Geology TEST2 Flashcards
(78 cards)
Defintion: Failure and downslope movement of rock or unconsolidated material due to gravity.
Mass wasting aka slope failure
Material derived from the disintegration and erosion of rocks on the lands surface.
unconsolidated materials
Examples of unconsolidated materials.
clay, silt, sand and gravel
Is mass wasting same as a landslide?
yes but some landslides is a specific type wasting characterized by rapid slope failure.
Geological process in which materials are worn away and potentially transported naturally by wind or water.
Erosion
What are erosions and break down of hill driven by?
Gravity
What does a sloped surface of an erosion depend on?
-angle of the slope
-strength of the materials
What factors will determine whether or not it will
move down the surface?
If rock has already broken from the surface:
weak interaction
What factors will determine whether or not it will
move down the surface?
If rock is still a part of the surface:
strong interaction
What is the strength of interaction referred to as?
shear strength
What factors will determine whether or not it
will move down the surface?
What force is acting on the on the surface/chunk of rock?
Gravitational force, pulling everything to Earths center.
A force component parallel to slope.
shear force
A force perpendicular to slope.
normal force
If the slope is steeper what happens to the shear force?
It becomes greater
What is the difference of slope between a young and old mountain?
Young mountains have steeper slopes, did not experience erosions.
As rock strength increase what happens to the shear shear strength?
the shear strength increase
Which rocks made of crystallized molten material are very strong?
2 igneous rock, 1 metamorphic
Granite(ir), Basalt(ir), Gneiss(mr)
Example of strong sedimentary rock.
-Dolostone
-Limestone
-Calcite
Example of moderately strong sedimentary rock.
Conglomerate (a clastic sedimentary rock)
Example of weak sedimentary rock.
Mudstone (cemented)
Example of sedimentary rock that can be strong or weak.
Sandstone (made of sand held together by a mineral cement)
Why is sandstone in PEI red?
because of the high iron oxide content.
Fall vs Slide vs Flow
A material dropping through air, vertically or almost vertically.
Fall
Fall vs Slide vs Flow
A material moving as a mass along a slopping surface. (no internal motion)
Slide