CCS Geology
Geology terms to know for Mr. Shiraef's class
80 flashcards · Other · by Kyle Vivian
Mafic
Hotter magma rich in iron, magnesium and other metals
How many different minerals are there?
4,200
How many common minerals are there?
100
What defines a mineral?
Crystalline structure Definite chemical composition Naturally occurring Inorganic Solid
Mineral Identification
Color Luster (how shiny it is) Streak (color it makes on a streak plate) Breaks cleavage (breaking along planes) fracture (uneven breaking) Hardness
what is a rock
naturally occurring solid made up of one or more minerals.
Three main types of rocks.
Metamorphic sedimentary igneous
igneous rock
rocks form from cooling magma
sedimentary rock
Rocks formed from eroded pieces of previously existing rocks, minerals, plants, or animals
metamorphic
rocks formed from other rocks under high heat and pressure. rocks change without melting.
clastic (sedimentary) rock
Sedimentary rocks formed from sediment cemented together
Intrusive igneous rocks
Igneous rock that had completely crystalized under the surface of the Earth.
Extrusive igneous rock
igneous rock which crystalizes on Earths surface or under water
Magma
molten rock under the Earths surface
Lava
Molten rock on Earths surface
Sediments
Loose pieces of rock, sand, dust, clay, or dirt
Chemical/Crystalline rock
Sedimentary rocks formed when minerals are dissolved in water and the water evaporates
Weathering
Any process which breaks rocks down into smaller pieces
Erosion
The movement of pieces of rock from one place to another
Deposition
When pieces of rock are dropped and no longer moving
Sedimentation
When layers of rocks, sand, clay, and other particles are deposited in layers over millions of years.
Compaction
When layers of the sediment are squeezed together.
Cementation
When sediments are glued together to form a rock
Conglomerate
A sedimentary rock made with large, rounded particles
Breccia
A sedimentary rock made with large, angled particles
Sandstone
A sedimentary rock made from grains of sand
Shale
A sedimentary rock made from microscopic mud particles
Limestone
A sedimentary rock made from decomposed marine creatures.
Coal
A sedimentary rock made from decomposed dead plants
Coquina
A sedimentary rock made from fossilized seashells stuck together.
Chert
A hard sedimentary rock made from decomposed sea-life. Chert has been used for stone tools in the past.
Fossils
Remains of living things turned to stone. Fossils are only found in sedimentary rocks.
Layers
Sedimentary rocks are formed in layers
Re-crystallize
When crystals that are in the rock reform and rearrange themselves.
Foliated
Metamorphic rocks that have bands or stripes
Non-foliated
Metamorphic rocks that do not have bands or stripes
Parent Rock
The sedimentary or igneous rock that a metamorphic rock formed from
Marble
A metamorphic rock formed from limestone
Quartzite
A metamorphic rock formed from sandstone
Slate
A metamorphic rock formed from shale
Schist
A metamorphic rock formed from shale
Gneiss
A metamorphic rock formed from granite
Degrees of metamorphism
Metamorphic rocks change when exposed to even more heat and pressure
Heat
Necessary for metamorphism - comes from magma or the earth or friction from moving tectonic plates.
Pressure
Necessary for metamorphism - comes from layers of rock, or mountain building
Plate Tectonics
Large pieces of the lithosphere ('plates') move and change the topography of the Earth
Lithosphere
The solid outer layer of the Earth consisting of the crust and rigid part of the mantle
Asthenosphere
The layer of the mantle composed of low-density rock; semiplastic (like putty)
Divergent Boundary
Two plates moving apart; magma comes up to create new crust
Convergent Boundary
Two plates colliding together; creates mountains, ocean trenches, volcanoes
Transform Boundary
Two plates sliding past each other; can cause earthquakes
Rifting
Process of Earth's crust breaking apart; either continental or oceanic crust
Laurasia
Supercontinent of NA and Eurasia before they broke apart
Gondwanaland
Supercontinent of Africa, SA, India, Australia, Antartica before they broke apart
What type of process is caused by divergent boundaries? Sea Floor Spreading
When the Earth's tectonic plates move, we call this an earthquake
The vent on the earth's surface through which magma and gasses are expelled is called a volcano
When one tectonic plate dives under another it is called subduction
Pacific Ring of Fire
Major volcanic zone along the Pacific Ocean; travels from SA to NA and along Asia
Japan is an example of an island arc
California borders the Pacific and NA plates
Great African Rift
This place is in Africa and the plates are coming apart
Midocean ridge
An underwater chain of mountains. Example Midatlantic Ridge
East Pacific Rise
This is an example of sea floor spreading at a divergent boundary
Volcanoes and Earthquakes are features found at an ocean to continent convergent boundary
Western Coast of SA
This is an example of a subduction zone at a convergent boundary between a continent and an ocean
A subduction zone would have earthquake activity True
A subduction zone occurs where two plates move away from each other. False
California is an example of an island arc False
Indonesia is an example of an island arc True
A divergent boundary would create mountains False
There are only two types of convergent boundaries False
A transform boundary creates mountains False
Lahar
A mud flow composed of pyroclastic material mixed with water and debris
Pyroclastic flow
A mixture of pyroclastic debris and hot gas
Aa lava
Jagged-surfaced lava flow
Pahoehoe lava
Smooth, ropy surfaced lava flow
Shield volcano
Wide, flat volcano formed from basaltic lava
Composite cone
Tall volcano formed from andesititic lava
Caldera
A crater (sinkhole) formed when part of a volcano collapses into the magma chamber following an eruption.