earth systems ch 13
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52 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 crust | -very thin -less than 1% of earths volume |
| moho discontinuity | -between crust and mantle |
| mantle | -mantle occupies most space (84%) -upper/lower mantle, and asthenosphere |
| asthenosphere | molten material |
| lithosphere | uppermantle and crust |
| outer core | molten magnetic field of earth generated by iron rich core |
| inner core | dense mass |
| continental crust | composition, light |
| oceanic crust | more dense and heavy |
| minerals | naturally formed compounds and elements of earth building blocks of rocks |
| characteristics of minerals | -natural -solid -inorganic -specific chemical comp -crystalline structure |
| silicates | most common element in the lithosphere oxygen and silicone left over |
| oxides | elements combined with oxygen |
| sulfides | sulfur and another element; ores |
| sulfates | oxygen and sulfur |
| carbonates | light colored combo of oxygen, carbon, and another element limstone |
| halides | salty minerals arid regions dont stick around |
| native elements | gold and silver |
| rocks | composed of many minerals |
| bedrock | deep underground rock |
| outcrop | rocks exposed to the surface |
| regolith | as rocks break up |
| magma | molten rock deep inside |
| lava | when molten rock (magma) comes out |
| igneous rock | "fiery inception" pyrocastics based on mineral comp and texture felsic and mafic |
| pyroclastics | rocks welded together |
| felsic | light colored |
| mafic | dark colored |
| plutonic (intrusive) | Rocks cool beneath Earth's surface slowing cooling: mineral grains have time to grow large course texture Granite |
| volcanic extrusive | Form on Earth's surface Cool rapidly (lava exposed to air) solidifies Basalt (oceanic crust) fine texture |
| sedimentary rock | External processes cause rock disintegration Material transported by water as sediment Over long periods, large amounts of sediment build to large thicknesses (layering) Exert enormous pressure which causes particles in sediment to interlock (clastic) Chemical cementation takes place (chemicals dissolves into spaces) strata |
| strata | Strata—horizontal layers of sedimentary rock; sometimes tilted into vertical by Earth processes |
| clastic | composed fragments of preexisting rocks cemented together because of pressure shale |
| chemical and organic sedimentary rock | Formed by precipitation of soluble materials or complicated chemical reactions Limestone and coal Organic sedimentary rocks such as coal form from remains of dead plants and animals |
| metamorphic rocks | igneous or sedimentary rocks that have been changed by heat and pressure rearranges crystal structure predictable shape |
| contact metamorphism | rock contacts magma and is rearranged |
| regional metamorphism | large volumes of rock are subjected to heat and pressure over long time scales' underground; intensive areas |
| schist | metamorphic rocks with narrow foilations |
| gneiss | broad, banded foilations |
| the rock cycle | ongoing processes where rocks transition from one type to the other |
| continental crust | sedimentary rock makes up 75% not thick granite |
| ocean floor crust | basalt heavier; goes under continental |
| isostasy | crust sinks under weight and rebound when material is removed |
| topography | surface configurations of earth |
| landform | individual topographic feature of any size |
| geomorphology | Study of Earth's land forms and the processes that have formed them |
| elements of landform study | Structure Process Slope Drainage |
| relief | Difference in elevation between highest and lowest points in an area |
| internal geo process | originate from within Earth, increase relief of land surface |
| external geo process | originate from sources above the lithosphere, such as the atmosphere or oceans; decrease relief of land surface |
| uniformitarianism | "The present is the key to the past" Processes which shaped the landscape of the past are the same that will shape the future |
| geologic time | Vast periods of time over which geologic processes operate |
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