Geology Midterm Flashcards
Dominant organism of Precambrian
Stromatolites
Dominant Organism of Paleozoic
Trilobites
Dominant Organism of Mesozoic
Dinosaurs
Dominant Organism of Cenozoic
Humans
The Great Dying
Ended Paleozic Era; Siberan Straights erupted
Ending of Mesozoic Era
A Meteor hit earth
Evidence of Ending of Mesozoic Era
iridium in K/T rocks; Shock Quartz; Crater
Era
Due to mass extinction
Period
Due to New dominant species
Epoche
Due to new dominant mammal
Rockslide
Fast; Sedimentary; Rock Slides down bedding plane
Lahar
Fast; Volcanic ash mixed with water; Grey
Mudflow
Fast; Clay mixed with water; Usually in spring due to snow melt; Very fluid
Slump
Slow; Saturation of water causes soil below surface layer to drop downhill; Surface stays intact
Creep
Slow; Slow movement of soil; Due to freeze/thawing; Causes tiliting of objects
Solification
Slow; Top layer melts (in spring), moves slowly over permafrost; In Arctic climates
Main cause of mass movements
Moisture
Factores that affect mass movements (most important first)
- Amount of moisture, adds weight + makes slippery; 2. Angle of Slope; 3. Lack of vegetation; 4. Rock Type, sedimentary are more likely to slide; 5. Roundness (More round= faster)
How to prevent mass movements
Fence/ walls (temperary fix); Leaving enough space; Plant vegetation; Provide good drainage (best way) (Most expensive)
Angle of Repose
Max angle sediments can retain; Larger particle = large angle of repose
Mechanical Weathering
Accomplished by physical forces that break down into smaller + smaller pieces without changing a rock’s mineral composition; Ex: Frost wedging, biological activity, unloading
Chemical Weathering
A chemical transformation of rock into one or more new compounds
Hydrolysis
Chemical Weathering; Rock reacts with acid + water to form clays
Dissolution
Chemical Weathering; Carbonate (rock) and acid rain create calcium carbonate solutions; Sink holes and caves
Oxidation
Chemical Weathering; Rock with O2 or goundwater with Fe is a powerful agent that makes rock red
Weathering of granite
Hydrolysis
Weathering of Basalt
Oxidation
Weathering of Sandstone
Granual disintegration
Weathering of Limestone
Dissolution
Shale weathering
Hydolysis
Tropical weathering
Strong Chemical
Polar + Desert Weathering
Weak chemical + weak physical
Mid-latitude (Michigan)
Strong chemical + strong mechanical
How do caves form?
From dissolution
Usefulness of gravel
drains fast
Usefulness of sand
drains fast
Usefulness of loam
Best for plants; Lots of organics
Usefulness of silt
Poor aeration; Compacts easily
Useflness of clay
absorbs water; Doesn’t let water pass through
How foliation forms
From pressure due to plate collisions
Pressure on Metamorphic rocks
Foliation
Increased heat on Metamorphic rocks
Larger crystals
Hydrothermal solution (chem. Fluids) on Metamorphic rocks
Chemical change
Contact metamorphism
Change due to heat; Small scale; Heat has to come in contact to change rock
Karat
Gold; K/24K x100= % K
Caret
Diamon; 1 c = 1/5 grams
Color of diamond
on D-Z scale; D= best color; Z+ = fancy/rare colored diamonds
Clarity
Loop clan; Eye clean; Slightly included
Loop clean
no imperfections when seen with loupe
Eye clean
No imperfections when seen with naked eye
Slightly included/included
Can see imperfections with eyes
Cut
One of the the 4 c’s human can control; Faceting and cabochoning
Cabochoning
for obq gems
Faceting
For TPT and TLT gems
Round Brilliance
designed to show off diamond
4 C’s
Cut, clarity, color, caret
Intrusive
Igneous rocks that form at depth
Extrusive
molten rock that solidifes at the surface