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Geology Flashcards > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Andesite:

A

An extrusive intermediate igneous rock

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2
Q

Asthenosphere:

A

The hot and weak part of the upper mantle, underlying the lithosphere, on which the tectonic plates slide.

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3
Q

Batholith

A

A very large igneous intrusion.

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4
Q

Clastic

A

A sediment or sedimentary rock which is made up of deposited particles, of whatever size or
material.

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5
Q

Continental drift

A

The movement of the continents across the surface of the earth

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6
Q

Convergent boundary

A

A zone where two tectonic plates are moving towards each other. These may be continent-continent, ocean-continent, or ocean-ocean

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7
Q

Core

A

The centre of the Earth, made up mostly of iron, consisting of a solid inner core and a liquid
outer core.

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8
Q

Crust

A

The rocky surface of the Earth

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9
Q

Crystal

A

A uniform material in which atoms or molecules are arranged in a completely regular
structure.

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10
Q

Divergent boundary

A

A zone where two tectonic plates are moving apart, sliding away from ridge formed by mantle convection

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11
Q

Dyke

A

A mass of intrusive igneous rock that formed in a crack through the surrounding country rock.

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12
Q

Extrusive

A

A kind of igneous rock that has cooled quickly at the ground surface, and so has small crystals

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13
Q

Feldspar

A

A common mineral in igneous rocks

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14
Q

Felsic

A

A composition of igneous rock that is rich in Feldspar and Silica (Quartz), and is usually light in colour. Low density, mp, high viscosity

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15
Q

Igneous Rock

A

A rock which has formed by solidification of molten rock as it cools

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16
Q

Intermediate

A

A composition of igneous rock that is intermediate between felsic and mafic

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17
Q

Intrusion

A

A mass of igneous rock that has solidified underground, and so has large crystals

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18
Q

Lava

A

Molten rock that erupts onto the ground surface from a volcano

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19
Q

Intrusive

A

A kind of igneous rock that has cooled slowly underground, and so has large crystals.

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20
Q

Lithosphere

A

The Earth’s crust and the top part of the mantle, divided into tectonic plates which
move around on the surface of the Asthenosphere.

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21
Q

Mafic

A

A composition of igneous rock which is rich in magnesium and iron, and is usually dark in colour. fine grained

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22
Q

Mantle

A

The bulk of the Earth (about 84%), between the outer core and the crust.

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23
Q

Mineral

A

A material of specific chemical composition which is part of a rock, often as a crystal. Rocks
are in general made up entirely of minerals.

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24
Q

Plate tectonics

A

The process by which tectonic plates move around.

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25
Q

Sediment

A

Material deposited on the Earth’s surface which may eventually form a sedimentary rock.

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26
Q

Sedimentary rock

A

Rock formed from sediments, principally either clastic or chemical/biochemical.

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27
Q

Sill

A

A sheet of intrusive igneous rock that formed by squeezing into the country rock on a bedding
plane.

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28
Q

Tectonic Plate

A

A section of the Earth’s lithosphere that moves around on the surface of the
asthenosphere as a single unit, and may contain both continental crust and oceanic crust.

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29
Q

Foliated

A

growth of a mineral crystal in 1 direction

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30
Q

non-foliated

A

rock has been evenly compressed

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31
Q

chemical

A

mineral constituents in solution which become supersaturated and precipitate

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32
Q

biogenic

A

when organisms use materials in air/ water to build their tissue

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33
Q

clastic

A

a sedimentary rock made up of deposited particles

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34
Q

stratigraphic column

A

a sequence of rock formation arranged chronologically

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35
Q

liquefaction

A

unconsolidated sediments transformed into a liquid-like substance

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36
Q

rock

A

a substance made up of a mixture of minerals

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37
Q

creep

A

slow downhill movement of loose weathered materials

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38
Q

slump

A

intermittent movement of rock debris

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39
Q

weathering

A

process by which a soil or rock increases its specific surface

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40
Q

erosion

A

carrying away of weathered soil, rock and other materials on the earth’s surface

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41
Q

flux

A

flow over a given area per unit time

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42
Q

catchment

A

any area or land feature that captures and holds water, defined by local topography, acts as a funnel by collecting all water within the catchment basina nd channelling it to a single point

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43
Q

run off

A

increase in streamflow volume over the baseflow

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44
Q

groundwater

A

fills space between soil particles and fractures rock beneath Earth’s surface

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45
Q

saturated zone

A

a region where pores and fractures of the ground are filled with water

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46
Q

water table

A

the upper surface of the zone of saturation

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47
Q

unsaturated zone

A

region of sediment above the water table

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48
Q

aquifer

A

an underground layer of water-bearing rock or unconsolidated material

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49
Q

deltas

A

layers of sediment deposited at openings due to a change in velocity

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50
Q

turbidity

A

caused by suspended materials and colloidal matter that obstructs light transmission through the water

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51
Q

limnology

A

study of lakes and other freshwater sources

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52
Q

fluvial

A

process associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and land-forms created by them

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53
Q

channel efficiency

A

a river’s ability to transport bedload and flow

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54
Q

thalweg

A

a line drawn to join the deepest points along a river bed

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55
Q

static equilibrium

A

a beach which experiences neither sediment deposition or erosion

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56
Q

dynamic equilibrium

A

occurs when sediments are eroded and deposited at equal rates

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57
Q

continental shelves

A

submerged edges of continental crust

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58
Q

seamount

A

an underground mountain formed by volcanic activity

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59
Q

trenches

A

topographic depressions in seafloor

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60
Q

kettle hole

A

a lake formed by large bodies of melted ice

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61
Q

glacial till

A

unsorted material deposited directly by glacial ice

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62
Q

glacial striations

A

scars and scratches in a rocks’ surface

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63
Q

varves

A

annual layers in sedimentary rock

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64
Q

moraine

A

mass of rock/sediment transported and deposited by a glacier

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65
Q

mantle plume

A

an upwelling of abnormally hot rock within the earth’s mantle

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66
Q

pyroclastic flow

A

rapidly moving mass of lava, ash and volcanic gases that have been erupted from a volcano

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67
Q

tsunami

A

massive long, high ocean wave caused by earthquakes, submarine landslides or volcanic eruptions

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68
Q

acidic

A

=felsic >65% Si concentration

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69
Q

basic

A

=mafic <65% Si concentration

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70
Q

evaporites

A

minerals found in a sedimentary deposit of soluble salts that result from evaporation of water

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71
Q

dolomite

A

CaMg(CO3)2

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72
Q

Scree

A

broken rock fragments

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73
Q

sorted profile

A

contains a majority of geologic material within a small range of grain sizes

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74
Q

graded profile

A

distribution of geologic material over a wide range of grain sizes

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75
Q

esker

A

a long ridge of sand and gravel that deposited after a glacier has retreated

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76
Q

till

A

unsorted geologic material deposited via erosion bu movement of glacier.

77
Q

scree

A

a collection of broken rock fragments along a mountain slope or at a mountain’s base. Typically results from weathering process related to volcanic activity, landslides and/or rock falls

78
Q

dendritic drainage pattern formed

A

on uniform ground

79
Q

trellised drainage pattern

A

happens in strongly folded rock

80
Q

esker

A

a long ridge of sand and gravel that is deposited, or left behind, after a glacier has retreated

81
Q

till

A

unsorted geologic material deposited via erosion by movement of a glacier

82
Q

boulder clay

A

largely composed of clay-sized particles but also contains many boulders and other rock fragments deposited by glaciers

83
Q

basaltic lava

A

1000-1200 mafic; low silica content; 100km/h; 50km range

84
Q

flood basalts

A

flat terrain- thin sheets pile up on top of each other

85
Q

pahoehoe lava

A

lave with a thin elastic skin, quick fomation

86
Q

aa lava

A

large angular boulders, low gas content, high viscosity

87
Q

pillow lava

A

piles of rounded blocks about 1m in size, formed underwater

88
Q

rhyolitic lava

A

800-1000, felsic, high viscosity

89
Q

andesitic lava`

A

intermediate between rhyolitic and basaltic lava

90
Q

central eruptions

A

lava from the central vent

91
Q

fissure eruptions

A

lava from cracks in the rock

92
Q

shield volcanoes

A

gentle slope formed by slow basaltic lava flow

93
Q

volcanic domes

A

rounded,steep-sided volcanoes with plugged vents–> violent eruptions formed by felsic/viscous lava

94
Q

cinder cones:

A

concave slopes built from pyroclasts

95
Q

composite

A

built from pyroclasts and lava

96
Q

craters

A

formed when lava sinks back into the vent (steep-inner sides result in instability)

97
Q

calderas

A

form as a result of local collapse of surrounding rock

98
Q

phreatic explosions

A

seawater mixes with magma causing violent eruptions

99
Q

diatreme

A

explosive eruption empties vent which then sills with falling debris–> materials often formed at depths of 100km or more

100
Q

lahars

A

any mudflow incorporating volcanic debris

101
Q

edifice collapse

A

collapse of steepened face

102
Q

tephra

A

all material thrown into air as a volcano explodes (some cools in flight)

103
Q

cleavage

A

natural splitting of a mineral along parallel planes dictated by weaknesses in the atomic structure

104
Q

mineral strength

A

function of hardness and lack of cleavage

105
Q

clastic sediments

A

accumulation of clastic particles derived from the weathering of pre-existing rocks–> often dominated by quartz as it is hard and doesn’t weather

106
Q

stratification/ bedding

A

sediments are depostied in layers due to successsive episodes of depostion or changes in enviroment

107
Q

cross bedding

A

cross-bedded layers on lee slope often found in dunes or sand bars

108
Q

graded bedding

A

coarse at base reducing to fine at top as speed of current decreased with time

109
Q

ripple

A

remain when sediment is lithified

110
Q

bioturbation

A

remains of tubes from worms etc

111
Q

bedding sequences

A

cycles of interbedded materials

112
Q

subsidence

A

sedimentary basins, deep acculumlations of sediment and burial

113
Q

compaction

A

squeezing out of water

114
Q

cmentation

A

precipitation of new minerals or growth in size of existing particles

115
Q

regional metamorphism

A

high pressure and temperatures at depth produce changes in the rock (water moves)

116
Q

contact metamorphism

A

occurs at surface or at a shallow depth (low pressure but high temp due to igneous intrusion/extrusions)

117
Q

dislocation metamorphism/cataclastic

A

high shear stress leads to formation of faults causing rock to be mechanically broken

118
Q

hydrothermal

A

high temperatures associated witht hte presence of water leads to chemical reactions and solution and transportation of minerals

119
Q

burial

A

occurs a low temperature and presssure as sedimentary tock undergoes an increase in pa

120
Q

shock

A

due to meteorite impacts

121
Q

METASOMATISM

A

hot water transports minerals into or out of rock

122
Q

mechanical unloading

A

fissures open up orthogonal to the direction of loading (horizontal cracks open up on bedding plane)

123
Q

mechanical loading

A

due to impact of sand, rain ,dust, gravel or boulders carried by flowing water or ice. results in material breaking away from surface of the rock

124
Q

freezing

A

water expands by nearly 10%, causing rocks to crack and rock to disintegrate

125
Q

laminar flow

A

slowly moving water in smooth channels (only fine particles are transported)

126
Q

turbulent flow

A

fast-moving water which easily moves particles

127
Q

slate

A

foliated

128
Q

phyllite

A

foliated

129
Q

schist

A

foliated

130
Q

gneiss

A

foliated

131
Q

hornfels

A

nonfoliated

132
Q

quartzite

A

nonfoliated

133
Q

marble

A

nonfoliated

134
Q

amphibolite

A

nonfoliated

135
Q

granulite

A

nonfoliated

136
Q

lapis lazuli

A

nonfoliated

137
Q

mica

A

widely distributed mineral that occurs in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks

138
Q

muscovite

A

white mica

139
Q

biotite

A

black mica

140
Q

phlogopite

A

green mica`

141
Q

gabbro

A

intrusive

142
Q

diorite

A

intrusive

143
Q

granodiorite

A

intrusive

144
Q

granite

A

intrusive

145
Q

basalt

A

extrusive

146
Q

andesite

A

extrusive

147
Q

dacite

A

extrusive

148
Q

rhyolite

A

extrusive

149
Q

limestone

A

chemical

150
Q

dolostone

A

chemical

151
Q

evaporites

A

chemical

152
Q

conglomerate

A

clastic

153
Q

breccia

A

clastic

154
Q

sandstone

A

clastic

155
Q

siltstone

A

clastic

156
Q

mudstone

A

clastic

157
Q

shale

A

clastic (makes up 70% of rock in Earth’s crust)

158
Q

coal

A

biogenic

159
Q

chert

A

biogenic

160
Q

peat

A

biogenic

161
Q

spheroidal weathering

A

the peeling of layers off granite, associated with penetration and freezing of water

162
Q

oolitic limestone

A

roughly spherical sand sized particles which have grown like hailstones as they settled through a calcium rich sea

163
Q

karst

A

landscape underlain by limestone weathered and eroded by dissolution producing ridges, towers, fissures sinkholes, caved and other characteristic landforms

164
Q

pyrite+water+oxygen

A

results in cracking in floors and weathering
high volume of gypsum crystal in pyritic shale caused the expansion of the rock
formation of sulfuric acid occurs

165
Q

pyrite related engineering problems

A

volume expansion’ concrete degradation; rust of steel rebar and piping; acid mine drainage; water quality

166
Q

freshwater breakdown

A

2.5% of the total world water
0.3% of freshwater, lakes and rivers
30% groundwater
70% ice and snow cover in mountainous regions
80% of GW is used to irrigate farmland

167
Q

flow rate/discharge equation

A

volume of water that passes through a given point per unit time
Q=VA

168
Q

continuity equation

A

rate at which mass enters a system is equal to the rate at which mass leaves the system (VA=VA)

169
Q

water budget method

A

quantifies how much water is within a system at a given time

helps manage water supplies, predict water shortages, irrigation and well design

170
Q

river

A

a body of water flowing along a natural channel

171
Q

fluvial

A

processes associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and landforms created by them

172
Q

hydromorphology

A

hydrological and geomorphological processes and attributes of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters

173
Q

river flow

A

the velocity of river is the speed at which water flows along it (velocity depends on gradient, volume, shape and friction)

174
Q

sedimentation

A

occurs when eroded material that is being transported by water settles out of the water column onto the bed, as the water flow slows

175
Q

hydraulic radius

A

ration between the CSA of a stream channel and the length of the water channel at that cross-section (A:P)

176
Q

stream orders

A

a measure of relative size of streams and rivers (smallest 1- largest 12)

177
Q

meandering stream

A

helical flow erodes the outside of a river bend and deepens the pool

178
Q

oxbow lake

A

crescent shaped lake formed on a river when a meander has been cut through and abandoned

179
Q

floodplains

A

low lying plains on both sides of a river that has repeatedly overflowed its banks and flooded the surrounding areas . Once flooding has subsided, alluvium is deposited on the floodplain

180
Q

retention time

A

time water is held in a reservoir before it is released. allows particles and silt to settle out

181
Q

permeability

A

ability of a rock to transmit water through its interconnected voids or spaces between particles

182
Q

aquiclude

A

impermeable rock with static water held in poorly connected voids

183
Q

aquifuge

A

impermeable rock with no voids

184
Q

aquitard

A

rock with low permeabiiity

185
Q

perched aquifer

A

lies on an aquiclude above the regional water table

186
Q

porosity

A

% volume of voids or pore spaces in a rock

187
Q

specific yield

A

%volume of water that can drain freely from a rock

188
Q

continental shelves

A

submerged edges of continental crust

189
Q

hypoxic conditions

A

have diminished water quality

Geology Flashcards (1 decks)

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