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Material c Flashcards

1
Q

The surface of the earth is the interface between:

A

land air and sea

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2
Q

three major components of the earth

A

Crust, Mantle, Core

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3
Q

Lithosphere (3)

A

-crust and uppermost solid mantle
- 0 to 100km
- surface of the earth divided into a series of rigid plates which move

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4
Q

Crust (4)

A
  • formed between 3.9 and 4.5 x 10^9 years ago
  • Represents <1% of the earth’s total mass
  • the thickness varies between 5 - 35 km thick depending on region (continent or ocean)
  • crust is continually being built and eroded
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5
Q

endogenic

A

land forming process with origin underground

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6
Q

exogenic

A

weathering and erosion surface process

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7
Q

Asthenosphere (3)

A

-soft region of upper mantle, below lithosphere
-100 to 300 km
- soft and deforms

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8
Q

Plate boundaries (3)

A
  • transform boundary
  • divergent boundary
  • convergent boundary
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9
Q

Transform boundary

A

two plates moving side to side (one past the other), without colliding or moving apart

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10
Q

divergent boundary (2)

A
  • plates moving apart without colliding
  • occur in mid ocean, leading to new crustal material from below.
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11
Q

Convergent boundary (7)

A

-when two plates move toward each other
Two types:
- If one plate in continental and the other is oceanic:
- subduction occurs, eg oceanic plate moves below continental plate
- this cause melting of subduction plate.
- results in mountains, volcanoes, as less dense molten material rises.

  • If both plates are continental:
    -plate thickening occurs with no significant subduction, eg; himalayas.
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12
Q

Crust composition, rocks (5)

A
  • nonliving material that forms the crust (eg. sand and clay)
  • most rocks are composed of minerals
  • over 2000 minerals exist, there are 10 major mineral groups that the minerals belong to.
  • minerals are called silicates, if they contain oxygen and silicon
  • minerals are called alumiosilicates, if structure contains oxygen, silicon and alumium
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13
Q

crust composition, major rock-forming minerals average abundance (4)

A

-limestone: 92.8% carbonates.
-sandstone: 69.8% quartz.
-basalt: 46.2% feldspars and 36.9% pyroxenes.
-granite: 52.3% feldspars 31.3% quartz

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14
Q

major chemical elements of earth’s crust (8)

A
  • oxygen 47% (most abundant)
  • silicon 28%
  • aluminium 8%
  • iron 5%
  • calcium 4%
  • potassium 3%
  • sodium 3%
  • magnesium 2%
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15
Q

rock types

A
  • igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
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16
Q

Igneous rocks (5)

A

-formed by the cooling (solidification) of molten rock (magma).
- extrusive: (volcanic) rocks formed from molten rock (lava), at earth’s surface.
- fast cooling, little crystal formation, and forms fine grained rocks. eg basalt.
- Intrusive: (plutonic) rocks formed from molten rock (magma) beneath earth’s surface.
- slow cooling, large crystal formation, and forms course grained rocks. eg granite.

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17
Q

Sedimentary rocks (5)

A

-formed as the result of moderate pressure on accumulated sediments.
-sediments result from:
-weathering and erosion (lead to clastic rocks)
-dissolved materials precipitation (lead to non-clastic rocks) eg gypsum, limestone (evaporite group)
-biological activity (lead to non-clastic rocks) eg peat and coal.

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18
Q

Metamorphic rocks (6)

A
  • formed by exposing parent rocks (sedimentary and igneous) to extreme heat, pressure, and/or permeating hot gasses or liquids (processes occur deep below earth’s surface).
    • Extreme heat “thermal metamorphism”: results in rocks with new minerals, as temp. causes parent rock to melt and re-crystallize.
    • Pressure and heat: will favor formation of denser minerals over less denser ones in rocks
      - same mineralogical composition
    • Permeating hot gases or liquids “metasomatic metamorphism”: changes rock’s mineralogical composition.
      - as gasses or liquids act as export/transport for minerals.
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19
Q

categorizing metamorphism (3)

A
  • contact metamorphism
  • regional metamorphism
  • dislocated metamorphism
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20
Q

contact metamorphism (3)

A
  • occurs as a result of magma intrusion
  • occurs over small areas
  • leads to marble for example
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21
Q

Regional metamorphism (3)

A
  • occurs over large areas (of mobile belts)
  • leads to rocks eg; gneiss and schist
  • occurs with large geological processes such as mountain building.
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22
Q

Dislocated metamorphism (3)

A
  • occurs in vicinity of earth movements.
  • involved with large geologic process, such as mountain building, but dominated by pressure.
  • referred to as dynamic, clastic and mechanical metamorphism.
23
Q

rock cycle (9)

A

(1) Magma flow from the mantle to earth’s surface (lead to volcanic eruptions and extrusive igneous rocks) (2) or to intrusive igneous rocks (3) which are either brought up to surface by uplift and erosion, (4) or go through burial, heating and deformation to become metamorphic rocks. (5) weathering and erosion by volcanic eruptions moves material to sea and by transport and deposition enter the crust leading to sedimentary rocks, (6) which can be brought up to the surface by uplift and erosion (7) or undergo a process of burial, heating and deformation leading to metamorphic rocks (8) which are either brought to surface through uplift and erosion or (9) join magma flow from mantle through fusion at depth.

24
Q

rock weathering

A

can be physical, chemical or biological.

25
Physical weathering (2)
- also mechanical weathering - does not change chemical composition of rocks just breaks them apart.
26
Chemical weathering (7)
- changes chemical composition of rocks - water plays important role in process, as a solvent, transport medium, catalyst. - important chemical reactions; - oxidation: 10 H2O + O2 + 2 FeSiO4 ---> 2H4SiO4 + 4 Fe + H2CO3. - Hydrolysis: CaCO3 + 2H2O ----> Ca(OH)2 + H2CO3 - Acid Hydrolysis: CaCO3 + H2CO3 ----> Ca (2+) + 2HCO3 (-) - Dissolution: sodium chloride.
27
Biological weathering (4)
- Occurs as a result of biological activity - Microorganisms, plant roots. - It may result in breaking of the rocks, and changes in chemical composition. - 2FeS2 + 2H2O + 7O2 ---> 2FeSO4 + 2H2SO4
28
Soil (3)
-sandwiched between crust and atmosphere -supports plant life -developed biological chemical and physical processes.
29
Succession (2)
-primary; change occurs on bare land -secondary; environment has soil
30
Soil components (5)
- Inorganic matter (minerals) - Soil water - Microorganisms - Organic matter - Soil atmosphere
31
Atmospheric AIR (4)
consists of - N2: 78% - O2: 21% - Ar:1% - CO2: 0.03%
32
Soil atmosphere (6)
- air within the soil. - it is in continuous exchange with atmospheric air. - respiratory activity of organisms and slow exchange process with atmosphere ensures a different composition. - EG; lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels - lead to anaerobic conditions. - Leads to increase in reduced forms of N, iron, manganese, and sulfur. - Allows accumulation of volatile organic species, eg; methane, volatile fatty acid.
33
Soil water (3)
-The water lost from a soil sample that is held at 105C for at least 24hrs - water bound to soil minerals and not lost under those conditions is not soil water. - groundwater is different as it exists below the water table.
34
soil solutions (2)
-soil water + dissolved salts - there is a relationship between the % water present / water capacity and soil texture.
35
soil organic matter (2)
- consists of partially decayed plant / animal remains and materials made by micro-organisms. - Major source of sulfur and phosphorus.
36
Humus (5)
Organic matter, but is the part resistant to microbial decay. - has a very complex structure - determines the fertility of the soil - high nutrient and water holding capacity - it acts as an adhesive and holds particles together into a formation called peds.
37
Regolith (3)
unconsolidated material that covers rock surfaces. - it leads to the inorganic fraction of the soil. - formed by chemical/ physical weathering, or transported by wind, water, or ice.
38
Any soil will contain..
inorganic fraction with different particle size. the particles are arranged into different groups based on their sizes.
39
coarse- textured soils
large particles, low nutrient and moisture holding capacity.
40
medium- textured soils
mixture of different particle sizes, share both properties above and below.
41
fine - textured soils (2)
high moisture and nutrient holding capacity. - as it goes down from coarse to fine the conditions for plant growth become more ideal
42
size groups for particles
- clay -> silt -> sand -> gravel.
43
soil structure (2)
-refers to arrangement of voids, soil particles, and aggregates of these particles. - the greater the degree and stability of aggregation, the more developed the structure.
44
Soil structural units (6)
- massive: no aggregated material. - single grain - peds: robust aggregates - fragments - clods: lumps of soil - concretions: groups of soil particles permanently cemented together.
45
Soil profile (3)
- vertical section through the soil. - soil profile consists of horizontal bands (horizon). - horizons differ in color, texture, structure, hardness.
46
Major factors of soil formation (5)
controlled by environmental factors: - parent material - climate - Vegetation - Relief topography
47
Hydrosphere (3)
- 70% earth's surface covered by water (oceans) -- represents 97% earth's water - 3% freshwater
48
Hydrologic Cycle (6)
- all water locked in constant recycling process. - solar energy evaporates water --- Evapotranspiration: process of plants and soil giving off water. - Transpiration + evaporation. - warm moist air rises, cools, condenses and falls as precipitation. - some pptn remains on surface and evaporates while most sinks into soil / returns to oceans.
49
Water properties (5)
- water plays important role in climate regulation, nutrient cycles... - due to water properties is has the roles: ---High B.P / M.P; allows it to exist in all states at different environmental conditions. ---- Less dense as solid than liquid (opposite to all other substances) ----- excellent solvent
50
Rain water (5)
- has lowest TDS - significant dissolved soils include Na & Cl - contains both dust particles and dissolved gases. - Unpolluted rainwater pH is 5.61 -Caused by dissolved atmospheric CO2
51
Henry's law
52
River water (11)
- derived from rain water ---directly --- as runoff ---- infiltrating from surrounding rocks. - As rainwater hits the ground before going into river, its composition changes. ---TDS increases, concentrations of other constituents also increase. ---- As a result, river water tends to be more concentrated than rain water. - controlled significantly by surrounding environment (rocks) ---- if surrounding rocks are actively weathered -> river under " rock dominance" ---- if surrounding rocks contain little material that leeches -> river under "Precipitation dominance" - Rate of evaporation >>> rate of precipitation -> rock under "evaporation precipitation"
53
Lake water (7)
- derived from rain water - river water greatly influences TDS in lake water. - calm unlike river water - therefore, behavior / content of lake water is influenced by density. ---> Density of water is MAX at 4C ----> causes lake stratification/ layering, due to differences in temperature with depth (affects density of water). ----> lake stratification occurs in areas characterized with seasonal changes.
54
Sea water (10)
-contains dissolved and suspended solids --[TDS] = 33-37 g/L based on climate, location, and season. --DS mainly chloride and sodium ions. -- receives DS and particulate matter from rivers, rain, volcanoes, ice, underground water flow. - DS may be dissolved from from sea water by: ---> evaporation ---> carbonate formation ---> silica formation ----> clay interaction (ion exchange) ---> reverse weathering.

env 201 (3 decks)

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