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ASBOG STUDY / Geologic Fundamentals
FG (fundamentals of geology) exam flashcard set. **work in progress**
226
Geology
Undergraduate 4
02/03/2021

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Term
Mineral
Definition
Naturally occurring, inorganic solid, with a repeating and defined crystalline structure.
Term
Burial Metamorphism
Definition
Low-grade regional metamorphism affecting sed. & volcanic rocks.
200-450c
Term
Rule of V's
Definition
Outcrop pattern of a formation as it crosses a valley forms a V-shape.
V points in the direction that underlies the valley.
Term
Color Index
Definition
A number representing the % by weight or volume of dark-colored minerals in a rock.
Term
Index Fossil
Definition
A fossil which identifies and dates strata in which it is found.
Combines wide geographic range w/ narrow stratigraphic occurrance.
Term
Ultramafic
Mafic
Felsic
Definition
Composed of >90% mafic minerals.
Composed of primarily mafic minerals.
Composed of primarily felsic minerals.
Term
Fossil Assemblage
Definition
A fossil group occurring in the same stratigraphic level.
Term
Confined Aquifer
Definition
Aquifer overlain by confining layer of low permeability.
Term
Darcy
Definition
Intrinsic permeability unit.
9.87e-9 cm^2
Term
Net Slip
Definition
Distance between two formerly adjacent points on either side of a fault, measured on the fault surface.
Term
Hydraulic Conductivity (K)
Definition
Capacity of a porous medium to transmit water.
Term
Intrinsic Permeability (ki)
Definition
Porous medium property which measures relative ease with which fluid can be transmitted through it under hydraulic gradient.
Pore size dependent.
Term
GPS
Definition
Global Positioning System
Measures your location on the Earth.
Term
Foot
Definition
Downslope extension of the slide mass beyond the rupture plain.
Term
Driving cause of eolian erosion.
Definition
Airborne sand-particles (sandblasting)

Grain removal (deflation)
Term
Glacier
Definition
Large accumulation of ice/snow.
Compaction and recrystallization of snow.
Permanent alpine feature.
Term
Apparent Dip
Definition
The inclination of a plane measured in a direction NOT perpendicular to strike.
Term
Fold Line
Definition
A hinge line along which a vertical cross-section may be constructed then flattened out to a horizontal or map view.
Term
Parallel Stream Formation
Definition
Steep slopes with uniform gradient; generally found in newly uplifted terrains.
Term
Hummocky Terrain
Definition
Bumpy irregular surface of mass wasting materials.
Can contain transverse & radial cracks w/ transverse ridges.
Term
O Horizon
Definition
Organic layer of soil with undecomposed plant material.
Thick in humid regions while non-existant in arid regions.
Term
Coal Grade
Definition
Coal classification based on purity.
Term
Transmissivity (T)
Definition
Capacity of an aquifer to transmit water of the prevailing kinematic viscosity.
T = K b
Term
State Plane Coordinate System
Definition
2D coordinate system developed by Natl. Geodetic Survey for use in states/countries.
Term
Strike Separation
Definition
The horizontal distance between a stratigraphic unit offset by a fault.
It is an apparent displacement.
Term
Thrust Fault
Definition
A low angle reverse fault (45deg).
Term
Test
Definition
External, hard portion of invertebrate.
Term
Underflow (U)
Definition
Groundwater that flows beneath the bed or alluvial plain of a surface stream.
Noteworthy in arid regions.
Term
1 Bar
Definition
unit of pressure; approx. 1atm or 0.1MPa
Term
Storativity or Storage Coefficient (S)
Definition
Vol. of water that a permeable unit discharges or intakes per unit surface area of the aquifer per unit change in head.
Unconfined aquifer: storage = specific yield
Term
Epithermal
Definition
Shallow hydrothermal system.
Term
Geosyncline
Definition
A major downwarp of crust in which sediments accumulate.
Term
Coalification
Definition
The process that produces coal of an increasing rank.
Term
Twinning
Definition
Intergrowth of ≥2 crystals in a symmetrical manner.
Term
Directed Line
Definition
A line described by its bearing and plunge.
Term
Metasomatism
Definition
Mineral replacement process by hydrothermal fluids. New mineral w/ different composition grows inside older mineral.
Term
Bowen's Reaction Series
Definition
Mineral sequence of crystal growth during crystallization of magma.
Term
Pelitic rocks
Definition
Metamorphosed fine-grained sedimentary rock, i.e. mudstone or siltstone.
Term
B horizon
Definition
Zone of illuviation.
Rich in Fe & Al clay and organic compounds.
Term
Type Locality
Definition
Location where geologic feature (i.e. fossils) first located.
Contains type section.
Term
Inclination
Definition
A general term for the vertical angle between horizontal and a plane or line, measured downward.
Term
Epigenetic
Definition
An ore deposit which originates later than the enclosing host rock.
Term
Resources
Definition
Naturally occurring deposits in such amts. or concentrations to be minable now or in the future.
Contains reserves.
Term
Attitude
Definition
The orientation in space.
Term
Accuracy
Definition
How close a measurement conforms with a standard or accepted value.
Term
Precision
Definition
The degree of arrangement or consistency of repeated measurements.
Term
Zoning
Definition
Chemical variation within a crystal.
Characteristic of feldspar.
High temp. core, low temp. rim.
Term
Ga
Definition
Geologic dating abbreviation, 1 billion years.
Term
A horizon
Definition
Zone of eluviation.
Mixture of organics & mineral materials.
Fe & Al clay and organic compounds have been leached out.
Term
C horizon
Definition
Substratum
Little effect from soil-forming processes.
In humid environs, thicker.
In arid environs., thin & closer to surface.
Term
Pyritization
Definition
Introduction of, or replacement by, pyrite.
Common hydrothermal alteration process.
Term
Rupture plain
Definition
Demarcation between in-situ groundmass and landslide mass.
Term
Aquifer
Definition
A saturated geologic unit w/ sufficient permeability to transmit water to wells/springs.
Term
Plunge
Definition
The vertical angle between a line and horizontal.
Term
Hydrothermal Waters
Definition
Pertaining to the action and mineral products of hot water.
Term
β
Definition
Angle between strike and apparent dip direction.
Term
Pitch (Rake)
Definition
The angle measured in a specific plane, between a line and horizontal.
Term
Dip (δ)
Definition
Inclination of the line of greatest slope of an inclined plane, measured perpendicular to strike.
Term
Trend
Definition
The bearing of the vertical plane containing a line.
Term
Strike
Definition
Bearing of a horizontal line in an inclined plane.
Term
Stereonet
Definition
Representation of angular relationship between planes and lines.
Term
Gangue
Definition
Economically undesirable rock or mineral agg. in an orebody.
Term
Area of Influence
Definition
The area within which the potentiometric surface is lowered by withdrawl or raised by injection, of water through a well.
Term
Aphanitic
//
Phaneritic
Definition
descriptors of mineral grain size in volcanic rx.
Fine grained, rapid cooling, extrusive.
//
Coarse grained, slow cooling, intrusive.
Term
Eugeosyncline
Definition
Oceanic part of a geosyncline, characterized by volcanism associated with clastic sedimentation.
Term
Contact metamorphism
Definition
Metamorphism associated with igneous intrusion.
Term
Specific Gravity
Definition
ρ substance / ρ water
Term
Stratabound
Definition
A mineral deposit confined to a single stratigraphic unit.
Term
Reserves
Definition
Deposits that are economically available and may be extracted profitably.
Subset of resources.
Term
Stratiform
Definition
A specific type of stratabound deposit in which the ore constitutes a layer(s) in the rock.
Term
Sessile
Definition
A plant or animal that is attached and cannot move, i.e. barnacles.
Term
Apparent Dip Direction
Definition
The bearing of the vertical plane containing the apparent dip angle.
Term
Bearing
Definition
The horizontal angle between a line and specified coordinate direction, usually N or S.
Term
Normal Fault
Definition
Dip-slip fault in which hanging wall has dropped relative to the foot wall.
δ = 45° - 90°
Term
Flow Net
Definition
2D representation of flow lines and equipotentials.
Term
Runoff (R)
Definition
The amount of precipitation appearing in surface waters.
Term
Juvenile water
Definition
Water derived from magmatic sources; thought to be arriving at earths surface for the first time.
Term
Diagenesis
Definition
Physical and/or chemical changes to sediments undergoing lithification and compaction.
Term
Anion
//
Cation
Definition
Negatively charged ion
//
Positively charged ion.
Term
Polymorphism
Definition
Characteristic of a mineral to exist in >1 crystalline structure form.
(andalusite/kyanite/silliminite)
Term
Mineral Assemblage
Definition
Group of minerals that compose a rock.
Term
Aureole
Definition
Zone of alteration in contact metamorphism.
"Baked zone"
Term
Water Table
Definition
Surface within unconfined groundwater where hydraulic pressure = atmospheric pressure.
Term
Field Capacity
Definition
Amount of soil moisture or water content held in the soil after excess water has drained away.
Term
Silicate group minerals
Definition
Minerals w/ SiO4 tetrahedra.
Term
Type Section
Definition
The originally described strata which constitute stratigraphic unit to which other units are compared.
Greatest thickness w/ top and bottom exposed.
Term
eH
Definition
Oxidation potential
Term
Potentiometric Surface
Definition
Elevation to which confined aquifer water will rise in a well.
Term
Capillary Fringe
Definition
Lowest part of the aeration zone above the water table holding some water in pore spaces.
Term
Dendritic Pattern
Definition
Stream pattern of lower gradient hillsides with gentle/moderate slopes, which are generally older and not recently uplifted.
Term
Trellis Pattern
Definition
Stream pattern seen in jointed rock areas (i.e. Appalachia). Confluence ~90°.
Term
Crown
Definition
Undisturbed in-place material above a landslide headscarpe.
Term
Nonconformity
Definition
A type of unconformity formed from an older igneous body in contact with younger sediments.
Indicates missing time after igneous intrusion.
Term
Ka
Definition
1000 years
Term
Density
Definition
Object mass per volume occupied.
Term
Zeolites
Definition
Hydroaluminocilicate mineral group, analogous to feldspars. Na, Ca, K rich.
Term
Provenance
Definition
The origin location from which constituent minerals of a sedimentary rock or facies are derived.
Term
Solid Solution Series
Definition
A series of minerals w/ identical structure which contain ≥2 elements over a proportion range.
Term
Regional Metamorphism
Definition
Widespread metamorphism w/ higher temperatures and pressures.
3-10MPa, 400-800°C
Term
Rock Stratigraphic Unit
Definition
A particular rock unit characterized by specific lithology and/or stratigraphic position.
Term
Alteration
Definition
Any change in mineral composition of a rock caused by physical or chemical means.
Hydrothermal fluids.
Milder and more localized than metamorphism.
Term
Radial Pattern
Definition
Stream pattern seen on stratocone volcanos w/ steep, uniform gradient.
Term
Headscarpe
Definition
The break in slope which marks uppermost portion of a landslide mass.
Term
Metamorphic Grade
Definition
Intensity or rank of metamorphism measured by degree/difference between parent and daughter rock.
Term
Time Stratigraphic Unit
Definition
Rock unit formed during specific period of time.
A reference point for other similar-aged rocks.
Term
Facies
Definition
Mappable area of restricted park of a rock body with different fossils/lithology from other continuous beds deposited at the same time.
Term
Heave
Definition
The amount of horizontal displacement on a fault plane.
Term
Metamorphic Facies
Definition
A set of metamorphic mineral assemblages which reached chemical equilibrium during metamorphism within a specific P/T condition set.
Term
Perched Groundwater
Definition
Unconfined groundwater separated from an underlying groundwater body by an unsaturated zone.
Term
Syngenetic
Definition
A mineral deposit formed contemporaneously with, and by the same process as, the host rock.
Term
Average Grade
Definition
The average quantity or % of ore mineral content in an ore body.
Term
USA regions of Karst Topography
Definition
Central FL
SW MI
W KY
TN
Atlantic Coastal Plain
Term
Outcrop Width
Definition
The width of an outcrop, as measured in map view, perpendicular to strike.
Term
GIS
Definition
Global Information System; computer-based mapping and visualizing tool.
Term
Detachment Thrust
Definition
A general fault term in which movement is parallel to fault plane dip, i.e. normal, reverse, listric faulting.
Term
Detachment Fault
Definition
A low-angle normal fault associated w/ regional extension, often w/ large displacements of strata.
Term
Specific Retention (Sr)
Definition
Ratio of the V.h2o a soil/rock can retain against gravity drainage to the V.total of the soil/rock, as a %
Term
Recharge Area
Definition
Area where water infiltrates downward in to the saturated zone.
Term
Connate Water
Definition
Water trapped in the pores of sedimentary rock at time of deposition; "fossil water".
Term
Fenster
Definition
A "window into rocks underlying a thrust fault.
Term
Single Point Resistivity log
Definition
A log measuring resistivity using two electrodes, having a limited area 5-10x electrode diameter.
Term
Strike-Slip Fault
Definition
Vertical slip plane of lateral movement; movement is parallel to fault strike.
Term
Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
Definition
A measure of intactness of a rock core, relating to % of intact core vs. total core.
Term
Giant Field
Definition
Largest classification of petroleum resource; regional.
>500M barrels recoverable
or
>3.5T ft^3 natural gas.
Term
Plutonic volcanic rocks
Definition
Coarse crystalline (phaneritic), which form in large igneous intrusions at depth.
Term
Meander
Definition
Stream "movement" in low gradient floodplain area.
Term
Landslide Geomorphology
Definition
Dependent on slope, underlying geology, and presence of groundwater.
Term
Unconformity
Definition
A surface which implies uplift and erosion of sediment; a "records gap" in geologic deposition.
Term
Well Efficiency
Definition
Ratio (%) of theoretical drawdown to actual drawdown measured in a well.
Term
Porphyry
Definition
Igneous rock description feat. large grained minerals w/in a fine grained matrix.
Term
Specific Yield (Sy)
Definition
Ratio of V.h2o drained due to gravity to V.total of the soil/rock
Term
Gossan
Definition
An Fe-bearing weathered product overlying a sulfide deposit.
Term
Dispersion
Definition
The process by which elements move away from an enriched ore zone.
Term
Blind Thrust
Definition
A thrust fault with no surficial exposure.
Term
Deranged
Definition
Irregular surface w/ no predictable pattern.
Typically seen in glacial/karst terrain.
Term
Split-Spoon Sampler
Definition
Thick-walled barrel sampler obtains disturbed soil samples (soft clay to sand); used in the Standard Penetration Test.
Term
Intrusive Rx
//
Extrusive Rx
Definition
Coarse grained, slow cooling of emplaced magma.
//
Fine grained, rapid cooling of erupted magma/lava.
Term
Rectangular Pattern
Definition
Joints and faults in the subsurface influence stream pattern development heavily.
Unjointed rock typically more resistant.
Common in the Adirondack Mtns.
Term
Rotary Bit Drilling
Definition
Chief method of deep borehole drilling.
Term
Unconfined aquifer
Definition
An aquifer having a water table.
Term
Spontaneous Potential (SP) Log
Definition
Borehole log of naturally occurring potentials developed between the borehole fluid, formation water, and surrounding rock materials.
Term
Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
Definition
Test which measures resistance to penetration cone in to soils.
Number of hammer blows to a 30" long split spoon correlates to soil characteristics.
Term
Tensiometer
Definition
Device used to measure soil matrix potential. Used to help determine irrigation needs and plant water consumption.
Term
Test Pits
Definition
Shallow (<20ft) method of excavating in-situ soils to determine characteristics of subsurface.
Term
Rippability
Definition
Ease with which soil/rock can be mechanically excavated.
Term
Slug Test
Definition
Aquifer test made by adding or removing a small amount of water.
Term
Shelby Tube
Definition
Thin-walled push tube sampler to obtain undisturbed samples of cohesive soils.
Term
Eolian depositional features
Definition
Ripples
Sand Drift / Shadow
Dunes
Sand Levee
Term
Caliper Log
Definition
Physical measurements of the width of the uncased borehole; helps to identify unconsolidated strata beds.
Term
Darcy's Law
Definition
Q = K i A
The equation describing groundwater flow (gal per "time")
Term
Eolian erosional features
Definition
Yardang
Ventifacts
Pedestal Rock
Blowout
Desert Pavement
Term
Marine Erosion rate
Definition
Based on: Rock type & strength
Joint & Fracture pattern
Tidal Swing
Continental Shelf extent/depth
Term
Dripstone
Definition
Stalactite - grips the ceiling, point down
//
Stalagmite - points up from the floor
Term
GPS
Definition
Global Positioning System radio sensor that records exact position on Earth.
Term
Resistivity (R) log
Definition
A log which makes quantitive measurements of the specific resistance of a material to the flow of an electrical current.
Used in conjunction w/ SP logs in boreholes.
Term
Pumping Test
Definition
A test made by pumping a well for a specific period of time and observing change in hydraulic head of the aquifer.
Term
Toe
Definition
Lowest part of a mass wasting slide w/ arcuate shape after moving over original terrain.
Term
Neutron Log
Definition
Radioactive log on natural radiation intensity of strata in a borehole after neutron bombardment.
Term
Lysimeter
Definition
Collection device for pore space groundwater.
Used to determine soluble constituents.
Term
Seismic Reflection survey
Definition
Geophysical survey method of seismic wave travel times through various-densitied materials.
Term
ASTM
Definition
American Society for Testing and Materials Intl.
Term
Auger
Definition
Screw-like device used for shallow drilling practices (<200ft). Brings up disturbed soil cuttings.
Term
Borehole Geophysics
Definition
The science of recording & analyzing measurements of physical downhole strata properties.
Term
Cone of Depression
Definition
Groundwater potentiometric surface depression around an actively pumped well.
Defined as the wells "area of influence".
Term
Casing
Definition
Pipe lowered and cemented in a borehole to prevent caving or fluid migration.
Term
LiDAR
Definition
Light detection and radar.
Remote sensing method to record topography changes. Unaffected by vegetation.
Term
Packer Test
Definition
Aquifer test used to determine permeability of isolated rock.
Term
Feldspar
Definition
Most widespread mineral group of the Earths crust.
Framework silicate group.
Term
Thickness (t)
Definition
Perpendicular distance between top and bottom of a geologic unit.
Term
Dolomitization
Definition
Replacement of CaCO3 to MgCO3 in limestone; changes limestone to dolomite.
Term
Normal Resistivity log
Definition
A log that makes measurements of formations electrical resistivity sing 4 electrodes set up w/ 16-64" spacing.
Term
Magnetic Declination
Definition
The angle between true North and magnetic North.
Term
Volcanic igneous rocks
Definition
Fine-grained crystalline (aphanetic) or glassy in texture, occur from volcanic surface activity. Explosive or extruded as lava.
Term
Skarn
Definition
Lime-bearing siliceous rock produced by the metamorphic alteration of limestone or dolomite.
Term
Pole
Definition
Line perpendicular to a plane; represented as a stereonet point.
Term
Cone Penetrometer
Definition
Object used in a cone penetration test to measure soil insertion resistance.
Term
Precious Metals
Definition
Silver, Gold, or metals of the Platinum Group Elements; economically significant.
Term
Rank
Definition
Degree of progressive diagenesis of peat (coalification).
Term
Depth (d)
Definition
Vertical distance from groundsurface downward to a feature of interest.
Term
Nappe
Definition
A sheet of rock that has moved horizontal over neighboring strata as a result of an overthrust or folding
Term
Effective porosity (ne)
Definition
% of V.total of soil/rock that consists of interconnected pore space.
Term
Percolation Test
Definition
In-site test to determine soil suitability for a leachfield.
Term
Piezometer
Definition
Tool to measure groundwater pressure and elevation in a drilled monitor hole.
Term
4 necessary conditions for karst terrain development
Definition
1) Soluble rock @/near surface.
2) Dense jointed, thin bedded.
3) Entrenched valleys below uplands.
4) Moderate to abundant rainfall.
Term
Permeability
Definition
Property of porous soil/rock for transmitting a fluid.
Term
Vadose zone
or
Zone of aeration
Definition
Subsurface zone containing water under pressure < atmospheric pressure.
Term
Discharge area
Definition
Area where subsurface water is discharged to land.
Term
Hydraulic gradient (i)
Definition
Rate of change in total head per unit of distance of flow in a given direction.
Term
Watershed
Definition
Region drained by a stream or body of water, or a drainage divide.
Term
Porosity (n)
Definition
Percentage of the bulk volume of soil/rock that is occupied by void space.
Term
Meinzer
Definition
unit of measurement of hydraulic conductivity (gal per day / ft^2).
Flow Rate
Term
Replacement
Definition
Solid-state change in composition of a mineral via diffusion.
Term
Supergene Enrichment
Definition
Near-surface process of mineral deposition, in which metals are leached by acidic solutions, carried downwards and precipitated, enriching the sulfide minerals already present.
Term
Groundwater Head
Definition
Measure of fluid potential energy, w/ respect to given datum.
In practice, the elv. to which water raises as a result of reservoir pressure.
Term
Klippe
Definition
An outlier of a thrust sheet completely surrounded by the exposed footwall.
Term
Throw
Definition
Amount of vertical displacement on a fault plane.
Term
Footwall block
Definition
Block which underlies a non-vertical fault plane.
Term
Specific Storage (Ss)
Definition
Amount of water that an aquifer releases from storage, per unit mass or volume of aquifer, per unit change in hydraulic head, while remaining fully saturated.
Term
Assay
Definition
An overall analysis of metal in ore.
Composition, purity, weight, and other properties of economic interest.
Term
Well Log
Definition
Graphic record of subsurface strata properties in a borehole as a function of depth.
Term
Ma
Definition
1 million years abbreviation
Term
Metasomatism
Definition
Solution of old minerals w/ deposition of new minerals via interstital fluids.

Mineral replacement via hydrothermal fluids
Term
Hanging wall
Definition
Fault block which overlies a non-vertical fault plane.
Term
Growth Fault
Definition
Syndepositional extensional faulting. Throw increases w/ depth.
Term
Transgression
//
Regression
Definition
Advance of sea on to land (ls-sh-ss sequence).
//
Withdrawl of sea from land (ss-sh-ls sequence)
Term
Listric Fault
Definition
A fault with a curved fault plane.
Steeply dipping near surface, becoming flatter at depth.
May be normal or reverse.
Term
Key Beds
Definition
A well-defined, easily identifiable strata which is distinctive enough to be useful in correlation in mapping.
Term
Oblique-Slip Fault
Definition
A fault in which movement is not parallel to the strike or dip of the fault plane.
Term
Offset
Definition
Horizontal component of displacement measured perpendicular to the strike of the disrupted unit.
Term
Silicification
Definition
The introduction of, or replacement by, silica.
Term
Stoping
Definition
Extraction of ore in an underground mine by working laterally in the plain of the vein.
Term
Exhalite
Definition
Chemical product of exhalation; deposition formed by interaction of volcanic-derived water and sea water w/ adjacent rock.
Term
pH
Definition
Inverse log function of the basic or acidic nature of a fluid.
Hydrogen ion activity in a solution.
Term
Pathfinder Element
Definition
Relatively mobile element whose signature can be used to find a deposit of greater value/importance.
Term
Base Metal
Definition
Common and chemically active metal, which can oxidize or corrode easily.
An industrial non-ferrous metal, i.e. Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni.
Term
Slope angle (σ).
Definition
Angle from the horizontal down to the slope.
Term
Reverse Fault
Definition
A dip-slip fault in which the hanging wall has moved up relative to the footwall.
Fault dip: 45° ≤ δ ≤ 90°
Term
CPT
Definition
Cone Penetration Test
used to measure soil resistance to cone penetration.
Term
Drawdown
Definition
Amount of water level drop due to well pumping.
Term
Invaded Zone
Definition
Borehole transitional zone located at flushed and uninvaded zone.
Term
InSAR
Definition
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar
Remote sensing for ground deformation (i.e. subsidence).
Term
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Definition
Application of radar/radio waves to the subsurface. Good for ≤100ft depth.
Low freq. = deeper
Higher freq. = shallow
Term
Gravity Survey
Definition
A series of measurements made by a gravimeter @ different field locations to determine density distribution.
Term
API units
Definition
American Petroleum Institute
A gamma ray unit of measurement in gamma logs.
Term
Dutch Cone
Definition
A type of CPR cone.
Term
Gamma Ray log
Definition
Measure of natural strata radioactivity down borehole.
Shale w/ high γ-value.
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