Details Title: Exam 1 Description: Exam 1 Chapter 1-7 Total Flash Cards: 72 Created: 09/27/2009 16:37:30		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 What is geology? Definition the science that pursues an understanding of planet earth Term What is catastrophism? Definition The earth's landscapes have been shaped primarly through great catastrophes Term What is uniformitarianism Definition Physical biological and chemical laws that operate today also operated in geological past. Term What is relative dating? Definition that dates are placed in their proper sequence or order without knowing their age in years Term What are earth's four spheres? Definition Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere Solid Earth Term What is the aim of Earth System science? Definition Aims to study Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts or subsystems Term What is a system? Definition any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole Term What is the nebular hypothesis? Definition - a rotating cloud called the solar nebular that was composed of hydrogen and helium - the nebular started to contract about 5 billion years ago - it assumed a flat disk, shape with the protosun at the center - inner plannets formed from metallic and rocky substances - large outer planets formed from fragments of ices (H20, CO2, and others) - Term How did the Earth's layered structure form? Definition Metals sank to center - molten rocks rose to produce a primitive crust - Chem segregation established the 3 division of Earth's interior - Atmosphere evolved from gases in Earth's Interior Term What is the crust and what is it composed of? Definition It is the outermost shell of the earth and it is composed of various rocks Term What is the mantle and what is it composed of? Definition It is the interior of the earth, and it is highly viscous. Composed of mainly periodite Term What is the core and what is it composed of? Definition Composed of iron-nickel alloy. Extreme pressure outter core is liquid layer inner core is solid Term What is the lithosphere? Definition Consists of the entire crust and the upper-most mantle. forms the earth's cool rigid outer shell. Term What is the asthenosphere? Definition a weak layer below the lithosphere Term What is the mesophere Definition Part of the mantle that extends from the core mantle boundary also known as lower mantle Term What is the inner core? Definition Solid inner most layer of the earth Term What is the outer core? Definition layer below mantle that has a liquid form Term How can you go from magma to an igenous rock? Definition Crystallization(cooling and solidification) Term How can you go from igneous to sediment? Definition Weathering Term How can you go from sediment to sedimentary rocks? Definition Lithification (cementation and compaction) Term How can you go from sedimentary rock to metamorphic rock? Definition heat and pressure Term How can you go from metamorphic rock to magma? Definition melting Term What is earths structure from the inner most section out? Definition Inner core, outer core, mantle, crust Term How is earths crust divided? Definition oceanic crust and continental crust Term What are sheilds? Definition large flat expanses of ancient metamorphic rock within the continental interior Term What are the stable continental platforms consist? Definition Thick sequences of sedimentary strata that overlay thick sections of stable contiental crust Term What is the theory that explains the movement of earth;s outer layer Definition plate tectonics Term What is a divergent plate boundary? Definition when two playes move apart Term What is a convergent plate boundary? Definition two plates moving together Term What is a transform fault boundary? Definition when two plates grind against each other Term What are subduction zones? Definition when the lithosphere descends into theathenosphere Term What forms when an oceanic plate and a continental plate converge? Definition an oceanic trench Term Most volcanic island arcs are located where? Definition oceanic ridges Term The andes and cascades exemplify what feature? Definition continental volcanic arc Term What is pohoehoe? Definition Wrinkly twisty ropey Term What is aa? Definition rough, jaged texture Term What size are ash and small dust particles that a volcano puts out? Definition >2mm Term What are materials ranging from the size of small beads up to walnuts (2-64 mm) from a volcano called? Definition lapilli Term What is viscosity? Definition a measures of a materials resistance to flow? high viscosity= slower flow Term What is an object larger than 64mm that is made from hardened lava called? Definition blocks Term What is an object larger than 64mm that is made as incandescent lava called? Definition bombs Term What type of volcano takes the shape of a broad domed structure? Definition shield Term How are sheild volcanoes built? Definition by fluid basaltic laval flow and contain only a small % of pyroclastics Term What kind of eruptions happen on shield volcanoes? Definition quiescent eruptions with fluid magma Term How to cinder cones form? Definition they form from ejected lava fragments Term What is a composite cone volcano? Definition large nearly symmetyrical structure composed of interbedded lavas and pyroclastic deposites, emitted from a central vent. Term What are fiery cloudsconsiting for ash called? Definition nuee ardentes Term What are the structures that result from the emplacement of magma at depth called? Definition plutons Term What are dikes? Definition sheet like plutons produced when magma is injected in fractures that cut across rock layers Term What are sills? Definition tabular structures formed when magma is injected along sedimentary bedding surfaces Term What are laccoliths Definition form lke sill but from viscous magma Term What type of volcano is composed mostly of pyroclastic material? Definition cinder cone Term Magmas that produce __________ rock contain about 50 percent silica and tend to be quite __________ Definition basaltic;fluid Term This type of magma, with about a 60 percent silica content, tends to form composite cones Definition andesitic Term This type of magma, with about a 70 percent silica content, tends to form pyroclasts Definition rhyolitic Term What is diagenesis? Definition Chemical, physical and biological changes that take place after sediments are depositied including recrystalization and lithification Term What are detrital rocks Definition transported sediment as solid particles Term What are chemical rocks Definition sediment that was once in a solution Term What is breccia Definition angular Term What is clastic? Definition texture consiting of broken fragments of prexising rock Term what is non clastic Definition texture in which minerals form a pattern of interlinking crystals Term What is soil? Definition mixture of mineral and organic matter watter and air Term what is Humus Definition decayed animal and plant remains Term What is the soil profile? Definition soil forming processes operating from the surface downward. vertical layers called horizons. E- horizon= organic matter A horizon= organic and miner ^^top soil OEAB= solum or true soil Term What factors are important in weathering? Definition - amount of mechanical weathering - climate - joints in the rock - mineral composition Term Types of chem weathering? Definition Hydrolisis Dissolution Oxidition Term Phgysical weathering types? Definition Glaciers, wind, ocean currents, frost weathering Term What is the silicate tetrahedron Definition Structure composed of 4 oxygen atoms around 1 silicate atom. Term What is the importance of mineral texture when building igneos and sedimentary textures Definition It determins what kind of rock it is Term What is pyrcosclastic texture? Definition fragmental appearance Term What is pegmatic? Definition very course grained Term What is interplate volcanism? Definition