees of arc east and west of the prime meridian. Term Define parallel. Definition Latitudinal lines running east and west across the earth which measure north and south. Term Define latitude. Definition Degrees of arc north and south of the equator. Term Define equator. Definition The parallel which circles the widest part of the earth.   Term Define North Pole. Definition The geographic north pole is directly in the center of the northernmost parallel. The magnetic north is slightly off from this. Term Define Principle Meridian. Definition An arbitrary line running north and south, part of the US Public Land Survey. Term Define Baseline. Definition Arbitrary line running east and west, part of the US Public Land Survey. Term Define Township. Definition The columns of squares running north and south in the USPLS. Term Define Range. Definition The rows of squares running east and west in the USPLS. Term Define Section. Definition The numbers of the squares in the USPLS. A section is equal to one square mile. Term Define contour. Definition Lines connecting points of equal elevation. Term Define contour interval. Definition The distance between contour lines. Term Define relief. Definition The difference in elevation between contour lines. Term Define elevation. Definition Height above sea-level. Term Define fractional scale. Definition A fraction in which one unit on the map is equal to the unit of the denominator of the fraction on earth. (Usually 1/24,000). This is only useful when looking at original maps. Term Define graphic scale. Definition Lines on the map directly relating earth distance and map distance. Term Define slope. Definition Rise/Run. On a map it is the relief divided by the distance between two points. Term Define element. Definition A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary physical or chemical means. Term Define atom. Definition An atom is the smallest until of an element than can exist and still have all the characteristics of the element. Term Define atomic number. Definition The number of protons an atom has. Term Define Atomic Mass. Definition Protons+Neutrons.   Term Define Ion. Definition A charged atom. Term Define anion. Definition An atom in which the number of protons is less than the number of electrons. It has a negative charge. Term Define cation. Definition An atom where the number of protons is greater than the number of electrons. Term Define Isotope. Definition Element with variable number of neutrons. Term Define mineral. Definition 1. Naturally Occuring 2. Inorganic 3. Definite Internal Structure. 4. Solid 5. Definite Chemical Composition Term Give the chemical formula for quartz, ice and diamond. Definition Quartz: SiO2 Ice:H2O Diamond: C Term Draw the silica-oxygen tetrahedra Definition Term Define streak. Definition The color of a mineral in powdered form. Term Define luster. Definition The appearance of light reflected from the surface of a mineral. Term Define Mineral Hardness. Definition A measure of the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching. Term Define cleavage. Definition The tendancy of a mineral tp split along planes of weak bonding that exist between atoms in the crystalline structure. Term Define fracture. Definition The way a mineral without cleavage breaks. Term Define igneous rock. Definition Igneous rocks originated from magma or lava. Term Define magma. Definition Molten rock inside the earth. Term Describe the rock cycle. Definition Term Define lava. Definition Molten rock on the earth's surface. Term Define volatile. Definition Gasses dissolved within magma/ lava. This is what makes volcanoes explosive or not. Term Define viscosity. Definition The thickness/ fluidity of a substance. High viscosity: Silicic Magma, Molasses Low Viscosity: Mafic Magma, Water Term What is the major constituant of most magmas? Definition SiO2 AKA Silicon and Oxygen Term What are the most common volatiles? Definition Water (H2O) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Term Where does magma come from? Definition Inside the earth. Term Define Geothermal Gradient. What are typical geothermal gradients? Definition Rate of increase of temperature with depth. Usually about 15-40 degrees C/km Term At what temperature do rocks begin to melt? Definition 650 degrees C. Term What is the major influence on viscosity? Definition Temperature Term What is the temp, SiO2 content, viscosity, volatile content, and expected type of volcanic activity for mafic lava? Definition 900-1200 C, 50% SiO2, Low volatiles and viscosity, not explosive. Term What is the temp, SiO2 content, viscosity, volatile content, and expected type of volcanic activity for silicic lava? Definition 650-850 C, 60-70% SiO2, high volatile content and viscosity, expected to be explosive. Term What is the difference between extrusive and intrusive igneous processes? Definition Extrusive: Happen on the earth's surface and take very little time.   Intrusive: Happen inside the earth, and take thousands to tens of thousands of years. Term Discuss the origin of shield volcanos. Give an example and specify magma type. Definition Sheild volcanoes come from mafic lava eruptions. Since mafic lava has a low viscosity it slowly covers the earth's surface, creating a large semi-circle shaped volcano. Example: The Hawaiian Islands. Term Discuss the origin of stratovolcanoes. Give an example and specify magma type. Definition The thick silicic lava moves slowly, buiding up a high mountainous structure. Example: Mt. Vesuvius. Term Define pahoehoe and aa lava. Definition Pahoehoe: Smooth and ropy Aa: Rough, jagged, clinkery surface. Term Discuss the two eruption phases of a composite volcano. Definition 1. Explosive: High volatile content causes a build up of pressure.   2. Lava Flow: Thick lava moves very slowly. Term Define pluton. Definition A crystallized magma chamber. Term Define texture. Definition The size, shape, and arrangment of the grains in a rock.   Term What are the two criteria by which igneous rocks are named? Definition Plutonic and Volcanic. Term What is the difference between plutonic and volcanic rocks? Definition Plutonic rocks cool slowly inside the earth and are made up of 100% crystals.   Volcanic rocks cool rapidly on the earth's surface so the rocks are a mixture of crystals that formed before eruption and either glass or very small microscopic crystals. Term Classification of Igneous Rocks. Definition Term Define lithification and describe the two parts. Definition Turns sediments into rocks. 1. Compaction: Weight of overlying sediments forces grains closer together. 2. Cementation: Precipitation of dissolved subastances in groundwater bonds grains together. Term What are the most common cements? Definition Term Why do rocks compact? Definition Pressure. Term What is bedding? Definition The layers of sedimentary rock. Term What are clastic sedimentary rocks? Definition Forms from the fragments of other rocks. Term Using grain size define: conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Definition Conglomerate: Grains >2mm Sandstone: 1/16-2mm Siltstone: 1/256-1/16mm Shale: <1/256mm Term What is the most common clastic sedimentary rock? Definition Shale. Term What is the most common non-clastic sedimentary rock? Definition Limestone. Term What are evaporates? Give an example. Definition Evaporation of water in restricted basins leaves behind mineral deposits. Example:Travertine. Term What is coal made of? Definition Coal is made of ancient wood. Term Define metamorphism. Definition The solid state recrystallization of minerals due to temperature, stress, and/ or chemically active fluids. Term What are the causes of metamorphism? Definition Temperature, Stress, and Chemically Active Fluids. Term Define stress, asperity, triple junction, directed stress, and foliation. Definition Stress: Force/ Area Asperity: Protrusions in the rock. Triple Junction: Grain pattern formed from lithostatic stress. Directed Stress: Stress in one specific direction. Foliation: Aligned minerals resulting from directed stress. Term What is the primary texture resulting from directed stress? Definition Foliation Term How do you distinguish shale from phyllite from schist from gneiss? Definition You can test the hardness, luster, cleavage, streak, color, and crystal form. Term Define marble, quartzite. Under what kind of stress do these rocks form? Definition Marble: Metamorphosed limestone. Quartzite: Metamorphosed quartz-rich sandstone.   Lithostatic stress formed these rocks.