geog 2 start Flashcards
Igneous rock ABBREVIATION
CHC
Igneous rock explanation
CHC - Moleten rock (magma) from mantle COOLS down and HARDENS. Then CRYSTALISES (forms crystals) as it cools.
Igneous rocks are usually ahrd eg granite
METAMORPHIC ROCK ABBREVIATION
OCHP
METAMORPHIC ROCK explanation
OCHP
Metamorphic rocks are formed when OTHER ROCKS (igneous, sedimentary or older metamorphic rocks) are CHANGED by HEAT and PRESSURE. The new rocks become harder and more compact
eg shale becomes slate and with further process slate becomes schist
SEDIMENTARY ABBREVIATION
LSCS
SEDIMENTARY EXPLANATION
LAYERS of SEDIMENT are COMPACTED together until they become SOLID rock/.
WHAT ARE THE 2 MAIN TYPES OF SEDIMENTARY ROCK IN THE UK
Carboniferous limestone and chalk
How are the two main types of sedimentary rocks of the UK (carboniferous limestone and chalk) formed
From tiny shells and skeletons of dead sea creatures.
Limestone is quite hard but chalk is softer.
What are the three main ways tectonic processes have shaped the UK landscpae
Through…
ACTIVE VOLCANOES
PLATE COLLISIONS
PLATE MOVEMENTS - UK POSITION
HOW HAVE ACTIVE VOLCANOES SHAPED THE UK LANDSCAPE
520 MILLION YEARS AGO THE LAND OF UK USED TO BE MUCH CLOSER TO A PLATE BOUNDARY THAN IT IS NOW. ACTIVE VOLCANOES FORCES MAGMA THROUGH THE EARTH’S CRUST WHICH COOLED TO FORM IGNEOUS ROCKS eg granite
HOW HAVE PLATE COLLISIONS SHAPED THE UKS LANDSCAPE
PLATE COLLISION CAUSED THE ROCKS TO BE FOLDED AND UPLIFTED, FORMING MOUNTAIN RANGES. MANY OF THESE AREAS REMAIN AS UPLANDS eg Scottish Highlands, the Lake District and north Wales - the igneous granite is hard and more resistant to erosion.
Also, the intense heat and pressure ccaused by plate collisions formed hard metamorphic rocks in the northern Scotland and northern Ireland.
HOW HAVE PLATE MOVEMENTS SHAPED THE UK LANDSCPAE
PLATE MOVEMENTS MEANT THAT MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO BRITAIN WAS IN THE TROPICS AND HIGHER SEA LEVELS MEANT IT WAS PARTLY UNDERWATER - carboniferous limestone formed in the warm shallow seas. THIS CAN BE SEEN IN THE UPLANDS OF PEAK DISTRICT (northern England) , south Wales and south west England.
Also, the youngest rocks. in the UK are the chalks and clays found in the southern England. THEY FORMED SHALLOW SEAS AND SWAMPS.Chalks and clays are softer rocks that are more easily eroded - they form lowland landscapes.
What very heavily influence the type of landscape that forms.
The characteristics of each rock type influences heavily the type of landscape that formss…most of the uK landscape has also been affected by erosion, deposition and caused by glaciers.
The characteristics of different rock types create different landscapes.
Talk about granite.
GRANITE IS A FORM OF IGNEOUS ROCK.
IT IS VERY RESISTENT AND FORMS UPLAND LANDSCAPES.
IT HAS MANY JOINTS (CRACKS) WHCIH ARE NOT EVENLY SPREAD. THE PART OF THE ROCK WHERE THERE ARE MORE JOINTS WEAR DOWN FASTER. AREAS THAT HAVE FEWER JOINTS ARE WEATHERED MORE SLOWLY THAN THE SURROUNDING ROCK AND STICK OUT AT THE SURFACE FORMING TORS.
GRANITE IS ALSO IMPERMEABLE - IT DOES NOT LET WATER THROUGH. THIS CREATES MOORLANDS - large areas of waterlogged land and acidic soil, with low-growing vegetation.
The characteristics of different rock types create different landscapes.
Talk about slate and schist.
ARE METAMORPHIC ROCKS
SLATE FORMS IN LAYERS CREATING WEAK PLANES IN THE ROCK AND IS USUALLY VERY HARD AND RESISTANT TO WEATHERING BUT IT IS EASILY SPLIT INTO THIN SLABS.
SCHIST HAS BIGGER CRYSTALS THAN SLATE AND ALSO SPLITS EASILY INTO SMALL FLAKES
SLATE AND SCHIST OFTEN FORM RUGGED, UPLAND LANDSCAPES. THEY ARE IMPERMEABLE WHICH CAN LEAD TO WATERLOGGED AND ACIDIC SOILS.