Rocks, Rock Cycle, Soil Flashcards
(105 cards)
1
Q
What is sedimentation?
A
The process of transporting, depositing, and eroding materials
2
Q
Name three common types of sedimentary rock.
A
- Sandstone
- Shale
- Limestone
3
Q
What is sandstone primarily composed of?
A
Sand grains stuck together, mostly made of quartz
4
Q
What colors can sandstone be?
A
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
- Grey
5
Q
What is a key characteristic of sandstone?
A
It is formed of layers
6
Q
What type of sediments is shale made from?
A
Very fine-grained sediments
7
Q
What color is shale typically?
A
Grey
8
Q
How can you identify shale?
A
It leaves a mark when scratched and can break with hands
9
Q
What is limestone made from?
A
Layers of shells from sea animals
10
Q
What colors can limestone be?
A
- White
- Grey
11
Q
What is a pure type of limestone?
A
Chalk
12
Q
What common feature do sandstone, shale, and limestone share?
A
They are all formed of layers
13
Q
What does the word ‘igneous’ mean?
A
Fire
14
Q
What are igneous rocks derived from?
A
Magma
15
Q
What is the process called when magma cools and turns into solid rock?
A
Solidification
16
Q
What is the difference between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks?
A
Intrusive rocks form inside the Earth’s crust, while extrusive rocks form on the surface
17
Q
What is an example of an extrusive igneous rock?
A
Basalt
18
Q
What is an example of an intrusive igneous rock?
A
Granite
19
Q
Where does magma originate?
A
Deep below the Earth’s surface
20
Q
Fill in the blank: ‘Extrusive’ means _______ the Earth’s crust.
A
Outside
21
Q
Fill in the blank: ‘Intrusive’ means _______ the Earth’s crust.
A
Inside
22
Q
What happens to some magma that stays inside the Earth’s crust?
A
It cools down more slowly and solidifies into intrusive igneous rock
23
Q
True or False: All igneous rocks form at the Earth’s surface.
A
False
24
Q
What happens to the rocks above intrusive igneous rocks over time?
A
They wear away, exposing the granite at the surface
25
What are igneous rocks made of?
Minerals, primarily consisting of silica, oxygen, aluminium, magnesium, and iron
## Footnote
Each mineral forms from different combinations of these substances.
26
What is the most important characteristic of all igneous rocks?
They are crystalline
## Footnote
Crystals form when the minerals cool down.
27
What mineral is quartz made of?
Silica and oxygen
## Footnote
Quartz is a common mineral found in igneous rocks.
28
How do igneous rocks form crystals?
When the minerals cool down
## Footnote
The rate of cooling affects crystal size.
29
What happens to magma when it cools slowly deep below the Earth's surface?
It forms large crystals visible to the naked eye
## Footnote
This process occurs in intrusive igneous rocks.
30
What is an example of an extrusive igneous rock?
Basalt
## Footnote
Extrusive igneous rocks cool quickly, resulting in small crystals.
31
What minerals are primarily found in granite?
* Quartz
* Feldspar
* Mica
## Footnote
Granite is an example of an intrusive igneous rock.
32
What visual characteristic can be observed in granite?
Different colors due to different crystals
## Footnote
The variety of minerals contributes to the rock's appearance.
33
Fill in the blank: The lava cools quickly to form an _______ igneous rock.
extrusive
34
True or False: The crystals in extrusive igneous rocks are usually large enough to see with the naked eye.
False
## Footnote
Crystals in extrusive rocks are typically too small to be seen.
35
What is the effect of compression on crystals within igneous rocks?
Crystals get squashed together
## Footnote
This occurs as the rock forms and solidifies.
36
What are Fossils
Preserved animal and plant remains
37
What are fossils?
The preserved remains of animals and plants found in sedimentary rocks
## Footnote
Fossils provide important information about past life forms and environments.
38
How do fossils form?
Fossils form when animals or plants are buried quickly in low-air environments
## Footnote
This typically occurs in sedimentary rocks formed in water.
39
In what type of rocks are fossils typically found?
Sedimentary rocks
## Footnote
Sedimentary rocks are formed in environments like sea beds or lake beds.
40
What happens to an animal's body after it dies in or near the sea?
The soft parts rot away, and minerals gradually replace the bones
## Footnote
This process can take a long time, resulting in a fossil.
41
What is the role of water in the fossilization process?
Water facilitates the replacement of bones with minerals
## Footnote
The minerals in the water harden to form rock.
42
How old is the dinosaur fossil mentioned in the text?
About 150 million years old
## Footnote
This indicates the long time scale over which fossilization occurs.
43
Fill in the blank: Fossils can only form if the plant or animal is buried quickly in a place with very little _______.
air
44
True or False: Fossils can form in igneous rocks.
False
## Footnote
Fossils are primarily found in sedimentary rocks.
45
What happens to the bones of an animal during fossilization?
They are gradually replaced by minerals
## Footnote
This process results in a fossil that resembles the original bones.
46
What is a mould in the context of fossils?
A mould is an imprint of an animal left in sediments.
47
How old is the dinosaur's footprint mould found in Namibia?
About 150 million years old.
48
What is the age of the fossil mould of a leaf found in shale?
About 350 million years old.
49
What happens when a mould fills with minerals?
It hardens to form a cast of the animal.
50
What are ammonites?
Ammonites are extinct marine animals that lived 240 million years ago.
51
In what type of rock are the fossils of ammonites found?
In limestone.
52
Fill in the blank: A mould can fill with minerals that harden to form a _______.
[cast]
53
True or False: Ammonites still exist on Earth today.
False.
54
What does the fossil record indicate about the age of ammonite fossils?
They are about 240 million years old.
55
What are metamorphic rocks?
Existing rocks that have been changed by heat, pressure, or both
## Footnote
The term 'metamorphosis' means change.
56
What happens to minerals in rocks when they are changed by heat?
They melt and form new crystals
## Footnote
This process often leads to the formation of new mineral structures.
57
How can rocks be changed by pressure?
They are squeezed to form rocks with thin layers
## Footnote
This process can lead to foliation in the resulting metamorphic rock.
58
What occurs when rocks are changed by both heat and pressure?
The new rock has different minerals and lots of layers
## Footnote
This combination can create complex metamorphic textures.
59
What causes the heat and pressure that change rocks into metamorphic rocks?
Magma rising from the mantle and pushing solid rocks aside
## Footnote
This process occurs beneath the Earth's surface.
60
What is the role of intrusive igneous rock mass in the formation of metamorphic rocks?
It forms from magma and affects surrounding rocks with heat and pressure
## Footnote
Intrusive igneous rocks are formed from magma that cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface.
61
Fill in the blank: Metamorphic rocks are formed when existing rocks undergo _______.
[change]
## Footnote
This change can be due to heat, pressure, or both.
62
True or False: Metamorphic rocks can only be formed by heat.
False
## Footnote
Metamorphic rocks can be formed by heat, pressure, or a combination of both.
63
What is the metamorphic rock formed from sandstone?
Quartzite
## Footnote
Quartzite is formed when sandstone is heated and the sand grains melt to form new quartz crystals.
64
What characteristic makes quartzite different from sandstone?
Hardness and shine
## Footnote
Quartzite is much harder than sandstone and has shiny quartz crystals.
65
What type of rock is formed when limestone is heated?
Marble
## Footnote
Marble is the metamorphic rock that forms from limestone under heat and pressure.
66
What happens to the minerals in limestone when it transforms into marble?
They melt and form new crystals
## Footnote
The melting of minerals in limestone leads to the formation of new crystals in marble.
67
What colors can marble be, based on its original limestone composition?
White, red, blue, yellow, brown, green
## Footnote
The color of marble depends on the substances present in the original limestone.
68
What are some uses of marble?
Carving statues, gravestones, decorating buildings
## Footnote
Marble is valued for its beauty and durability, making it suitable for various artistic and architectural applications.
69
True or False: Quartzite can be used to make sculptures.
True
## Footnote
Due to its hardness, quartzite is sometimes used in sculpture making.
70
Fill in the blank: The metamorphic rock formed from limestone is called _______.
Marble
## Footnote
Marble results from the metamorphism of limestone.
71
How long ago was the quartzite statue of Ankhrekhu made?
Almost 4000 years ago
## Footnote
The statue was created in 1850 BCE.
72
What is a significant property of marble?
Extremely hard and shiny
## Footnote
Marble's hardness and luster make it a popular choice for art and architecture.
73
What metamorphic rock is formed when shale is put under intense pressure?
Slate
## Footnote
Slate is characterized by its thin layers resulting from the metamorphosis of shale.
74
What is the process that leads to the formation of slate?
Burial of sediments leading to intense pressure
## Footnote
Layers of sediments build up on the sea bed, with the bottom layers subjected to huge pressure.
75
List two common uses of slate.
* Making roof tiles
* Making floor tiles
## Footnote
Slate is valued for its hardness and durability.
76
What metamorphic rock is formed when granite is heated and minerals melt?
Gneiss
## Footnote
Gneiss features bands or stripes of crystals created by the melting and recrystallization of granite.
77
What characteristic feature distinguishes gneiss from granite?
Stripes or bands of crystals
## Footnote
The crystals in gneiss are arranged in bands, unlike the random distribution in granite.
78
What is one use of gneiss in construction?
Crushed to make roads
## Footnote
Gneiss is very hard and is often used in road construction.
79
What are the main types of soil based on rock weathering?
Sandy soil, clay soil, loam
## Footnote
Different rocks weather into different types of soil, such as sandstone and quartzite into sandy soil, shale into clay soil, and igneous and metamorphic rocks into sandy or clay soil.
80
What type of soil is formed from sandstone and quartzite?
Sandy soil
## Footnote
Sandy soil is characterized by its large particles and rough texture.
81
What type of soil does shale weather into?
Clay soil
## Footnote
Clay soil has smaller particles compared to sandy soil.
82
What is loam soil characterized by?
Dark color and high organic matter content
## Footnote
Loam soil is known for its rich nutrient content due to the presence of organic matter.
83
Describe the texture of sandy soil.
Rough and crumbly
## Footnote
Sandy soil has large particles and large spaces between them.
84
What is a key feature of sandy soil's particle arrangement?
Large spaces between particles
## Footnote
These spaces allow air and water to be present in sandy soil.
85
True or False: Sandy soils retain water well.
False
## Footnote
Sandy soils drain water easily due to their large particle size.
86
Fill in the blank: Sandy soils contain a lot of _______ and _______.
water and air
## Footnote
The large spaces between sandy soil particles allow for high air and water content.
87
What happens to water in sandy soils?
It drains easily
## Footnote
The structure of sandy soil facilitates quick drainage of water.
88
What are the characteristics of clay soil?
Clay soils have very small particles that are tightly packed, smooth and sticky texture, and small spaces between particles
## Footnote
Clay soils dry out and crack in hot, dry weather
89
How do clay soils behave in hot, dry weather?
Clay soils dry out and crack
## Footnote
This is due to the tightly packed nature of their small particles
90
What is a key feature of clay soils regarding water?
Clay soils absorb and hold water easily but can become waterlogged
## Footnote
The lack of drainage is due to the small spaces between soil particles
91
What is loam soil composed of?
Loam soils consist of a mixture of sand and clay
## Footnote
This mixture creates particles of different sizes
92
Describe the texture and air content of loam soil.
Loam soil particles are not very tightly or loosely packed, allowing air in the spaces between them
## Footnote
This texture supports better drainage than clay soil
93
What gives loam soil its dark brown color?
The organic matter in loam soils
## Footnote
Organic matter helps retain water and provides nutrients
94
Why is loam soil considered ideal for growing plants?
Loam soils have the best composition for growing plants due to their nutrient content and water retention capabilities
## Footnote
The mixture of sand and clay allows for good drainage and aeration
95
Why do farmers and gardeners dig or plough the soil?
To mix air into the soil
## Footnote
Air is essential for maintaining soil composition.
96
What must be done if it doesn't rain?
Farmers or gardeners must water the soil
## Footnote
Adequate moisture is crucial for plant growth.
97
What is compost?
Dead organic matter that provides nutrients and improves soil texture
## Footnote
Compost can be made from food scraps and garden waste.
98
What materials can be used to make compost?
* Vegetable peel
* Egg shells
* Over-ripe fruits
* Bones
* Grass cuttings
* Leaves
* Weeds
## Footnote
Keeping the compost mixture moist and warm facilitates decomposition.
99
What do artificial fertilizers provide?
The same nutrients as organic matter
## Footnote
Unlike compost, they do not improve soil texture.
100
What happens when farmers plant the same crop year after year?
The soil's nutrients are depleted, leading to poor soil quality
## Footnote
This practice can also cause the soil to dry out.
101
How can pesticides negatively affect the soil?
They can kill the organic matter in the soil
## Footnote
Pesticides are designed to eliminate weeds and insects but can harm beneficial soil organisms.
102
What is a potential downside of using artificial fertilizers?
They can damage soil texture and dry out the soil
## Footnote
Continuous use may lead to long-term soil health issues.
103
What happens if farmers do not dig and turn the soil often enough?
Air and organic matter are not mixed into the soil
## Footnote
This can lead to compaction and reduced soil health.
104
Fill in the blank: Soil needs _______ to keep its composition the same.
air
105
True or False: Compost improves the texture of the soil.
True
