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1. Science 20 > C: Geology = the Changing Earth 1.1 The Long Beginning > Flashcards

C: Geology = the Changing Earth 1.1 The Long Beginning Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Slave Granite?

A

A red belt of granite rock that is among Alberta’s oldest rocks, approximately two billion years old.

The Slave Granite is part of the Precambrian Shield.

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2
Q

What is the Precambrian Shield often called?

A

The Canadian Shield.

It is a significant geological feature of Canada.

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3
Q

How old is the Precambrian Shield?

A

It is part of the original North American continent that formed four billion years ago.

The Precambrian Shield was formed in the Precambrian Era.

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4
Q

What percentage of Canada’s land mass does the Precambrian Shield cover?

A

More than half.

It includes most of Ontario and Quebec.

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5
Q

How deep would you typically have to dig in Alberta to reach the basement rock?

A

Several thousand metres below the surface.

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6
Q

What is an outcrop?

A

A rock layer that is normally underground but is exposed above the surface.

Examples include mountain rock faces, canyon walls, river valley cliffs, and coastal cliffs.

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7
Q

What are some examples of outcrops?

A

Examples include:
* Mountain rock faces
* Canyon walls
* River valley cliffs
* Coastal cliffs

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8
Q

What is the Precambrian Era?

A

The first major section of geological time, lasting from the origin of Earth 4.5 billion years ago up to 590 million years ago.

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9
Q

True or False: The Precambrian Shield is part of the original North American continent.

A

True.

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10
Q

What is the Slave Granite?

A

A red belt of granite rock that is among Alberta’s oldest rocks, approximately two billion years old.

The Slave Granite is part of the Precambrian Shield.

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11
Q

What is the Precambrian Shield often called?

A

The Canadian Shield.

It is a significant geological feature of Canada.

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12
Q

How old is the Precambrian Shield?

A

It is part of the original North American continent that formed four billion years ago.

The Precambrian Shield was formed in the Precambrian Era.

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13
Q

What percentage of Canada’s land mass does the Precambrian Shield cover?

A

More than half.

It includes most of Ontario and Quebec.

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14
Q

How deep would you typically have to dig in Alberta to reach the basement rock?

A

Several thousand metres below the surface.

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15
Q

What is an outcrop?

A

A rock layer that is normally underground but is exposed above the surface.

Examples include mountain rock faces, canyon walls, river valley cliffs, and coastal cliffs.

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16
Q

What are some examples of outcrops?

A

Examples include:
* Mountain rock faces
* Canyon walls
* River valley cliffs
* Coastal cliffs

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17
Q

What is the Precambrian Era?

A

The first major section of geological time, lasting from the origin of Earth 4.5 billion years ago up to 590 million years ago.

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18
Q

True or False: The Precambrian Shield is part of the original North American continent.

A

True.

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19
Q

What can be observed in a sample of granite?

A

Large mineral crystals of various shapes, sizes, and colours

These minerals are formed under extreme conditions.

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20
Q

What temperatures are required for certain minerals in granite to form?

A

900°C to 1000°C

These temperatures indicate extreme geological conditions.

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21
Q

How old is the Slave Granite rock mentioned in the text?

A

Two billion years old

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22
Q

What must be considered to understand the formation of granite?

A

The composition of Earth’s interior

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23
Q

What is the approximate depth of the deepest mines and wells compared to Earth’s radius?

A

Deepest mines (about 3 km) and wells (about 13 km) barely scratch the surface

Earth’s radius is over 6000 km.

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24
Q

How is Earth’s internal structure described?

A

Separated into layers arranged according to densities

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25
Q

What happens to the densest materials in Earth’s interior?

A

They sink to the center

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26
Q

Fill in the blank: The Earth’s interior cannot be observed directly because the deepest mines and wells barely scratch the _______.

A

surface

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27
Q

True or False: The Earth’s internal structure is uniform throughout.

A

False

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28
Q

What is the main factor that causes the arrangement of Earth’s internal layers?

A

Density

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29
Q

What can be observed in a sample of granite?

A

Large mineral crystals of various shapes, sizes, and colours

These minerals are formed under extreme conditions.

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30
Q

What temperatures are required for certain minerals in granite to form?

A

900°C to 1000°C

These temperatures indicate extreme geological conditions.

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31
Q

How old is the Slave Granite rock mentioned in the text?

A

Two billion years old

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32
Q

What must be considered to understand the formation of granite?

A

The composition of Earth’s interior

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33
Q

What is the approximate depth of the deepest mines and wells compared to Earth’s radius?

A

Deepest mines (about 3 km) and wells (about 13 km) barely scratch the surface

Earth’s radius is over 6000 km.

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34
Q

How is Earth’s internal structure described?

A

Separated into layers arranged according to densities

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35
Q

What happens to the densest materials in Earth’s interior?

A

They sink to the center

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36
Q

Fill in the blank: The Earth’s interior cannot be observed directly because the deepest mines and wells barely scratch the _______.

A

surface

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37
Q

True or False: The Earth’s internal structure is uniform throughout.

A

False

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38
Q

What is the main factor that causes the arrangement of Earth’s internal layers?

A

Density

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39
Q

What is the innermost layer of Earth called?

A

Core

The core is divided into a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.

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40
Q

What materials primarily make up Earth’s core?

A

Nickel and iron

These materials contribute to the high density of the core.

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41
Q

How can the structure of Earth be analogized to a hard-boiled egg?

A

The core is like the yolk

This analogy illustrates the core’s position as the densest layer of Earth.

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42
Q

What are the two parts of Earth’s core?

A

Solid inner core and liquid outer core

The inner core is solid, while the outer core is liquid.

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43
Q

What induces Earth’s magnetic field?

A

Liquid outer core

The movement of the liquid outer core generates the magnetic field.

44
Q

What is the approximate radius of Earth?

A

6400 km

This measurement is a standard approximation of Earth’s radius.

45
Q

What is the thickness of the lithosphere?

A

125 km

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of Earth.

46
Q

Fill in the blank: The densest material sinks to the _______ while the least dense material floats on the surface.

A

centre

This principle explains the layering of Earth’s materials based on density.

47
Q

True or False: The core of the Earth consists only of a solid inner part.

A

False

The core has both a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.

48
Q

What is the innermost layer of Earth called?

A

Core

The core is divided into a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.

49
Q

What materials primarily make up Earth’s core?

A

Nickel and iron

These materials contribute to the high density of the core.

50
Q

How can the structure of Earth be analogized to a hard-boiled egg?

A

The core is like the yolk

This analogy illustrates the core’s position as the densest layer of Earth.

51
Q

What are the two parts of Earth’s core?

A

Solid inner core and liquid outer core

The inner core is solid, while the outer core is liquid.

52
Q

What induces Earth’s magnetic field?

A

Liquid outer core

The movement of the liquid outer core generates the magnetic field.

53
Q

What is the approximate radius of Earth?

A

6400 km

This measurement is a standard approximation of Earth’s radius.

54
Q

What is the thickness of the lithosphere?

A

125 km

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of Earth.

55
Q

Fill in the blank: The densest material sinks to the _______ while the least dense material floats on the surface.

A

centre

This principle explains the layering of Earth’s materials based on density.

56
Q

True or False: The core of the Earth consists only of a solid inner part.

A

False

The core has both a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.

57
Q

What is the mantle?

A

A solid layer comprising about 80% of Earth’s volume

58
Q

What causes zones of rock within the mantle to behave plastically?

A

Extreme heat and pressure

59
Q

How does the flow of toothpaste relate to the mantle’s behavior?

A

It is analogous to the flow of a plastic material

60
Q

What floats on the upper part of the mantle?

A

Earth’s crust

61
Q

What is the upper part of the mantle called?

A

Asthenosphere

62
Q

What characterizes the asthenosphere?

A

It is the least rigid and most plastic part of the mantle

63
Q

Fill in the blank: The plastic nature of the asthenosphere can be witnessed when _______ from the asthenosphere rises up in the form of volcanoes.

A

magma

64
Q

What is the mesosphere in geology?

A

The part of the mantle beneath the asthenosphere

The mesosphere is more rigid compared to the asthenosphere.

65
Q

What is the lithosphere?

A

Earth’s outermost rigid layer of rock

The lithosphere is often compared to the shell of an egg.

66
Q

What is the difference between the mesosphere and the part of the atmosphere that has the same name?

A

The mesosphere in geology refers to a layer in the Earth’s mantle, while the atmospheric mesosphere is a layer in the atmosphere

It is important not to confuse these two distinct geological and atmospheric layers.

67
Q

Fill in the blank: The lithosphere is like the _______.

A

shell of the egg

68
Q

What characterizes the part of the mantle beneath the asthenosphere?

A

It is more rigid and called the mesosphere

This rigidity differentiates the mesosphere from the more ductile asthenosphere above it.

69
Q

What is the primary method scientists use to study the layers below the lithosphere?

A

Indirect evidence from events like earthquakes.

70
Q

What is one theory regarding the heat energy needed to drive the plastic flow of material in the mantle?

A

Nuclear decay deep within the core provides much of the heat energy.

71
Q

What analogy is used to describe the movement of matter in the mantle?

A

A hot bowl of French onion soup.

72
Q

What is the process called that describes the movement of material in the mantle?

A

Convection.

73
Q

Fill in the blank: The movement of hotter material in the mantle rises towards the crust, then cools and _______.

A

sinks.

74
Q

True or False: Scientists can directly observe the layers below the lithosphere.

A

False.

75
Q

How does convection affect the crust of the mantle?

A

It causes the crust to crack, tear, and move.

76
Q

What drives the plastic flow of material in the mantle?

A

Heat energy from nuclear decay.

77
Q

What is the significance of earthquakes in studying Earth’s structure?

A

They provide indirect evidence for theories about the layers below the lithosphere.

78
Q

What is the process at work in Earth’s mantle that affects the solid crust?

A

Enormous convection cells

These convection cells push and pull on Earth’s solid crust.

79
Q

How does the convection process change the idea of Earth’s structure?

A

Requires a revision to the idea that Earth is like an egg

The lithosphere is compared to the shell of an egg but is not a single rigid cover.

80
Q

What is the lithosphere compared to in the text?

A

The shell of an egg

However, it is described as a mosaic of rigid pieces rather than a single shell.

81
Q

What are crustal plates?

A

Large pieces of continental crust or oceanic crust that float and slowly move atop the asthenosphere

These plates are part of the lithosphere.

82
Q

True or False: The lithosphere is a single rigid layer.

A

False

The lithosphere is described as a mosaic of rigid pieces.

83
Q

Fill in the blank: The lithosphere is more like the cracked shell of an egg, consisting of a mosaic of _______.

A

rigid pieces

These pieces are referred to as crustal plates.

84
Q

What do the crustal plates float on?

A

The asthenosphere

The asthenosphere is the layer beneath the lithosphere.

85
Q

What is the movement speed of lithospheric plates per year?

A

Slowly moves

The exact speed can vary but is generally in centimeters per year.

86
Q

What is paleomagnetism?

A

The study of the magnetic properties of ancient rocks to provide evidence for plate tectonics.

Paleomagnetism helps understand the historical movement of tectonic plates.

87
Q

What process is referred to when crustal plates separate at mid-oceanic ridges?

A

Sea-floor spreading.

This process indicates that the youngest rocks are found closest to the ocean ridges.

88
Q

What happens to the age of rocks as they move away from ocean ridges?

A

The rocks steadily get older.

This has been verified by deep-sea drilling operations.

89
Q

What drives the movement of crustal plates?

A

Convection currents of hot material from within the mantle.

This is a fundamental principle of plate tectonics.

90
Q

True or False: The youngest rocks on oceanic plates are located farthest from the spreading center.

A

False.

The youngest rocks are closest to the spreading center.

91
Q

Fill in the blank: The explanation for the movement of the Earth’s crustal plates is called _______.

A

plate tectonics.

Plate tectonics is a theory that describes the large-scale movements of Earth’s lithosphere.

92
Q

What is the significance of core samples taken from the ocean floor?

A

They show a steady increase in age away from the ocean ridges.

Core samples provide physical evidence supporting the theory of sea-floor spreading.

93
Q

What do sections of the sea floor with rocks having magnetic fields pointing in the opposite direction indicate?

A

The magnetic field of Earth has reversed more than once in the past several million years.

This phenomenon is crucial for understanding Earth’s geological history.

94
Q

What happens at the end of an oceanic crustal plate that is opposite the fracture when two oceanic plates are moving apart?

A

The edge of the oceanic crustal plate is pushed under the neighboring continental crustal plate.

This process is part of subduction, where one plate moves beneath another.

95
Q

What occurs to the oceanic crustal plate as it is forced down into the mantle?

A

The oceanic crustal plate melts.

This melting contributes to volcanic activity and the formation of new crust.

96
Q

What is the significance of the alternating normal and reversed magnetic stripes found on the ocean floor?

A

They are parallel to the oceanic ridges and provide evidence for sea-floor spreading and plate tectonics.

This pattern reflects the history of Earth’s magnetic field changes.

97
Q

How does the pattern of magnetic alignments on one side of an ocean ridge compare to the other side?

A

It is the mirror image of the pattern on the other side.

This symmetry supports the theory of plate tectonics.

98
Q

What does paleomagnetism provide evidence for?

A

Sea-floor spreading and plate tectonics.

Paleomagnetism studies the magnetic properties of rocks to understand historical geological processes.

99
Q

How was the Slave Granite formed?

A

At the collision site of two continental crustal plates about two billion years ago.

This formation process is significant because both plates had equal densities.

100
Q

Why couldn’t one continental plate slide under another during the formation of the Slave Granite?

A

Both plates had equal densities.

This resulted in the plates welding together instead of subducting.

101
Q

What happened to the mountain ranges formed during the collision of the continental plates?

A

They have long since eroded.

The erosion process is a natural outcome of geological activity over time.

102
Q

How old are Alberta’s oldest rocks compared to the age of Earth?

A

Alberta’s oldest rocks are two billion years old, which is about half the age of Earth.

Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.

103
Q

What layers did Earth settle into after surviving violent interplanetary collisions?

A

The core, the mantle, and the crust, depending on their density.

This stratification is crucial for understanding Earth’s structure.

104
Q

What continues to heat the core and mantle of the Earth?

A

Nuclear reactions.

These reactions lead to enormous convection currents within the Earth’s interior.

105
Q

True or False: The Slave Granite is considered one of the oldest rocks in Alberta.

A

True.

It provides insight into the geological history of the region.

1. Science 20 (52 decks)

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