Earth and Life Science Lesson 1

Question 1

What are plutonic or intrusive rocks?

Answer 1

Rocks formed from solidified magma underneath the earth

They cool slowly, resulting in a phaneritic texture.

Question 2

What is phaneritic texture?

Answer 2

Coarse-grained texture of igneous rocks

Examples include granite, diorite, and gabbro.

Question 3

What are volcanic or extrusive rocks?

Answer 3

Rocks formed from solidified lava at or near the Earth’s surface

They cool rapidly, leading to fine-grained textures.

Question 4

What are common textures of volcanic rocks?

Answer 4

Aphanitic, porphyritic, and vesicular

Pyroclastic rocks are also included, often linked to explosive eruptions.

Question 5

What are sedimentary rocks?

Answer 5

Rocks formed through the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of sediments

They typically form under surface or near-surface conditions.

Question 6

What processes lead to the formation of sedimentary rocks?

Answer 6

Weathering, sediment transport, deposition, compaction, and cementation

Weathering involves the breakdown of rocks, while transport moves sediments.

Question 7

Define strata in sedimentary rocks.

Answer 7

Layers of sedimentary rocks; >1cm is bedding, <1cm is lamination

Each layer represents a distinct period of deposition.

Question 8

What are non-clastic sedimentary rocks?

Answer 8

Rocks derived from sediments that precipitated from concentrated solutions or organic material

They are classified based on their chemical composition.

Question 9

What are clastic sedimentary rocks?

Answer 9

Rocks formed from the lithification of sediments from the breakdown of pre-existing rocks

Terrigenous is a type of clastic rock.

Question 10

What are metamorphic rocks?

Answer 10

Rocks formed from the transformation of pre-existing rocks through metamorphism

Changes occur due to heat, pressure, and chemically active fluids.

Question 11

What is non-foliated metamorphic rock?

Answer 11

Metamorphic rock that forms under contact metamorphism

Example: hornfels, formed near intruding magma.

Question 12

What is foliated metamorphic rock?

Answer 12

Metamorphic rock formed under regional metamorphism

Examples include schist and gneiss, formed under high pressure.

Question 13

What is the rock cycle?

Answer 13

Illustrates how geologic processes can change a rock from one type to another

Involves processes occurring both at the surface and beneath the Earth’s surface.

Question 14

What are exogenic processes?

Answer 14

Processes occurring on Earth’s surface due to exogenic forces

Includes weathering, erosion, deposition, and mass wasting.

Question 15

What is denudation?

Answer 15

General term for processes that strip off or uncover materials from Earth’s surface

Includes disintegration and decomposition of rocks.

Question 16

What is physical weathering?

Answer 16

Mechanical process that disintegrates rocks into smaller pieces

It does not change the chemical composition of the rocks.

Question 17

What is chemical weathering?

Answer 17

Process that decomposes rocks through chemical reactions

It alters the original rock-forming minerals.

Question 18

What is erosion?

Answer 18

The process of incorporating and transporting material by agents like water, wind, or ice

It begins once weathering products start to move.

Question 19

What are the causes of soil erosion?

Answer 19

Kaingin method, logging, infrastructure projects, mining

These activities disturb the soil and contribute to erosion.

Question 20

What is mass wasting?

Answer 20

The downslope movement of soil, rock, and regolith under gravity

Factors include water content and slope angle.

Question 21

What is deposition?

Answer 21

The process where materials carried by erosion settle down

It is the end result of erosion when agents lose energy.

Question 22

Fill in the blank: The building blocks of rock are called _______.

Answer 22

Minerals

Question 23

Fill in the blank: A type of rock that results from the cooling of magma is _______.

Answer 23

Igneous rock

Question 24

True or False: The rock cycle only involves processes occurring at the Earth’s surface.

Answer 24

False

Question 25

Fill in the blank: Minerals are formed during the _________.

Answer 25

Crystalization of Magma

Question 26

What is the most important factors that control the crystal size and the texture of rock in general?

Answer 26

Cooling rate

Question 27

What are the four different types of exogenic processes?

Answer 27

* Weathering * Erosion * Deposition * Mass wasting ## Footnote Exogenic processes are those that occur on the Earth's surface and are primarily influenced by external forces such as weather and climate.

Question 28

What does weathering refer to?

Answer 28

Changes occurring at or near the surface of Earth, including the disintegration and decomposition of rocks. ## Footnote Weathering is a critical process in the rock cycle and influences soil formation and landscape evolution.

Question 29

What is disintegration in the context of weathering?

Answer 29

A mechanical process that breaks large masses of rocks into small fragments. ## Footnote Disintegration does not alter the chemical composition of the rocks.

Question 30

What is the Kaingin Method?

Answer 30

A practice where trees are cut and burned, leading to soil loss of fertility. ## Footnote The Kaingin Method is often used for agricultural purposes but has detrimental effects on soil health.

Question 31

How does logging affect soil?

Answer 31

Illegal logging disturbs the soil. ## Footnote Logging can lead to increased erosion and loss of soil nutrients.

Question 32

Fill in the blank: The practice of cutting and burning trees is known as _______.

Answer 32

[Kaingin Method]

Question 33

True or False: The Kaingin Method improves soil fertility.

Answer 33

False ## Footnote The Kaingin Method actually results in a loss of soil fertility.

Question 34

What is the definition of erosion?

Answer 34

The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water.

Question 35

Name one cause of erosion.

Answer 35

Infrastructure projects such as dams, roads, bridges, irrigation and drainage basins, resorts, and hydroelectric plants.

Question 36

How does mining contribute to erosion?

Answer 36

Mining companies loosen and dig rocks, exposing them to further erosion.

Question 37

True or False: Burning grasslands can lead to erosion.

Answer 37

True.

Question 38

Fill in the blank: _______ can destroy plants and leave the soil bare, leading to erosion.

Answer 38

Burning grasslands

Question 39

What does erosion by wind carry?

Answer 39

Dust, sand, and volcanic ash ## Footnote Wind can transport these materials from one place to another, contributing to landscape changes.

Question 40

What can wind create in terms of landforms?

Answer 40

Towering dunes ## Footnote Wind can accumulate sand to form large dune structures.

Question 41

What are the effects of erosion by water on coastlines?

Answer 41

Changes shapes of coastlines ## Footnote Water can erode rocks and take sand from beaches, altering the coastal landscape.

Question 42

How does erosion by water affect beaches?

Answer 42

Moves coastline farther inland ## Footnote Water can wash away sand from beaches, leading to shifts in coastal boundaries.

Question 43

What is the primary agent of erosion in frigid climates?

Answer 43

Ice ## Footnote Ice can erode land as glaciers move downhill and across the landscape.

Question 44

What do glaciers pick up as they move?

Answer 44

Tiny grains of sand to huge boulders ## Footnote Glaciers can transport a wide range of materials, reshaping the terrain.