Geology

Question 1

when did the cosmic epoch start?

Answer 1

13.8 Ga

Question 2

when did the geological epoch start?

Answer 2

4.56 Ga

Question 3

what is the name given to the process of building and destroying lithospheric crust?

Answer 3

Plate Tectonics

Question 4

what are the advantages of non-marine waters?

Answer 4

• diverse mineralogy

- salinity, pH and temperature gradients across subsurface brines

Question 5

what are the advantages of Beaches?

Answer 5

• porous sediments with gradients in light, salinity, pH and temperature
• interface between ocean, land and atmosphere

Question 6

what are the Astrobiological implications of geochemistry?

Answer 6

• it is important to focus on geological dynamics of a planet rather than the exact origin of life on the planet
• planets that lack environmental diversity may not have the capacity to develop life, regardless of the chemical composition and inventory
• any rocky planet with active geological and hydro-logical cycles can host life

Question 7

what are the 5 examples of CHONPS in space?

Answer 7

• Meteorites
• Asteroids
• Comets
• Interplanetary Dust Particles
• Pre-solar Grains

Question 8

when did the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) end?

Answer 8

3.85 Ga

Question 9

what was the chemical composition of earth like before the Great oxidation event?

Answer 9

• comprised mainly of volcanic gases

- h2, h20, co2, n2, so2, h2s –> 80% being N2

Question 10

what are the names and years of the epochs of earth?

Answer 10

• Hadean (4.56 - 4 Ga)
• Archean (4 - 2.5 Ga)
• Proterozoic (2.5 - 0.5 Ga)

Question 11

what are the names and years of the epochs of mars?

Answer 11

• Noachian (4.1-3.7 Ga)
• Hesperian (3.7-3 Ga)
• Amzonian (3 Ga - now)

Question 12

describe the Noachian period

Answer 12

• Sub-glacial lakes on mars
• contains brine-soaked sediments
• thick atmosphere
• surface liquid water

Question 13

describe the Hesperian period

Answer 13

• flooding caused by volcanism on the planet
• acidic conditions also due to volcanism
• contained hydrothermal vents
• surface radiation
• atmospheric thinning

Question 14

describe the amazonian period

Answer 14

• the mars we see today

- planet froze and lost its water and volcanism due to loss of magnetic field

Question 15

Name some of the other water worlds

Answer 15

• Europa
• Ganymede
• Calisto
• Enceladus

Question 16

What are the benefits of hydrothermal vents and cyrovolcanic plumes?

Answer 16

• allows for interactions that generate important chemical reactions for life
• allows for CHNOPS transportation

Question 17

What does ISRU stand for?

Answer 17

In situ resource utilisation

- collection, processing, storing and use of materials found on other astronomical bodies

Question 18

Describe terraforming

Answer 18

-terraforming is the process of changing the natural enviroment of a planet.
-this would be changing things like
temperature, ecology and atmospheric composition

Question 19

Give three examples of astronomical objects with basalt

Answer 19

• Earth
• The Moon
• Mars

Question 20

Where are the best places on earth to find meteorites ?

Answer 20

• Deserts

- Antarctic

Question 21

What are chondrites?

Answer 21

• a type of meteorite which has pockets of coloured minerals

- the colours in them due to the flash heating

Question 22

Describe the Earth Similarity Index

Answer 22

A scale of 0 to 1 of how similar a planetary mass or natural satellite is to earth
- accounts for physical quantities such as mass, radius, escape velocity but not geological processes

Question 23

What are the three rock types found on earth?

Answer 23

• Igneous
• sedimentary
• metaphoric (not so important in astrobio as only really found on earth)