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GEOG 235 > Plate Tectonics > Flashcards

Plate Tectonics Flashcards

1
Q

Geologic Cycle

A

Geology, topography and climate influence the type, location, and intensity of earth processes.

Materials at or near Earth’s surface have been continuously created and modified by various physical, chemical. and biological processes: these processes constitute the geologic cycle.

The geologic cycle consists of a group of sub-cycles: the tectonic cycle; the rock cycle; the hydrologic cycle; and biogeochemical cycles.

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2
Q

Tectonic Cycle

A

Tectonic activity refers to large-scale earth processes that cause the movement and deformation of Earth’s lithospheric plates.

These processes create landforms and landscapes at a variety of spatial scales (e.g., orogenic mountain ranges and ocean basins to individual faults.)

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3
Q

Endogenic Processes

A

Tectonic process are driven by energy generated deep within Earth: original heat of formation of the planet, heat generated by crystallization of the core, and heat supplied by radioactive decay of elements in the mantle.

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4
Q

Rock Cycle

A

Rocks are aggregates of one or more minerals.

Minerals are naturally occurring crystalline materials with specific chemical compositions and a narrow range of physical properties.

Links to endogenic processes and exogenic processes driven by energy from the sun.

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5
Q

Three Classes of Rock Are

A

Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic

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6
Q

Internal Structure of The Earth

A

Internal structure based upon: chemical composition of rock; physical state - solid vs. liquid; density; and rock strength.

Solid inner core, liquid outer core, and solid mantle.

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7
Q

Inner Consists Of

A

> 1300 km thick

Extremely hot temperatures

primarily metallic; consists mostly of iron (Fe) with minor amounts of nickel (Ni), sulphur (S), and oxygen (O)

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8
Q

Liquid Outer Core Consists Of

A

Over 2000km thick

Composition close to the inner core.

Movement within the outer core generates Earth’s magnetic field.

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9
Q

Solid Mantle

A

~3000km thick

Composed largely of iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) - rich silicate minerals - ferromagnesian minerals.

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10
Q

What is the lithosphere?

A

Cool, strong outermost layer of Earth

Crust + Rigid uppermost portion of mantle

Varies in thickness: few km beneath mid-oceanic ridges

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11
Q

Asthenosphere

A

Lithosphere overlies asthenosphere, a mass of hot, relatively weak rocks (magma) capable of slow movement.

convection operates to move material within the mantle; convection is driven by heat from Earth’s core

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12
Q

Plate Tectonics

A

Lithosphere is broken into larger and smaller pieces call lithospheric plates.

Plates may include a continent and parts of ocean basins, or may be restricted to only ocean basins.

Plates move relative to one another at rates of several cm per year.

Processes involved in the creation, movement, deformation and destruction of plates are collectively known as plate tectonics.

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13
Q

Continental Drift Theory

A

developed by Alfred Wegener in 1912.

Coastline fit - Southern Hemisphere continents

Similarities in Paleozoic geology and palaeontology

Single Continental Landmass - Gondwanaland

Theory lacked a convincing mechanism capable of moving continents

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14
Q

Who discovered the seafloor spreading and subduction?

A

American Harry Hess and Japanese Kiyoo Wadati and American Hugo Benioff in the 1950’s and 1960’s

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15
Q

Mid Oceanic Ridges are associated with what natural disasters?

A

Spatial patterns of earthquakes and volcanism

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16
Q

Oceanic Trenches are associated with what natural disasters?

A

Spatial pattern of earthquakes in Wadati-Benioff zone and Volcanism along continental margins.

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17
Q

Plausible mechanism for continental drift?

A

Seafloor spreading

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18
Q

Geomorphology

A

refers to the study of the morphology of the surface of the Earth and the processes operating on it, in the present, past, and the future

The morphology of the Earth’s surface is created by the constant interaction of endogenic processes, those processes that create topographic relief, and exogenic processes, those processes that reduce topographic relief.

Physical/ Environmental Controls to Earth Processes to Landforms to Landscapes.

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19
Q

Geomorphology seeks to

A

understand the sequence of landscape development

understand the dynamics of physical, chemical, and biological processes that create landforms

predict the nature of future change based on field observations, physical experiments, and numerical modelling

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20
Q

Structure

A

Bedrock structure influences physiography

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21
Q

Tectonic Geomorphology

A

Structural geology, geophysics, geodesy

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22
Q

History

A

Sequence of landscape development

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23
Q

Historical Geomorphology

A

Stratigraphy, palaeontology, archaeology, pedology.

24
Q

Processes

A

Endogenic vs. Endogenic processes that affect landforms (driving forces)

25
Q

Process Geomorphology

A

Geography, Sedimentology, Engineering

26
Q

Earth Materials

A

Strength and resistance of rocks and sediments (resisting forces) - geology engineering

27
Q

Tension

A

Lithospheric plates are pulled apart - divergent plate boundaries.

28
Q

Compression

A

lithospheric plates are pushed together - convergent plate boundaries

29
Q

Lateral Movement

A

Lithospheric plates move horizontally past each other - transform plate boundaries

30
Q

Landscapes of Tension

A

Landscapes marked by tension, crustal extension, and the failure of brittle rock units are dominated by normal faulting.

These processes occur at mid-oceanic ridges (spreading centres) and contribute to seafloor spreading.

31
Q

Normal Fault

A

Rocks fail along a steeply inclined surface, typically sloping at the angle of between 45 degrees and 70 degrees.

32
Q

Rift Valley

A

When two normal faults sloping in opposite directions create a rift valley that flanks a structural depression termed a graben.

33
Q

How do mid-oceanic ridges form?

A

Where magma from the mantle rises and is erupted as pillow lavas forming broad ridges with a central rift valley where plates break apart and move apart.

34
Q

New formed oceanic lithosphere composed of?

A

Basalt and Gabbro, moves away from the ridge crest.

35
Q

Convergent Plate Boundaries (3 types)

A

Oceanic - Continent Collision

Oceanic - Oceanic Collision

Continent - Continental collision

36
Q

What are the results of compression?

A

shortening of the lithosphere, a combination of folding and faulting, resulting in an increase in elevation and thickening of the lithosphere – creates orogenic mountain chains

37
Q

What does compression do offshore?

A

offshore, subduction of oceanic lithosphere creates deep, narrow depression in the seafloor – an oceanic trench

38
Q

Cuesta

A

ridge composed of sedimentary bedrock, where one side dips at a gentle angle and the opposite side forms a steep escarpment.

39
Q

Features in landscapes marked by compression include:

A

Rock units include folding and reverse (thrust) faulting

40
Q

Folded terrains are caused by

A

alternating of down-warped synclines and up-warped anticlines - often leading to the development of ridges (anticlines) and valleys (synclines)

41
Q

Cuesta

A

Ridge composed of sedimentary bedrock, where on slide dips at gentle angle and the opposite side forms a steep escarpment

42
Q

Reverse Faults

A

Move rocks on the upper side of the fault (called the hanging wall) up and over those on the underside of the fault (the footwall)

43
Q

Thrust Faults

A

most common class of reverse faults, involving movement over gently inclined surfaces.

thrust-faulting is characteristic of compressive terrain associated with subduction zones.

44
Q

How are rock units split?

A

Horizontally by transform (or strike-slip) faults and displaced laterally.

A clean break results in no difference between the two blocks.

More commonly, the moving blocks are forced into contact, fracturing rock faces and grinding the contact surface under high pressure.

45
Q

Transform Faults

A

are most common on the ocean, but some occur on continents; e.g., San Andreas Fault in California, Queen Charlotte Fault west of Haida Gwaii

46
Q

Canadian Shield

A

Created between 1.96 and 1.81 billion years ago through the collision and welding together of at least six ancient microcontinents.

Divided in structural provinces consisting largely of Archean granite (igneous) and gneiss (metamorphic) rocks, welded together by orogenic mountain belts consisting largely of Late Proterozoic volcanic and metamorphosed sedimentary rocks.

Landform comprising the exposed part of the North American craton.

47
Q

Craton

A

Refers to old continental crust preserved deep within the centers of continents.

48
Q

North American-craton

A

Large continent-sized block of Archean and Proterozoic rock stretching from Mexico to USA, Canada, and Greenland

49
Q

Canadian Shield

Physiographic Region Characterized by:

A

Rolling topography (local relief between 60-90 metres)

Product of weathering and erosion over long periods of geological time. (i.e., 100’s million years)

Present topography influenced by Pleistocene glacial erosion; a lake-studded landscape.

50
Q

Appalachian Mountains

A

Rock range in age from the Precambrian to the Mesozoic

mountain building was associated with the opening and closing of the Iapetus Ocean

51
Q

Appalachian Mountains

Closure of the Iapetus Ocean was associated with…

A

Subduction of oceanic lithosphere and extensive volcanism; an ocean-continent collision

52
Q

Appalachian Mountains

Closure was terminated by

A

A Continent to continent collision accompanied by folding, thrusting, and metamorphism of sedimentary rocks along the continental margin.

53
Q

Appalachian Mountains
In the early Mesozoic _______ along the eastern border of this mountain system was associated with the creation of the Atlantic Ocean Basin

A

Continental Rifting

54
Q

Canadian Cordillera

A

this region includes the mountains of British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, and Northwest Territories

these mountain ranges have resulted from plate collision and crustal shortening

the eruption of basaltic lavas, the construction of composite volcanoes, the intrusion of granite batholiths, and the folding and overthrusting of continental lithosphere have accompanied ocean-continent collision during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic

55
Q

Innuitian Mountains

A

this region of Canada experienced rapid deposition of sedimentary rocks and continuous subsidence throughout the early Paleozoic (Cambrian-Devonian)

orogeny in the Late Paleozoic (Devonian-Carboniferous) involved the eruption of basaltic lava and the folding and faulting of the overlying sedimentary rocks

further uplift of the region was associated with the emplacement of granite batholiths (epeirogeny)

subsequent weathering and erosion (Carboniferous-Cretaceous) heralded the return to rapid sedimentation and subsidence

orogeny in the Early Paleogene involved the uplift, folding and faulting of the sedimentary rocks and the intrusion of igneous dykes.

56
Q

Plate Tectonics and Hazards

A

earthquakes and volcanic eruptions threaten human populations living near lithospheric plate boundaries

tsunamis are generated by subduction-zone earthquakes

landslides and snow avalanches occur most commonly in mountains produced by lithospheric plate collisions

GEOG 235 (8 decks)

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