Chapter 3 - ESC1000 Flashcards
(101 cards)
What is the rock cycle?
A model that illustrates the origin of the three basic rock types and the interrelatedness of Earth materials and processes.
What is magma?
Molten rock that occurs within the Earth’s crust and upper mantle.
What is lava?
It’s basically magma that reaches the surface.
What is crystallization?
When molten rock cools down and solodifies.
What is weathering?
The slow disintegration and decomposition of rocks by the daily influences of the atmosphere.
What is sediment?
Rock particles and dissolved substances resulting from weathering.
What is lithification?
When sediment that has been deposited undergoes a process that converts it into rock by cementation or compaction.
What is metamorphism?
The changes in mineral composition and texture of a rock subjected to high temperature and pressure within Earth.
Explain the rock cycle.
Melting > Magma > Lava > Crystallization > Weathering > Deposition > Lithification > Metamorphism > Melting.
What is an igneous rock?
A rock formed by the crystallization of molten magma or lava.
What are the 2 types of igneous rock?
Extrusive and Intrusive.
What are extrusive or volcanic rocks?
Igneous rock formed when lava solidifies at Earth’s surface.
What are intrusive or plutonic rocks?
Igneous rock formed when magma solidifies below Earth’s surface.
What determines the crystal’s size?
The rate of cooling.
What happens when the rate of cooling is slow?
It results in the formation of fewer, larger crystals.
What happens when the rate of cooling is fast?
It results in the formation of a solid mass of small intergrown crystals.
What are igneous rocks composed of?
Silicon and oxygen are the main components expressed as silica (SiO2) as well as Aluminum (Al), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), and Iron (Fe) make up 98% of the magma’s weight. The other 2% are trace minerals such as gold, silver, and uranium.
What are the 4 groups of igneous rocks by composition?
Granitic (Felsic), Andesitic (Intermediate), Basaltic (Mafic), and Ulatramafic.
What is granitic composition?
A compositional group of igneous rocks that indicates a rock is composed almost entirely of light colored silicates.
What is andesitic composition?
A compositional group of igneous rocks that contains at least 25% of dark silicate minerals and the other dominant mineral is plagioclase feldspar.
What is basaltic composition?
A compositional group of igneous rocks indicating that the rock contains substantial dark silicate minerals and calcium rich plagioclase feldspar.
What is ultramafic?
A compositional group of igneous rocks composed mainly of iron and magnesium rich minerals.
What is peridotite?
An igneous rock of ultramafic composition thought to be abundant in the upper mantle.
What is texture?
The size, shape and distribution of the particles that collectively constitute a rock.