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Geology
terms on igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks
47
Geology
Undergraduate 3
04/05/2016

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Term
Intrusive (plutonic) igneous rock
Definition
magma that has solidified underground
Term
Phaneritic
Definition
The texture of intrusive (plutonic) igneous rock that has cooled slowly forming large crystals to form. (gabbro, granite, peridotite)
Term
Extrusive (volcanic)
Definition
magma that has solidified above ground, above the surface of the earth forming igneous rock.
Term
Aphanitic
Definition
the texture of extrusive (volcanic) igneous rock that has cooled above ground much faster causing smaller crystals to form. (basalt, obsidian, pumice)
Term
Fractional Crystallizaiton
Definition
The crystallization of silicates in magma at different rates in a definite sequence due to their different melting points.
Term
Bower's Reaction Series
Definition
Minerals with higher melting temperatures crystallize first, while those with lower melting temperatures crystallize last.
Term
Partial Melting
Definition
Minerals with lower melting temperatures will melt first, while those with higher melting temperatures melt last.
Term
Mafic Magma
Definition
Low SiO2 content, low viscosity, highest tendancy to form lavas, lowest tendancy to form pyroclastic flows. Less likely to violently erupt due to lower viscosity, meaning the pressure would release before it could build up to a high enough point to violently erupt.
Term
Felsic Magma
Definition
Higher SiO2 content, high viscosity(thick), lowest tendancy to form lavas, highest tendancy to form pyroclastic flows. More likely to violently erupt due to thick viscosity trapping the pressure for longer and having more energy to release when it breaks.
Term
Sedimentry Rocks
Definition
Form most of the surface of the earth. Created by sediments combining through diagenesis to form one cohesive rock structure.
Term
Weathering
Definition
Can be mechanical or chemical. The breakdown/fragmentation of rock bidies into smaller particles, but does not modify the molecular structure or nature of the mineral
Term
Frost Wedging
Definition
Infiltration of water in cracks and pores of rocks in periglacial regions. There is a 9% volume expanison of water on freezing. Wedging splits the rock into smaller pieces.
Term
Thermal Expansion
Definition
Important diurnal changes in temperatures in deserts. Contraction and expansion of the rock due to (daytime) heating and (night time) cooling cause the rock to split.
Term
Exfoliation
Definition
Exposure of large masses of igneous rock after removal of overlaying material by erosion: pressure release-->expansion, breaks are parallel to the surface breaking in concentric slabs (like onion layers)separation of successive thin shells, or spalls, from massive rock such as granite or basalt; it is common in regions that have moderate rainfall. The thickness of individual sheet or plate may be from a few millimetres to a few metres.
Term
Physical Disintigration due to Roots
Definition
Plant roots grow into cracks of rocks and split the rock with its growth and expansion.
Term
Physical Disintegration due to Salt Crystals
Definition
Crystallization of salts as saline water evaporates leaving the crystals in small cracks and pores of the rock. As the crystals grow they force the rock to fracture and split.
Term
Chemical Alteration
Definition
chemical process that breaks down the internal structure of the original material and new minerals can be formed. Can cause decomposition of the rock.
Term
Dissolution
Definition
Chemical reaction in which a solid material is dispersed as ions in a liqued (ie NaCl in water). Fluid travels through the rock depositing and picking up minerals. Creates stalactites and stalagmites in caves.
Term
Oxidation
Definition
Takes place when oxygen combines with other elements in rocks to form new types of rock. These new substances are usually much softer and break more easily.
Term
Hydrolosis
Definition
occurs when water combines with the substances in rocks to form new types of substances which are softer than the parent rock. This allows mechanical weathering to break the rock apart more easily.
Term
Transport
Definition
the solid particles and/or ions in solution are transported by trantport agents ie water, glaciers, wind, and gravity.
Term
Deposition
Definition
All material must settle in a sedimentary basin, ultimately in the ocean basin. Sediments settle in successive layers.
Term
Diagenesis
Definition
All of the process progressively changing a sediment into a rock. This includes all of the process occuring to a sediment immediately after its deposition.
Term
Compaction
Definition
caused by weight exerted from the overlying sediments (overburden). It results in the tighter packing of the grains and thus a reduction of the pore space. In the case of sediments deposited in water, it also drives out the interstitial water.
Term
Cementation
Definition
Precipitation of minerals in the pore space as water mores through the sediments, binding the loose sediments together. Also reduces the amount of pore space.
Term
Pre-compaction (cementation)
Definition
sediment grains binding larger sediments and minerals together to form one cohesive rock.
Term
Cementation through Compaciton
Definition
Pressure forces the rock particles to bind and fuse to one another and cement into one rock.
Term
Sedimentary rock classification
Definition
Based on the nature, source, or origin of the sediments.
Term
Detrital
Definition
come from the accumulation of grains that are fragments of pre-existing rocks and transported from the continent.
Term
Biochemical
Definition
come from the accumulation of grains produced by organisms ie exoskeletons, shells, other hard parts of organisms. can accumulate as a sediment into limestone, or be precipitated as a solid rock like coral reefs.
Term
CCD (Carbonate Compensation Depth)
Definition
Where the dissolution of CaCO3 occurs and no calcite is preserved.
Term
Coral Reefs
Definition
A biochemical rock build on the sea floor and that does not transport. Consists of many corals built on top of each other. Coral has a calcite skeleton that anchors onto rock or other calcite corals.
Term
Barrier Reef
Definition
Are at some distance from land, a shallow basin between the reef and the land, the reef creates a barrier that the ocean waves break over and allow the basin to remain calm and neutral thus allowing a specific set of fauna to thrive.
Term
Fringing Reef
Definition
Directly adjacent to land. Corals begin to anchor on land for stability and grow outward around the land.
Term
Atoll
Definition
Ring shaped reefs as a result from hotspot magmatism. Have land in the middle but it is hidden.
Term
Formation of an Atoll
Definition

STAGE 1: starts as a volcanic island over a magmatic hot spot, the island shifts off of the hot spot to due lithospheric movement and a fringing reef grows on the land around the volcano. The weight causes the island to begin to subsidate. Coral and algae have a symbiotic relationship so the coral will continue to grow upwards towards the sunlight for the benefit of the algae and to keep up with the subsidation. 

 

STAGE 2: The reef now forms a barrier reef with a lagoon in the middle. If it keeps subsiding then the volcano in completely underwater and the reef continues to grow towards the sunlight.
STAGE 3: the volcanic island has completely ssubsided and what remains is the coral ring atoll.  

Term
Metamorphic Rocks
Definition
solid-state recrystallizatoin of a rock subjected to physio-chemical conditions markedly different from those in which it originally formed.
Term
Protolith
Definition
(parent-rock) Rock from which a metamorphic rock formed.
Term
Contact Metamorphism
Definition
Occurs immediately around an igneous rock intrusion (batholith, dyke, sill). Heat transfer and cooking of rocks surrounding the igneous body. Tied mainly to an increase in temperature.
Term
Aureole
Definition
Zone of metamorphized rocks surrounding an igneous intrusiton: its thickness can vary from a few centimetres to several kilometres. The intensity of metamorphism decreases further away from the intrusion.
Term
Dynamothermal Metamorphism
Definition
occurs at convergent plate boundaried where plates collide. Most intense metamorphic activity is at the roots of mountains associated with intense rock deformation. Tied to an important increase in both pressure and temperature.
Term
Foliation
Definition
Preferential allignment of planar elements resulting fron a differential pressure during dynamothermal metamorphism. Alignment is perpendicular to the direction of maximum pressure. Foliation if achieved by crystallization of new minerals, rotation of existing particles, flattening of existing particles, and recrystallization of pre-existing minerals.
Term
Slaty Cleavage
Definition
alignment of microscopic minerals; tends to break into flat sheets along parallel planes like slates
Term
Phyllitic texture
Definition
alignment of microscopic to very fine minerals along slightly undulated planed; recrystallized sheet silicates give the rocks their shiny lustre.
Term
Schistosity
Definition
parallel to sub-parallel alignment of macroscopic minerals along undulated planes; macroscopic sheet silicates give the rock a brilliant lustre.
Term
Gneissossity
Definition
compositional layering, alternating light and dark coloured bands corresponding to layers of different compositions, macroscopic minerals (coarse).
Term
Impact Metamorphism
Definition
Causes: melting, dense minerals usually formed in the earth's mantle (diamond), deep fractures, release of natural gasses, and deformation features such as shock lamaellae and shatter cones.
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