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Geology Exam #1
Creation of the Earth, Plate Tectonics, Minerals, and Rocks
56
Geology
Undergraduate 1
10/10/2011

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Term
nebular theory
Definition
the theory that the solar system formed from the condensing and accumulation of mass in a nebula (a cloud of gas and dust)
Term
protosun
Definition
the sun in its initial stages
Term
planetesimals
Definition
small, solid object in
space representing first stage in
accretion within the solar nebula
Term
formation of inner planets
Definition
gravitational pull/push directed embryos into different orbits which caused them to collided together to form inner planets
Term
formation of the moon
Definition
planetary embryo turns to vaporized debris which is then pulled together to make the moon
Term
magma-ocean hypothesis
Definition
Earth was partly or mostly molten
Term
hypothesis on formation of atmosphere and hydrosphere
Definition
comets and meteors delivered water to the planet; water-bearing planetary embryos collided with the Earth
Term
surface waves
Definition
seismic waves on Earth's surface that decreases in intensity with depth
Term
formation of ocean crust
Definition
extracted from the mantle by partial melting and crystallization; divergent boundaries
Term
formation of continental crust
Definition
subduction zones and mantle plumes
Term
P-waves
Definition
seimic body wave that displaces material in the same direction that the wave is moving which causes alternating squeezing and stretching of the material as the wave passes; travel through any material
Term
S-waves
Definition
seismic body waves that displace material at right angles to the direction of wave motion; only travels through solids
Term
Reflection
Definition
waves bounce off a boundary
Term
refraction
Definition
bending of a wave caused by a change in wave velocity
Term
what are the layers of the Earth?
Definition
crust, mantle, liquid outer core, iron innor core
Term
4 most common components of the Earth
Definition
iron, oxygen, silicon, & magnesium
Term
basic properties of the Earth
Definition
shape, size, mass, density
Term
What is plate tectonic theory?
Definition
the theory that the Earth's lithosphere is not seamlessly continuous but is broken into discrete pieces that move slowly
Term
lithospheric plates
Definition
the part of the Earth's interior that is moving
Term
convergent boundary
Definition
plates colliding compressing the lithosphere and causing subduction one one plate beneath the other
Term
divergent boundary
Definition
plates move apart from each other and new lithosphere forms
Term
transform boundary
Definition
plates slide against one another which neither creation nor destruction of lithosphere
Term
hot spots
Definition
an area of intense volcanic activity not explained by plate tectonics; from where asthenospehere rises beneath lithospheric plates
Term
Pangaea
Definition
name of super continent when all the continents were connected
Term
continental drift hypothesis
Definition
Alfred Wegener's hypothesis that all the continents were once joined together from which they drifted to their current position
Term
Mineral composition (small to large)
Definition
Term
chemical bonds
Definition
ionic bonds: attraction between positive and negative ions
covalent bonds:strongest*;atoms share electrons
metallic bonds:electrons roam among several atoms
van der Waals: weakest*;
Term
physical properties of minerals
Definition
streak, cleavage vs fracture, hardness, magnetic, reactive
Term
silicates
Definition
contain silicon and oxygen bonded in SiO4; primary rock forming mineral in the crust
Example: Quartz
Term
magma generation
Definition
melted silicate minerals or liquid rock in the Earth's interior
Term
plutonic vs volcanic rocks
Definition
volcanic rocks: solidify at surface (extrusive)
plutonic: solidify beneath surface (intrusive)
Term
types of volcanoes
Definition
cinder cone:
shield:
composite:
dome complex:
Term
volcanic hazards
Definition
Volcanic Earthquakes
Directed Blast
Tephra
Volcanic Gases
Lava Flows
Debris Avalanches, Landslides, and Tsunamis
Pyroclastic Surge
Pyroclastic Flows
Lahars
Term
Bowen's reaction series
Definition
suggests that the type of igneous rocks that form from magma solidification depends on the temperature of crystallization and the chemical composition of the originating magma
Term
types of igneous rocks
Definition
aphanic, porphyric, phaneric, pegmate
Term
Why do rocks deform?
Definition
due to stress from squeezing, stretching, compression, and elongation
Term
folds, horst and graben, faults
Definition
folds:
horst: block of crust displaced upward along
graben: block of crust displaced downwards
faults: a fracture plane along which rock or regolith is displaced
Term
primary hazards of Earthquakes
Definition
shaking
shifting of land
Term
secondary hazards of Earthquakes
Definition
Building Collapse
Fires
Landslides
Liquifaction
Seiches
Tsunami
Term
How is Earthquake magnitude measured?
Definition
Richter Scale
Term
relationship between magnitude and amount of energy released
Definition
10 fold increase
Term
processes associated with the rock cycle
Definition
melting, crystallization, weathering, transportation, deposition, precipitation, lithification, metamorphism
Term
physical weathering
Definition
disaggregation of rocks by mechanical means
Term
chemical weathering
Definition
dissolution of some minerals and formation of new minerals and dissolved ions as a result of water and oxygen reacting with the mineral
Term
Differences in weather based on rock type (granite vs. gabbro)
Definition
Term
lithification
Definition
the process of transforming loose sediment into sedimentary rock by compaction and cementation
Term
Compaction
Definition
decrease in volume caused by partial or complete elimination of pore space between sediment usually caused by the weight of overlying sediment
Term
Cementation
Definition
the filling of pore spaces with precipitated minerals to produce an interlocking framework with clastic sediment grains; step in lithifaction
Term
Clastic sedimentary rocks
Definition
texture describing particles formed by weathering of preexisting rocks
Term
Chemical sedimentary rocks
Definition
dissolved ions that move away in solution
Term
Sedimentary structures
Definition
bedding (stratification)
mud cracks
cross-beds
grated beds
Term
rock types
Definition
igneous, sedimentary, metaphoric
Term
fossils
Definition
organic remains preserved in rocks; show ancient pasts
Term
shifting environments
Definition
change rocks; show the past
Term
accretion of planets
Definition
the process of planetary formation and growth by the gradual accumulation of small objects to make larger ones
Term
formation of outer planets
Definition
solar winds blew light weight gas molecules out of the nebula except where gravity was strong (the outer planets)
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