Geology & Landform Flashcards
Explain Plate Tectonics.
The main idea of Plate Tectonics is that there are 8 major plates, and many minor plates. Every year, they move apart a few centimetres. Also, an earthquake is the result of plates crashing into each other.
What is Continental Drift and what are the 4 pieces of evidence?
Continental Drift is Alfred Wegener’s theory that the earth has split off into continents. It was once a super continent.
EVIDENCE
1- South America fits into Africa if put at the right position.
2- Fossils found of the same species on both continents.
3- There’s mountains similar in age and structure on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean: Appalachians (East U.S. & Canada), & Caledonian Mountains (North British Isles & Europe).
4- Ice sheets covered parts of Southern Africa, India, Australia, & South America about 250 myo.
What are the layers of the earth? [In order and composition (what it’s made of)]
Atmosphere - Air Hydrosphere - Water Crust - Solid Mantle - Magma, Plastic like liquid Outer core - liquid, flows like water Inner core - solid, nickel, iron
Plate boundaries and earthquakes/volcanoes the ring of fire
Plate Boundaries are the invisible line that separates the plates from each other.
Earthquakes occur when the plates collide. Volcanoes are created when the plates collide. The Ring of Fire is a formation of volcanoes around the edges of the Pacific Ocean.
Types of plate boundaries and examples.
Divergent- a linear feature between two plates that are moving away from eachother.
Convergent- when two or more plates move towards each other.
Transform Margins- when plates slide past each other. Earthquakes occur if extreme pressure is released.
Mountain Building- when 2 plates collide and push up the land.
Subduction Zone- when an ocean plate slides underneath continental plate and melts into the mantle.
Mountain Building Forces
Folding- pressure causes rocks to bend or fold into mountain ridges (anticline) and valleys (syncline).
Faulting- when pressure causes rocks to crack and break to form steep escarpments. The fault line erodes and forms a block mountain.
Volcanoes- erupting lava and ash build up the sides of a volacano. Eventually, numerous layers from a mountain.
Forces of Erosion
Wind, water, ice, plants
Geologic Eras
Precambrian Era
•________________•
About 4.5 billion years ago
No life forms
Created earth
Paleozoic Era
541 to 252 million years ago
Life forms began: fish, arthropods, reptiles, and amphibians
Collision of Pangea creates Appalachian mountains
Mesozoic Era 600-250 myo Dinosaurs Canadian Shield wears down
Cenezoic Era 250 myo - present Oil & gas forms where ancient swamps were Mammals extinct; smaller animals live on
3 types of rocks and the rock cycle
Sedimentary
Igneous
Metamorphic
Magma
Describe the appearance of Canada in each era
Precambrian Era
• tall, 12000m Canadian Shield
Paleozoic Era
• Canadian Shield worn down, ancient swamps, Appalachian mountains
Mesozoic Era
• Appalachians worn down, Canadian Shield worn down, ancient swamps lifted up, dinosaurs
Cenezoic Era
• Canadian Shield = storehouse of metallic minerals, oil & gas forms where swamps were, western cordillera forms, Appalachian mounts worn down, Great Lakes/ St. Lawrence Low Land, Prairies Bread Basket
Landform regions. Describe the regions, age, structure, appearance, and economic activity.
Highlands
Regions- Yukon, Nunavut, P.e.i, Nf&L, NB, NS.
Age- 570-66 myo
Structure-
Appearance- sharp pointed mountains
Economic Activity- Farming, Mining, Hunting
Lowlands Regions- Northwest, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nunavut. Age- 600myo- 10000 yrs ago Structure- Appearance- flat, small hills Economic Activity- Mining, Fishing, Farming
Canadian Shield Regions- Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, NW, Saskatchewan, NF&L Age- 1500-570myo Structure- Appearance- rocky, many lakes, relatively flat. Economic Activity- Hydropower, Mining, Tourism, Forestry.
