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Dr. Lee geology test 2
terms and systems on Dr.Lee's second geology exam
77
Geology
Undergraduate 2
03/15/2011

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Term
bedding planes
Definition
flat surface separating rock layers. This flat surface is created by changes in sediment types. These bedding planes mark the beginning of a new episode of deposition and a new environment.
Term
cross-bedding
Definition
sediment deposited at an inclined angle. Examples of this are sand dunes and river deltas
Term
graded beds
Definition
sedimentary rocks are made up of different particles. Particle size in a single sedimentary layer gradually change from being coarse at the bottom to being fine at the top.
Term
ripple marks
Definition
Evidence that small waves developed at the surface of a sediment by moving water or air. The direction of flowing ancient wind or air is shown by these. The ridges form at a right angle to the direction of flow.
Term
fossils
Definition
Remains or trace of prehistoric life. This is a preservation of hard parts (bones, teeth) by rapid burial. These can be environmental and time indicators as well. If the fossil has thick, wide shells then it means it lived in a shallow area with high energy. If the fossil has a thin shell it means it lived in the deep ocean in a low energy environment.
Term
mud-cracks
Definition
polygon-shaped cracks created by drying of clay in wet environments. This is also a sign of rich sediment.
Term
Detrital Rock (other name)
Definition
Clastic Rock
Term
Major minerals in clastic rocks
Definition
clay minerals, quartz, feldspar and mica
Term
particle size
Definition
this changes in size depending on the energy of the environment it is found in. The higher the energy the bigger the particle size.
Term
Shale (3)
Definition
*fine grained
*accounts for +50% of sedimentary rocks
*deposited in low energy areas such as deep ocean basin
Term
3 kinds of sandstone
Definition
1. Quartz Sandstone
2. Arkose Sandstone
3. Graywacke
Term
Quartz sandstone (1)
Definition
sandstone made with quartz
Term
Arkose sandstone (3)
Definition
1. Made of quartz, sandstone and mica
2. weathered from granite
3. deposited close to the source in a dry environment
Term
Graywacke (2)
Definition
1. Sandstone made of quartz, feldspar, rock fragment and clay
2. poorly sorted with angular grains
Term
conglomerate (3)
Definition
1. sedimentary rock made of large rounded gravels
2. poorly sorted large gravels, sand and mud
3. deposited at the base of a steep slope from turbulent current
Term
breccia (2)
Definition
1. large angular gravels mixing with sand and mud
2. poorly sorted
Term
well-sorted
Definition
relatively uniform particle size distribution; shows transportation over long distance and time
Term
poorly-sorted
Definition
markedly different particle size; shows transportation over a short distance and time
Term
rounded rocks
Definition
show a great deal of abrasion during transport
Term
angular rocks
Definition
show that the rock was transported over a short period of time
Term
evaporates
Definition
formed from the evaporation of salt water
Term
2 kinds of evaporates
Definition
1. Rock Gypsum
2. Rock Salt
Term
Rock Gypsum
Definition
evaporate, chemical sedimentary rock that is formed after 75% of seawater has evaporated
Term
rock salt
Definition
evaporate, chemical sedimentary rock that is formed after 90% of seawater has evaporated
Term
limestones (2)
Definition
1. calcite precipitated by organic or inorganic processes
2. most abundant chemical sedimentary rock
Term
coquina
Definition
marine shell fragments cemented by calcite
Term
chalk
Definition
a soft, porous rock made of microscopic marine organisms. An example of this is the white cliff of dover in england
Term
Oolithic limestone
Definition
small spherical nuclei such as sand grain and shell fragment surrounded by concentric layers of calcite
Term
Dolomite (dolostone)
Definition
CaMgCO3 minerals formed in seawater
Term
regional metamorphism
Definition
great quantity of rocks are subjected to intensive T and P. Large scale deformation in subduction zone
Term
contact metamorphism
Definition
rocks are altered with contact with non-molten magma
Term
impact metamorphism
Definition
comets and astroids impact
Term
slate cleavage
Definition
formed from shale due to sheer stress and split along layers of mica into slabs. Examples include slate and phyllite
Term
schistosity
Definition
formed from slate under a high degree of metamorphism. It is not split as easily as slate into slabs because of recrystalization. An example of this is schist.
Term
gneiss
Definition
formed from schist under highest degree of metamorphism. It has a banded appearance with a segregation between dark and light minerals. This will not split into slabs like slate.
Term
foliation
Definition
parallel alignment of platy minerals (micas). Forms mainly as a consequence of pressure.
Term
order of metamorphism (low to high)
Definition
1. slate 2. phyllite 3. schist 4. gneiss 5. migmatite
Term
non-foliated texture
Definition
metamorphic rocks that consist of one mineral with no preferred orientation (equi-dimensional); a mosiac (interlocking) of equi-dimensional minerals created by recrystalization. Examples of this are marble and quartzite.
Term
marble (metamorphic makeup)
Definition
metamorphic limestone
Term
quartzite (metamorphic makeup)
Definition
metamorphic quartz sandstone
Term
index minerals for intensity of metamorphism (least to greatest)
Definition
1. chlorite
2. biotite
3. garnet
4. staurolite
5. kyanite
6. sillimanite
Term
High p, Low t
Definition
*shallow subduction zone near trench *Blueschist facies (amphibole glauconphane) *example: coast range in California
Term
High T, Low P
Definition
*contact metamorphism due to igneous intrusion in the continental crust
*examples: Sierra Nevada Batholith, hornfels
Term
High T, High P
Definition
*deep subduction zone
*amphibole-granulite facies
*example: Alps in Northern Italy
Term
strike
Definition
direction of a rock layer intersecting with a horizontal surface
Term
dip
Definition
amount of tilting, measured at a right angle to the strike
Term
compressive rock deformity
Definition
pushed together; lead to reverse faults
Term
tensional rock deformity
Definition
rocks pull away, lead to normal faults
Term
shear rock deformity
Definition
rocks slide past each other along a plane in opposite directions; lead to strike-slip faults
Term
brittle deformation
Definition
undergoes little changes before it breaks suddenly. this dominates in shallow crust. an example is fault breccias
Term
ductile deformation
Definition
undergoes smooth and continuous "plastic" deformation (ie clay); dominate deep crust and exhibit "flowing" or "rotation" deformation under high T and P; and example is mylonites
Term
joints
Definition
parallel cracks without appreciable movements (displacement); formed tectonically or non-tectonically (by contraction of lava or erosion-expansion)
Term
faults
Definition
a fracture with relative movement of rocks on sides of it; formed tectonically
Term
(normal) dip slip fault
Definition
tensional stress, hanging wall moves down
Term
(reverse or thrust) dip slip fault
Definition
compressional stress, hanging wall moves up
Term
strike slip fault
Definition
shear stress, lateral movement along strike
Term
oblique slip
Definition
involves movements in both strike and dip directions
Term
relative dating
Definition
places geological events in sequential order based on their positions on geologic records. This does not tell how long ago something happened (exact time) but does tell the sequence of different events.
Term
absolute dating
Definition
use radioactive dating methods; this method can pinpoint the time when an event actually happened
Term
law of superposition
Definition
sedimentary layers or lava flow is older than the one above and younger than the one below
Term
principle of original horizontality
Definition
sedimentary layers are generally deposited in a nearly horizontal position (influenced by gravity)
Term
principle of lateral continuity
Definition
sediments extended laterally in all directions until they "pinch out" along the edge of a sedimentary basin
Term
principle of cross-cutting relationship
Definition
igneous intrusion or fault must be younger than the rocks it intrudes or cuts
Term
principle of inclusions
Definition
inclusions (fragments of rock contained within host layer) are older than the rock layer that contains it
Term
principle of faunal succession
Definition
layers with the same fossils are the same age
Term
angular unconformity
Definition
tilted or folded sedimentary rocks overlain by younger, flat-lying rocks; older rocks dip more
Term
disconformity
Definition
surface of erosion or non-disposition between younger and older rocks that are parallel
Term
nonconformity
Definition
erosion surface separating metamorphic or igneous rocks and younger sedimentary rocks
Term
index fossil
Definition
the basis of correlation across continents
Term
the two different correlation methods
Definition
1. match positions or rocks in different sequences
2. match lithologic identity
Term
limitations of using lithology
Definition
correlation based on rock type (lithology) only works for a short distance, correlation across continents is based on "index fossils"
Term
radioactivity of isotopes
Definition
the forces binding protons and neutrons are not strong, so the nuclei decay and break apart spontaneously
Term
3 types of radioactive decay
Definition
1. alpha
2. beta
3. E-capture
Term
what are the two things that radioactive dating requires
Definition
1. Half-life
2. parent/daughter isotope ratios
Term
half-life
Definition
time required for 50% of unstable parent isotopes to decay to more stable daughter isotopes (C14 is about 5730 years)
Term
what is parent/daughter isotope measured by?
Definition
mass spectrometers
Term
parent/daughter isotope
Definition
if half-life of a parent isotope is 2 million years (m.y.), the sample with the p/d ratio of 1/1 has an age of 2 m.y.; sample with p/d ratio of 1/3 has an age of 4 m.y.; sample with p/d ratio of 1/7 has an age of 6 m.y.
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