Term
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Definition
| The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom |
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Term
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Definition
| The number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom |
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Definition
| a substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical of physical means |
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Definition
| A chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of valence electrons from one atom to the other |
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Term
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Definition
| Varieties of the same element that have different mass numbers; their nuclei contain the same number of protons but different number of neutrons |
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Term
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Definition
| a naturally occurring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical composition |
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Term
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Definition
| Oxygen (O), Silicon (Si), Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Postassium (K), Magnesium (Mg) //Silicates and Nonsilicates |
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Term
| What is the basic building block of silicate minerals? |
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Definition
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Term
| What mineral group is the most abundant in the Earth's crust? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| The appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral |
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Term
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Definition
| The color of a mineral in powdered form |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching |
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Term
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Definition
| Mass per unit of volume, often expressed in grams per cubic cm (g/cm3) |
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Term
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Definition
| A number representing the ratio of a mineral's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water |
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Term
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Definition
| The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding |
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Term
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Definition
| A property of having chemical bonds that are equally, or nearly equal, strong in all directions |
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Term
| What is the least reliable physical property used from the identification of minerals? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the Mohs Hardness Scale. What do the number designations mean? |
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Definition
| Determines a numerical value of hardness; consists of 10 minerals arranged in order from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest); compares them to the hardness of some common objects |
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Term
| What is the range of specific gravity of most common rock-forming minerals? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| A consolidated mixture of minerals |
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Term
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Definition
| A rock formed by the crystallization of molten magma |
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Term
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Definition
| Rocks formed by the alteration of preexisting rock deep within the Earth (but still in the solid state) by heat, pressure, and/or chemically active fluid |
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Term
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Definition
| Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited, and lithified |
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Term
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Definition
| The group of igneous rocks composed primarily of feldspar and quartz |
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Term
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Definition
| The composition of igneous rocks lying between felsic and mafic |
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Term
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Definition
| Igneous rocks with a low silica content and a high iron-magnesium content |
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Term
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Definition
| Igneous rocks composed of mainly iron and magnesium-rich minerals |
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Term
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Definition
| The size, shape and distribution of the particles that collectively constitute a rock |
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Term
| Name the common course-grained igneous rocks |
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Definition
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Term
| Name the common fine-grained igneous rocks |
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Definition
| Rhyolite, Andesite, Basalt |
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Term
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Definition
| Process by which most igneous rock melts; occurs when only a portion of a solid is melted |
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Term
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Definition
| A concept proposed by N.L. Bowen that illustrates the relationships between magma and the minerals crystallizing from it during the formation of igneous rocks |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of generating more than one rock type from a single magma |
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Term
| What controls the texture of an igneous rock? |
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Definition
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Term
| How does magma viscosity relate to its composition and explosive potential? |
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Definition
| Amount of dissolved gas in magma & temp of magma |
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Term
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Definition
| Solid particles from weathered rocks |
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Term
| Detrital Sedimentary Rock |
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Definition
| Rock formed from the accumulation of material that originated and was transported in the form of solid particles derived from both mechanical and chemical weathering |
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Term
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Definition
| The process, generally cementation and/or compaction, of converting sediments to solid rock |
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Term
| How are detrital sedimentary rocks classified |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the most abundant sedimentary rock? |
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Definition
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Term
| What conditions cause metamorphism? |
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Definition
| Takes place when preexisting rock is subjected to a physical or chemical environment that is significantly different from that in which its initially formed. In response to these new conditions, the rock gradually changes until a state of equilibrium with the new environment is reached |
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Term
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Definition
| A rock is broken into smaller and smaller pieces, each retaining the characteristics of the original material. The end result is many small pieces from a single large one |
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Term
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Definition
| Involves the complex processes that alter the internal structures of minerals by removing and/or adding elements. During this transformation, the original rock decomposes into substances that are stable in the surface environment |
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Term
| How do frost wedging, salt crystal growth, sheeting and biological activity contribute to mechanical weathering? |
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Definition
| They all move rock debris and relentlessly disintegrate these materials |
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Term
| What conditions favor chemical weathering? |
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Definition
| Rain water, oxygen, carbon dioxide and plant decay acids can induce chemical weathering. |
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Term
| Describe the hydrologic cycle |
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Definition
| Evaporation, Precipitaion, Runoff |
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Term
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Definition
| Unconsolidated sediment deposited by a stream |
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Term
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Definition
| A loop-like bend in the course of a stream |
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Term
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Definition
| The area of active erosion on the outside of a meander |
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Term
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Definition
| A crescent-shaped accumulation of sand and gravel deposited on the inside of a meander |
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Term
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Definition
| The volume of water flowing past a certain point in a given unit of time. Usually measured in cubic meters per second or cubic feet per second. Determined by multiplying a stream's cross-sectional area by its velocity |
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Term
| What is the most common drainage pattern? |
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Definition
| Dendritic Pattern: irregularly branching tributary streams resembles the branching pattern of a deciduous tree |
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Term
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Definition
| The upper level of the saturated zone of ground water |
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Term
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Definition
| The volume of open spaces in rock or soil |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of a materials ability to transmit water |
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Term
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Definition
| Rock or soil through which groundwater moves easily |
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Term
| Describe the process of Valley Deepening |
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Definition
| When a streams gradient is steep and the channel is well above base level, downcutting is the dominant activity, abrasion caused by bed load sliding and rolling along the bottom, and the hydraulic power of fast-moving water, slowing lowers the streambed. This result is usually a V-shaped valley with steep sides. |
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Term
| Describe the process of Valley Widening |
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Definition
| Once a stream has cut its channel closer to base level,downward erosion becomes less dominant. At this point the stream's channel takes on a meandering pattern, and more of the stream's energy is directed from side to side. The result is a widening of the valley. |
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Term
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Definition
| An all-embracing term for sediments of glacial origin, no matter how, where, or in what shape they were deposited. |
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Term
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Definition
| Sediments deposited by glacial meltwater |
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Term
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Definition
| Unsorted sediment deposited directly by a glacier |
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Term
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Definition
| A steep-sided hill composed of sand and gravel originating when sediment is collected in openings in stagnant glacial ice |
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Term
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Definition
| Sinuous ridge composed largely of sand and gravel deposited by a stream flowing in a tunnel beneath a glacier near its terminus |
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Term
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Definition
| A relatively flat, gently sloping pain consisting of materials deposited by meltwater streams in front of the margin of an ice sheet |
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Term
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Definition
| An undulating layer of till deposited as the ice front retreats |
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Term
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Definition
| A streamlined asymmetrical hill composed of glacial till. The steep side of the hill faces the direction from which the ice advanced |
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Term
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Definition
| Depressions created when blocks of ice became lodged in glacial deposits and subsequently melted |
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Term
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Definition
| An amphitheater-shaped basin at the head of a glacial valley, produced by frost wedging and plucking |
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Term
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Definition
| A narrow knife-like ridge separating two adjacent glaciated valleys |
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Term
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Definition
| A pyramid-like peak formed by glacial action in 3 or more cirques surrounding a mounting summit |
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Term
| When was the most recent glaciation? When was it at its maximum? |
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Definition
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Term
| How does glaciation affect sea level? |
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Definition
| The snow that nourishes glaciers ultimately comes from moisture evaporated from the oceans. Therefore, when the ice sheets increased in size, sea level fell and the shoreline moved seaward. |
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Term
| During the most recent glaciation, where was sea level relative to today? |
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Definition
| 100 meters lower than today |
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Term
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Definition
| One of the two types of dry climate; the driest of the dry climates |
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Term
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Definition
| Deposits of windblown silt, lacking visible layers, generally buff-colored, and capable of maintaining a nearly vertical cliff. |
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Term
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Definition
| One of the two types of dry climate. A marginal and more humid variant of the desert that separates it from bordering humid climates. |
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Term
| How much of the Earth's land surface is covered by deserts and steppes/ |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the most important erosional process in the desert? |
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Definition
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Term
| Discuss the Theory of Continental Drift |
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Definition
| A theory that origianlly proposed that the continents are rafted about. It has essentially been replaced by the plate tectonics theory. |
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Term
| What evidence was used to support the Theory of Continental Drift? |
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Definition
| Fossils matched across the seas (Mesosaurus & Glossopteris), rock types and geological features,and ancient climates |
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Term
| Why wasn't the Theory of Continental Drift accepted? |
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Definition
| Not ALL the evidence supported the continental drift hypothesis as he had formulated it |
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Term
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Definition
| A boundary in which two plates move together, causing one of the slabs of lithosphere to be consumed into the mantle as it descends beneath on an overriding plate |
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Term
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Definition
| A region where the rigid plates are moving apart, typified by the mid-oceanic ridges |
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Term
| Transform Plate Boundaries |
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Definition
| A boundary in which two plates slide past one another without creating or destroying lithosphere |
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Term
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Definition
| The rigid outer layer of the Earth, including the crust and upper mantle |
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Term
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Definition
| A coherent unit of Earth's rigid outer layer that includes crust and upper mantle |
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Term
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Definition
| A concentration of heat in the mantle capable of producing magma, which in turn extrudes onto Earth's Surface. (ex. Hawaiian Islands) |
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Term
| Where is new oceanic crust created? |
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Definition
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Term
| Where is old oceanic crust destroyed? |
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Definition
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Term
| How did the Red Sea form? |
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Definition
| A continental drifting followed by a continental collision |
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Term
| What is the typical rate of seafloor spreading? |
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Definition
| 5cm (2in) per year. Roughly the same rate as a fingernail |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of thrusting oceanic lithosphere into the mantle along a convergent boundary |
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Term
| What is the cause, and the result, of partial melting in a subduction area? |
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Definition
| One plate is pushed downward beneath another plate into the underlying mantle when plates move towards each other |
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Term
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Definition
| A chain of volcanic islands generally located a few hundred kilometers from a trench where active subduction of one oceanic slab beneath another is occurring |
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Term
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Definition
| Mountains formed in part by igneous activity associated with the subduction of oceanic lithosphere beneath a continent |
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Term
| Oceanic crust vs. Continental crust |
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Definition
Oceanic crust: 4-7 miles thick and mainly consists of heavy rocks like basalt
Continental crust: 19 miles thick and mainly made up of light material like granite |
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Term
| What is the source of energy for plate movements? |
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Definition
| Subduction of cold dense slabs of oceanic lithosphere |
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Term
| Passive Continental Margin |
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Definition
| Margin that consists of a continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise. They are NOT associated with plate boundaries and therefore experience little volcanism and few earthquakes |
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Term
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Definition
| A large wedge-shaped mass of sediment that accumulates in subduction zones. Here, sediment is scraped from the subducting oceanic plate and accreted to the overriding crustal block |
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Term
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Definition
| A crustal block bonded by faults, whose geological history is distinct from the histories of adjoining crustal blocks |
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Term
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Definition
| The sudden release of stored strain in rocks that results in movement along a fault |
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Term
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Definition
| A type of seismic waves that involves alternating compression and expansion of the material through which it passes |
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Term
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Definition
| A seismic wave that involves oscillation perpendicular to the direction of propagation |
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Term
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Definition
| Seismic waves that travel along the outer layer of the Earth |
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Term
| How is the Richter Magnitude of an earthquake determined from seismic records? |
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Definition
| Based on the amplitude of the largest seismic Wave (P,S,or surface) |
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Term
| How is the epicenter of an earthquake determined from seismic records? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| The very thin outermost layer of the Earth |
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Term
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Definition
| The 2,900 km (1,800 mile) thick layer of Earth located below the crust |
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Term
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Definition
| Located beneath the mantle, it is the innermost layer of the Earth. The core is divided into an outer core and inner core |
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Term
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Definition
| A subdivision of mantle situated below the lithosphere |
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Term
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Definition
| The rigid outer later of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle |
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Term
| Eruptive styles of a shield volcano. |
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Definition
| More sporadic and pyroclastic; Erupts with thicker and shorter flows |
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Term
| Eruptive styles of a cinder cone |
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Definition
| Single short-lived eruptive event |
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Term
| Eruptive style of a composite cone |
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Definition
| Very persistent eruption activity |
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Term
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Definition
| A large mass of igneous rock that formed when magma was em-placed at depth, crystallized, and subsequently exposed by erosion |
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Term
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Definition
| A structure that results from the emplacement and crystallization of magma beneath the surface of the Earth |
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Term
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Definition
| A tabular-shaped intrusive igneous feature that cuts through the surrounding rock |
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Term
| What proportion of magma is made up of dissolved gases? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the most common dissolved gases in magma? |
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Definition
| Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen and Sulfar Dioxide |
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Term
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Definition
| A fault in which the rock above the fault plane has moved down relative to the rock below |
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Term
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Definition
| A fault in which the material above the fault plane moves up in relation to the movement below |
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Term
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Definition
| A fault along which movement is horizontal |
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Term
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Definition
| A low angle reverse fault |
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Term
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Definition
| A fold in sedimentary strata resembling an arc |
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Term
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Definition
| A linear downfold in sedimentary strata; the opposite of anticline |
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Term
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Definition
| A roughly circular upfolded structure similar to an anticline |
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Term
| What conditions favor folding? |
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Definition
| Small strain rates, higher pressures, higher temperatures at greater depths. (asthenosphere or mesosphere) |
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Term
| What conditions favor faulting? |
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Definition
| Strain rates are large, relatively low temperatures, confining pressures at shallow depths (lithosphere) |
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Term
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Definition
| A surface that represents a break in the rock record, caused by erosion or nondeposition |
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Term
| Three types of unconformity |
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Definition
| Angular, Disconformity and Noncomformity |
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Term
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Definition
| Tilted of folded sedimentary rocks that are overlain by younger, more flat-lying strata |
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Term
| Unconformity: Disconformity |
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Definition
| A type of unconformity in which the beds above and below are parallel |
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Term
| Unconformity: Nonconformity |
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Definition
| An unconformity in which older metamorphic or intrusive igneous rocks are overlain by younger sedimentary strata |
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Term
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Definition
| A fossil that is associated with a particular span of geological time |
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Term
| What is the principle behind radiometric dating? |
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Definition
| Provides a reliable means of calculating the ages of rocks and minerals that contain particular radioactive isotopes |
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Term
| What type of material is most often preserved as fossils? |
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Definition
| Remains of relatively recent organisms (teeth, bones, shells) |
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Term
| What conditions favor preservation? |
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Definition
| Rapid burial and possession of hard parts |
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Term
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Definition
| All geological time prior to the Paleozoic era |
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Term
| The age of the Earth accepted by most scientists is 4.6 Billion years. |
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Definition
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