Chapter 1 - General Geology Flashcards
The science of the earth
Geology
The application of the geological sciences to engineering study for the purpose of assuring that the geological factors regarding the location, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of engineering works are recognized and accounted for.
Engineering Geology
- All engineering works are built in or on the ground;
- The ground will always, in some manner, react to the construction of the engineering work; and
- The reaction of the ground (its “engineering behavior”) to the particular engineering work must be accommodated by that work.
Philosophy of Engineering Geology
different physical features of the earth
Phyiscal Geology
study of rocks
Petrology
study of minerals
Mineralogy
formation and classification of geological structures
Structural Geology
study of earth’s history through sedimentary rocks
Historical Geology
study of remnants of ancient life (fossils)
Paleontology
Economic mineral’s formation, properties etc.
Economic Geology
Allied Branches of Geology
Engineering Geology
Mining Geology
Geophysics
Geohydrology
Geochemistry
Distance of Earth to the Sun
150 Million kilometres
The largest of several rocky planets in our Solar System.
Earth
Pole-to-pole distance of the earth
12, 714 km
Distance along equator
12, 756 km
The birth of the Sun grew by the collapse of a slowly rotating interstellar cloud of gas (mostly hydrogen) and dust. This cloud is referred to as the ______.
Solar Nebula
Layers of the Earth
Crust
Mantle
Core
The process that changes solid rock into sediments. The rock is disintegrated into smaller pieces.
Weathering
The process that moves the sediments away from their original position. These are caused by water, wind, glaciers, and gravity.
Erosion
While plate tectonics forces work to build huge mountains and other landscapes, the forces of weathering and mass wasting gradually wear those rocks and landscapes away.
Denudation
Also called physical weathering, breaks the rock into smaller pieces. The rock has changed physically without changing its composition. The smaller pieces have the same minerals, in just the same proportions as the original rock
Mechanical Weathering
Also called freeze-thaw weathering, is the main form of mechanical weathering in any climate that regularly cycles above and below the freezing point
Ice Wedging
Another form of mechanical weathering. In this, one rock bumps against another rock.
Abrasion
Different from mechanical weathering because the rock changes, not just in the size of pieces, but in composition. This works through chemical reactions that cause changes in the minerals.
Chemical Weathering
The most important agent of chemical weathering. Two other important agents of chemical weathering are carbon dioxide and oxygen.
Water
The name of the chemical reaction between a chemical compound and water. When this reaction takes place, water dissolves ions from the mineral and carries them away. These elements have undergone leaching.
Hydrolysis
These are weak acids that form when Carbon dioxide (CO2) combines with water as raindrops fall through the atmosphere.
Carbonic Acid
A chemical reaction that takes place when oxygen reacts with another element.
Oxidation