Erosion and Rocks Flashcards
what is erosion?
Erosion is the movement of the broken pieces away from the site of weathering.
what is weathering?
The wearing away of rocks by wind, water, plants, chemicals or ice
What are three types of weathering?
Physical: temperature, wind, rain and waves, freeze thaw; Biological: plants; Chemical: acid
What is transport of rocks?
Rivers and streams move pieces of rock. Rocks are deposited first then sand and clay.
What are rocks?
Grains of minerals that fit together
what are the three basic groups of rocks?
Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic
How are igneous rocks formed?
Igneous rocks are formed by cooling magma
What are the two basic types of igneous rocks?
Basalt and granite
How is basalt formed?
Basalt is an extrusive rock formed from by cooled quickly on the surface
Does basalt have small or large crystals? Why?
Basalt has small crystals because it was quickly cooled
How is granite formed?
Granite is an intrusive rock formed by magma being cooled slowly underground
How do sedimentary rocks form?
Sedimentation then compaction then cementation
What is sedimentation?
Deposited rocks, sand etc build up to form sediments
What is compaction?
The weight of each additional sedimentary layer causes compaction
What is cementation?
The pieces of rock stick together through the process of cementation
Name 4 examples of sedimentary rock
chalk, limestone, sandstone, shale
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
Metamorphic rock has been subjected to tremendous heat and / or pressure, which caused it to change into metamorphic rock.
Name 3 metamorphic rocks and their rocks of origin examples of sedimentary rock
limestone to marble clay to slate sandstone to schists
What is the rock cycle?
A description of the way the three types of rocks are formed and recycle
Coal is made of ????
Fossilised plant matter
Why does freezing water crack rocks?
Freezing water expands and cracks rocks
Where is magma found in the Earth?
The Earth’s crust floats on liquid rock (magma)
Which comes first erosion or weathering?
weathering
Which rocks are deposited first in a fast moving stream?
The heaviest rocks
