4.1 Geology UK Flashcards
What is igneous rock and location and age?
- Extrusive igneous rocks, also known as volcanic rocks, are formed at the crust’s surface as a result of the partial melting of rocks within the mantle and crust.
- Around 250-350 million years old
- Granite, pegmatite and obsidian (Scottish Highlands have old igneous rocks)
What is sedimentary rock and location and age?
-Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the deposition and subsequent cementation of that material at the Earth’s surface and within bodies of water
-Around 200 million years
-Sandstone, siltstone and limestone
(Sandstone hills in northwest highlands)
What is metamorphic rock and location and age?
-A metamorphic rock is a result of a transformation of a preexisting rock.The original rock is subjected to very high heat and pressure, which cause obvious physical chemical changes.
-400-450 million years
-Gneiss, slate and schist
(North west Scotland is where it can be found)
Compare the formation and characteristics of granite and carboniferous limestone.
Granite is a resistant, impermeable rock whereas carboniferous limestone is a more resistant rock and less permeable
Compare the formation and characteristics of chalk and slate.
Chalk is a soft, white, powdery limestone consisting mainly of fossil shells of foraminifers Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash
How do active volcanoes shape the uplands of the UK?
Active volcanoes may shape the earth as it could cause folding or an overload of magma onto the fertile land which consequently degrades the grass owned near the volcano.
Explain how glacial erosion and deposition shaped the UK uplands.
Glaciers are a powerful moving block of ice, they destroy pretty much anything in their way and can reshape land as fast as it can move. For example a glacier is able to create u shaped valleys from gradually going through the land and eventually making it v shaped.
Explain when and how sedimentary rock was formed across the UK lowlands.
Chalk is a sedimentary rock made of calcium carbonate.
It is porous and allows water to penetrate into the rock. For this reason, surface streams (winterbournes) are only visible when the rock is saturated.
Dry valleys are a common feature. These were eroded by fast-flowing surface streams towards the end of the last Ice Age.
Explain how glacial deposition shaped the UK lowlands.
rolling landscapes and deposited fertile material transported from highland areas, provide an opportunity for different activities. This is because many of million years ago, the glaciers destroyed the land in from of the drift and replaced with fertile, growing soil
Explain how scarp and vale topography forms in the uk lowlands.
- Folding into anticline
- Anticline eroded by glacial meltwater
- Eroded the top middle sedimentary rock (creating a wield)
- SCARPS are different layers of rock at the steep slopes
