2.1 The Rock Cycle Flashcards
Properties of the crust?
- solid rock - thin
* divided into continental and oceanic crust
Properties of the mantle?
- dark coloured, solid rocks rich in Mg and Si - mostly solid
- parts of mantle slowly moving
- mantle can reach surface as the rock peridotite
Properties of the outer core?
- made of nickel and iron - liquid state
- earth’s Mg produced in this zone
- 2000 km thick
Properties of the inner core?
- made of Ni and Fe - solid state due to pressure
- temps over 3000°C
- radius of 1370 km
What are the 5 main groups that geological materials making up the crust of the earth can be divided into?
- minerals
- igneous rocks
- metamorphic rocks
- sedimentary rocks
- fossils
What is the study of minerals?
Mineralogy
What is the study of rocks?
Petrology
What is the study of fossils?
Palaeontology
What happens to rocks as they pass through the rock cycle?
- magma from molten crust and mantle - deep inside earth - rises
- some magma → igneous rock which is slowly uplifted, other magma forms extrusive igneous rock
- rock uplift → weathered and eroded → transported to bodies of water → compacted to form sedimentary rock due to weight of water
- some of this rock uplifted, some buried
- lower down → higher temps and pressures form metamorphic rock
What are catastrophic events?
Processes in the rock cycle that act quickly
What are gradual events?
Processes in the rock cycle that act slowly
Is a meteorite impact gradual or catastrophic?
Catastrophic
Is a volcanic eruption gradual or catastrophic?
Catastrophic
Is metamorphism of sandstone gradual or catastrophic?
Gradual
Is folding of limestone gradual or catastrophic?
Gradual
