GEOL 120 Exam 1 – Flashcards

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Shield Volcanoes are composed primarily of __________ lava flow
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Basalt
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Hazard
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The existence of a potentially dangerous situation or event (ex. potential landslide of a steep slope or lava flow erupting from a volcano)
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Risk
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An assessment of whether the hazard might have some social impact (ex. loss of life, damage to property, etc.)
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What is erupted by volcanoes?
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Ash, Pumice, Lava
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A composite cone would be expected to have a _________ slope than a shield volcano
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steeper
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Eruption Styles
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1. Lava flow- least explosive, magma erupts onto surface and flows away from a vent. 2. Lava fountains- medium explosive, caused from high initial gas content and less vicious lava-> the gas propels the lava and separates it into discrete pieces 3. Eruption Column- most explosive, Tephra (magma that is blown apart by volcanic gases), erupts high into the atmosphere then falls back to Earth as solidified and cooled pieces of rock 4. Pyroclastic flow- most explosive, some ash does not jet straight up but collapses down the side of the volcano as a dense, hot cloud of ash particles and gas (ash flow) - devastating because of high speed and high temp.
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Characteristics of actively erupting volcanoes:
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billowing clouds of ash rising into the air, fragments of molten rock blasting into the air, glowing orange lava flowing down hill
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Scoria Cone
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Steep-sided cone shaped hill hundreds of meters high, with a small crater at the summit; composed of cinders (scoria) and volcanic bombs - basaltic or andesitic composition
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Shield Volcano
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Broad, gently sloping conical hill or mountain with fissures along its summit; composed mainly of basaltic flow
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Composite Volcano
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Moderately steep, cone-shaped mountains thousands of meters high with a crater at the top; composed of interlayered lava flows, pyroclastics, and volcanic mudflow- mostly composed of intermediate rocks (ex. andesite) but can have felsic or mafic rocks
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Volcanic Dome
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Steep-sided dome-shaped hill hundreds of meters high; composed of felsic lava- consist solidified lava
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What kind of volcanoes produced pyroclastic flows that killed tens of thousands of people at Pompeii & St. Pierre?
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Composite
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Most composite volcanoes are found along ___________ plate boundaries
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convergent --> subduction zones (ex. Ring of Fire)
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Rocks found typically in calderas
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Top: volcanic tuff Middle: Hard, welded volcanic rock Bottom: finely crystalline granite
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Typical shape of most volcanoes is
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conical
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Hazards of Scoria Cones
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falling volcanic cinders and bombs, volcanic ash and gases
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Hazards of lava flow
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burial of roads, bulldozing and crushing of houses and other structures
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Felsic Magma
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-high gas pressure commonly lead to highly explosive eruptions - high viscosities - do not allow gas bubbles to escape --> hence build up of gas & explosions
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Formation of Crater Lake:
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1. Massive ash column eruption of a composite volcano empties the magma chamber 2. Overlying volcano collapses into the resulting void 3. Scoria cone forms in the caldera 4. Rain & snowmelt fill the caldera, producing a large and deep lake
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Characteristics of volcanic domes:
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-viscous silicic magma -often occur in clusters -rubble covered surface -steep-sided
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Basaltic Magmas
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fluid lava, flows from shield volcanoes; low viscosity
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Felsic Magmas
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explosive eruptions from composite volcanoes; high viscosity
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Rock Type associated with Volcanic Domes
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rhyolite & andesite
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Events of 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption
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order from 1st event to last: 1. Earthquake 2. Landslide 3. Lateral blast & eruption column
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Flood basalts
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represent the largest igneous eruption on Earth, with some covering tens of thousands of square kilometers
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How do we assess the danger posed by a volcano?
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Shape- steep slopes indicate high viscosity, explosive magma; gentle slopes indicate less explosive volcanoes Rock Type- chemical analysis determines magma composition and potential for explosiveness History- The sequence of layers and isotopic dating can indicate the timing and frequency of eruptions
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Ways volcanic domes are destroyed
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1. collapse of steep flanks into block and ash flow 2. internally derived explosions from trapped gas pressure
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Monitoring volcanoes/ preceeding eruptions
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- steam eruptions from the volcanic crater - increase in seismic activity - increased in gas flow from volcano - increased heat flow from the volcano
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Formation of a Caldera
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1. Magma erupts as ash column, emptying a shallow magma chamber 2. Overlying material collapses into emptied chamber in a series of fault blocks 3. Ash and other pyroclastics fill the subsiding crater 4. Small rhyolite domes form form in caldera
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Majority of transform boundaries are found ______________
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in conjunction with mid-ocean ridges
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Characteristics of continental rifting:
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-stretching of the crust causes crustal blocks to drop down - if rifting continues the continent can be split in two pieces - rifting begins with a broad uplift as magma ascends
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When divergent boundaries occur on continents the process is called:
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continental rifting
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Seamount
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a mountain beneath the ocean that never reaches the surface
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Mid-Ocean ridges
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broad symmetrical ridges that cross ocean basins
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Tools used to measure to measure plate motion:
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GPS satellites, lasers
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The Pacific Ring of Fire is formed by...
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a string of volcanos --> subduction on both sides
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Oceanic fracture zones
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cracks and steps that cross the seafloor and run mostly at right angles to mid-ocean ridges
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List the 5 oceans
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Arctic Ocean Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Southern Ocean Indian Ocean
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Island arcs
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curving island chains across the seafloor that are mainly volcanic in origin
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Oceans cover ________% of Earth's surface
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71%
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transform fault
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a fault that accommodate the horizontal movement of one tectonic plate past another
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continental collision
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when two continental masses converge
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Geological features of Earth include:
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dramatic mountains, intricate coastlines, beautiful valleys & undersea trenches
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For a plate to move, the driving force must exceed the the ________
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resisting force
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convergent boundary
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2 plates coming together
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Volcano distribution on Earth:
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- there are many volcanoes along the edge of the Pacific Ocean are associated with earthquakes - there is a large volcanic belt along the west coasts of North & South America - Volcanism occurs along mid-ocean ridges
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Along the boundary of oceanic-continental convergence...
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the oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate (because it's denser)
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Continental shelves
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when continents continue outward from shoreline under the seawater (submerged benches)
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Subduction
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the process of one plate sliding beneath another
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What type of plate movement occurs at transform faults?
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horizontal
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Tectonic plates are composed of the _______ and move around on the _________
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lithosphere; asthenosphere
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Stages of continental rifting:
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1. Ascension of magma causes uplift of the crust 2. Stretching of the crust causes crustal blocks to drop into faults, forming rifts 3. Continuation of rifting splits the continent into two; a narrow ocean forms as seafloor spreading takes place 4. Continuation of seafloor spreading increases the ocean basin as it becomes wider
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Oceanic crust forms from upwelling of magma that spreads outwards from mid-ocean ridges-
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- the oldest basalt should be farthest from the mid-ocean ridge - the thickest sediment cover should be the farthest from the mid-ocean ridge
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Tectonics is the study of __________
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the origin and arrangement of the broad structural features of Earth's surface
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Convergent boundaries
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when plates move towards eachother
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Triple Junction
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a place where three boundaries meet
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Outer Core
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The layer of Earth that behaves as a dynamo (electrical generator) --> producing the magnetic field (convection currents)
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Abyssal Plains
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relatively smooth surfaces on the ocean floor
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Plates move _______ per year
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1 to 15 cm
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Geology
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the scientific study of the Earth
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Isostasy
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the balance or equilibrium of adjacent blocks of brittle lithosphere floating on the ductile asthenosphere
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2 main types of crust on Earth;
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continental, oceanic
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Weathering
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Breaking down of rocks either mechanically or chemically
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Shield Volcanoes
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mafic eruptions- (ex. Hawaii)
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Transportation
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Moving pieces of rock by wind, ice or water
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Deposition
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Occurs when the energy of transported material decreases
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Uplift
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Upward movement of underground rocks to the surface
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Lithification
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Process of sediments turning into rocks
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Lithosphere
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the rigid portion of the Earth (crust and upper mantle)
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Outer planets from the sun outward-
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Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
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Why is geology important to everyday life
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- we rely o it for energy resources - it helps us make decisions regarding the environment - we rely on it to locate raw materials for industry
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Asthenosphere
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located beneath lithosphere
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Earth's three major concentric zones:
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Crust Mantle Core
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igneous rock
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rocks that have solidified from magma
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what kind of crust is thicker?
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continental
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Composite Volcanoes
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intermediate eruptions- anywhere where there are subduction zones - convergent boundary- most common volcano (ex. ring of fire)
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3 factors that directly shape the surface of the Earth
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1. Atmosphere & it's movement 2. Water & it's movement (Hydrosphere) 3. Impact of diverse life forms (Biosphere)
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Metamorphism involves:
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- heat - pressure - deformation
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Magma
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molten rock underground usually rich in silica & containing dissolved gases
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Composition of Layers of the Earth
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- continental crust: granite - oceanic crust: basalt - mantle: olivine - core: iron & nickle
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Twenty-eight thousand years ago the Earth was __________
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colder than it is today - continental ice sheets covered large areas of the land
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Rock Cycle
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the process in which a rock may move from one place to another or be converted into a new rock type
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Flowing Water
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most important agent in sculpting the landscape
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three terrestrial planets
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Venus, Mercury, Mars
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Glaciers
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huge flowing fields of compressed ice & snow that carry large amounts of rocks and sediment
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The decay of radioactive elements such as uranium creates ___________
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heat -in the Earth's crust
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Qualitative Data includes:
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labels, images, sketches, descriptive words
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Density Formula
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mass/volume
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Cenozoic Era
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began 65 million years ago- most recent chapter in Earth history - continues to the present
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Geologic map
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uses various colors to show the distribution of various rock types/ages, and features exposed on the land surface
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Beds
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layers within sedimentary rock
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Quantitative date may include:
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age of rock, specific temperature data, chemistry of water in stream, size measurements of sediments
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Geological time scale
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the periods and subdivisions of Earth's history arranged in proper order
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Topographic Map
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uses contour lines to indicate specific elevations and is useful for getting specific information about the shape of the land
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Satellite image
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uses measurements of different wavelengths of light reflecting from a land surface to create a computer processed image to show the distribution of different types of plants, rocks & other features
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Ga
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giga-annum billions of years before present
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Ma
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mega-annum millions of years before present
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Paleozic Era
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began with the appearance of many shelled creatures and ended with a widespread extinction event - began 542 million years ago - ended 251 million years ago
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Relative Age
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the age of a fossil, organism, rock, geologic feature, or event as defined relative to other geologic features or events
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Theory
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- a hypothesis that survives scientist scrutiny may become a theory - a theory is an explanation supported by experimental or factual evidence - theories encompass a larger body of knowledge than a hypothesis
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Butte
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a smaller, steep sided mountain that has had its edges eroded away
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Shaded Relief Map
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Simulates light and dark shading on hills and valleys
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Rate
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how much something changed divided by the time required for the change to occur
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Contour Lines
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indicate areas of equal elevation on a topographic map
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When a fracture cuts across several layers of rocks we can determine that...
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the fracture is younger than the layers it crosscuts
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Density
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the mass per unit volume of a substance
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weight
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the amount of downward force exerted by an object under the pull of gravity
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Properties of Water
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- water can dissolve materials by breaking apart ionic bonds as polar molecules attract individual ions away from each other - Hydrogen bonds form between water molecules and are responsible for the high surface tension of water - a water molecule is polar, and opposite ends of individual water molecules are attracted to anions and cations
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There are more than 4,000 known minerals most of which are ...
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uncommon to rare
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Ion
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an imbalance of protons and electrons within atoms or molecules
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Cation
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a ion with a positive charge -> more protons than electrons
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Anion
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an ion with a negative charge- more electrons than protons
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silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
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- forms major building blocks for the vast majority of Earths minerals - has one silicon atom bonded with 4 oxygen atoms - may join with other tetrahedra or cations to form different types of silicates and a wide variety of minerals
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Covalent Bonds
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When two atoms share an electron. Ex: water molecule strength: strongest mineral examples: diamond, bonds within sheets of graphite
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Ionic Bond
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forms because of the attraction of two oppositely charge ions, such as when one atom loans one or more electrons to another atom strength: moderate mineral examples: halite, fluorite
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Metallic Bond
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Electrons in a metallic bond are shared widely by many atoms; this holds the material together in a nonrigid way, which is why many metals are pliable strength: low Min. Examples: gold, copper
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Intermolecular Force
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attraction due to polarity of molecules, which are bonded combinations of atoms strength: lowest (clay, mica) mineral examples: water ice and bonds between sheets of mica, clay or graphite
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Internal Atomic Arrangement
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atoms in minerals are arranged in an ordered geometric pattern
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Mineralogists
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geologist & other scientist who study minerals
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Criterion required to be classified as mineral
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crystalline solid, naturally occurring, inorganic
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Quartz uses
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may be used for chemical components; the element silicon is used to make computer chips & is mostly derived from this mineral
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Hematite uses
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may be used for chemical components; iron is the main ingredient in steel & is mined from minerals like this
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Clay uses
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may be used for its physical properties; used to produce bricks, cement and ceramics
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Periodic Table
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- grouped elements tend to have similar chemical properties (like the two different types of metals, nonmetals, noble gases, etc.) - it begins with the lightest element and advances to higher atomic numbers and heavier elements from left to right and from top to bottom - it includes a elements atomic number and atomic symbol
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Factors that contribute to a water molecule having polarity...
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- hydrogen atoms are grouped on one side of the oxygen atom - oxygen more strongly attracts electrons than hydrogen does - electrons spend more time around the oxygen atom and give the molecule a negative side and two positive ends on the other side
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Silica
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A compound containing only silicon and oxygen in a ration of 1:2 (SiO2)
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Silicon
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the 14th element of the Periodic Table; term may also be used to describe synthetic material used to make computer chip (or fake titties)
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Silicone
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A synthetic material (often used for grease or caulk) in which carbon is bonded to silicon atoms to keep the material in long chains
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Clastic
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forms in low-temperature environments; at or near Earth's surface
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Crystalline
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Forms in high-temperature environments; minerals are interlocking
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Igneous Rocks
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intrusive
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Geothermal Gradient
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the temperature increase with depth
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Pluton
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solidified magma chamber
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Dike
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a sheetlike intrusion that cuts across layers in a hot rock
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Sill
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an intrusion that is parallel to the layers in the host rock
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Laccolith
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an intrusion that can eventually form a dome
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Pegmatic texture
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forms deep within Earth in the presence of water
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Vesicular texture
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near Earth's surface - as gas bubbles go through the lava
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Porphyritic texture
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first deep within the earth then later near the surface
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