Quiz 3 Flash Cards

Question 1

Plates “converge”; come together. If the two plates are of equal density, they will push up against each other. If not, they will sink.

Answer 1

Convergent plate boundary

Question 2

Atoms arranged in regular, repeating structures.

Answer 2

Crystalline

Question 3

Less dense, plastic (can change shape/flow under stress), plastic part contains small % of molten rock.

Answer 3

Upper mantle

Question 3

Fine-grained, breaks along parallel lines, completely altered from preexisting rocks.

Answer 3

Schist

Question 4

A segment of the lithosphere; the fractured surface.

Answer 4

Lithospheric plates

Question 5

These plates move in response to the plastic flow in the hot asthenosphere.

Answer 5

Lithospheric/tectonic plates

Question 6

Contact plane between Earth’s crust and the mantle below it; density discontinuity.

Answer 6

Moho

Question 7

Composed primarily of minerals, though can also contain other materials such as coal or volcanic glass.

Answer 7

Rocks

Question 8

[Type of igneous rock- Intrusive vs. Extrusive]

If it penetrates all the way to the surface and spills out as lava or ash.

Answer 8

Extrusive igneous rocks

Question 9

Form from chemical solution or from organic deposition

Answer 9

Nonclastic

Question 9

A boundary along which two plates are sliding past each other.

Answer 9

Transform plate boundary

Question 10

A magma pipe led to a chamber that grew, dome-like, pushing the overlying strata into a gentle bulge without destroying them.

Answer 10

Laccolith

Question 11

The layering of sedimentary rocks.

Answer 11

Stratification

Question 12

[Type of igneous rock- Intrusive vs. Extrusive]

If upward thrust ceases before it reaches the surface.

Answer 12

Intrusive igneous rocks

Question 12

Rock formation; the process of compression, compaction, and cementation whereby a sediment is transformed into a sedimentary rock.

Answer 12

Lithification

Question 12

The creation of new lithospheric material and its continuous movement away from its source.

Answer 12

Seafloor spreading

Question 13

Has silica 3D structure, but contains aluminum and other elements. Less resistant to weathering than quartz.

Answer 13

Feldspars

Question 14

Simple structure, 3D framework containing only silicon and oxygen.

Answer 14

Quartz

Question 14

Often occurs within larger horizontal strata; sedimentary rocks are layered.

Answer 14

Cross-bedding

Question 16

Upper mantle below lithosphere; hot rock is plastic.

Answer 16

Asthenosphere

Question 17

Volcanic island chain formed where two oceanic plates are converging. One plate will subduct the other; form deep trenches.

Answer 17

Island arc

Question 18

Outer layers/shells peel away, leaving the lower layers exposed. Caused by the release of confining pressure.

Answer 18

Exfoliation

Question 19

Massive body of intrusive rock that has melted and assimilated many of the existing rock structures it has invaded.

Answer 19

Batholith

Question 21

Liquid, less pressure, melting-pint temp lower.

Answer 21

Outer core

Question 21

Banded appearance of certain metamorphic rocks; bands formed by minerals realigned into parallel strips during metamorphism.

Answer 21

Foliation

Question 22

Grains are sand-sized; often are quartz grains.

Answer 22

Sandstone

Question 23

Metamorphic rock from sandstone; hard rock, resists weathering.

Answer 23

Quartzite

Question 24

Can form from accumulation of marine shell fragments on a beach or on the ocean floor; or can form from the respiration and photosynthesis of marine organisms in which calcium carbonate is crystalized from seawater. Finely textured, resistant to erosion.

Answer 24

Limestone

Question 25

Similar to the batholith, but smaller.

Answer 25

Stock

Question 27

Naturally occurring inorganic element or compound having a definite chemical composition, physical properties, and crystalline structure.

Answer 27

Mineral

Question 27

Sedimentary rocks made from particles of other rocks

Answer 27

Clastic

Question 28

A composite rock made of gravels, pebbles, and sometimes even boulders. Coarsest grained sedimentary rock.

Answer 28

Conglomerate

Question 29

Large, stable, flat expanses of cold metamorphic and igneous rocks.

Answer 29

Continental shields

Question 30

Contain silicon and oxygen; crust made up of 75% of it.

Answer 30

Silicate minerals

Question 31

Finest grained clastic sedimentary rock type. Compacted mud, made from tiny clay particles.

Answer 31

Shale

Question 32

Pulses of energy generated by earthquakes that can pass through the entire Earth.

Answer 32

Seismic waves

Question 33

A long, steep valley formed when two parallel rifts form in the Earth's crust and the land between them sinks.

Answer 33

Rift valley

Question 35

Magma that cuts vertically across existing layers and forms a barrier wall.

Answer 35

Dike

Question 36

Magma wells up; pushes/"diverges"/spreads the plates away, forms rift valley.

Answer 36

Divergent plate boundary

Question 38

Vertical difference between the highest and lowest elevations in a given area.

Answer 38

Relief -- Mountains are high relief, plains are low relief.

Question 39

Less dense continental plate overrides denser oceanic plate, forces it downward.

Answer 39

Subduction

Question 41

Light-colored, coarse-grained, formed as a felsic intrusive rock.

Answer 41

Granite

Question 42

Rock: High-density, dark-colored, lower content of silica (ex: basalt)

Answer 42

Mafic rocks

Question 44

Contains basic building block of one carbon and three oxygens.

Answer 44

Carbonate minerals

Question 45

Rock: low-density, silica, light-colored (ex: granite)

Answer 45

Felsic rocks

Question 46

The tendency of rocks to develop parallel sets of fractures without any obvious movement along the plane of separation.

Answer 46

Jointing

Question 47

Series of linear mountain chains, zones of high relief.

Answer 47

Orogenic belts

Question 48

Cycle of transformation that affects all rocks and involves all parts of the crust.

Answer 48

Rock cycle

Question 49

Forms when existing rocks are modified by heat or pressure or both.

Answer 49

Metamorphic rocks

Question 50

The crust and uppermost mantle.

Answer 50

Lithosphere

Question 51

When magma rises and intrudes into the crust, rocks in the zone near the batholith or dike will be affected.

Answer 51

Contact metamorphism

Question 52

Contact between the eroded strata and the strata of resumed deposition.

Answer 52

Unconformity

Question 53

Foliated metamorphic rock, derived from granite.

Answer 53

Gneiss

Question 54

Forms from the deposition, compression, and cementation of rock and mineral fragments.

Answer 54

Sedimentary rocks

Question 55

Forms from the cooling and solidification of magma (molten rock)

Answer 55

Igenous rocks

Question 56

Dropped zone at the point where the plates are moving apart.

Answer 56

Rift

Question 57

Magma that reaches Earth’s surface

Answer 57

Lava

Question 58

Magma inserts itself as a thin layer between strata of existing rocks without disturbing older layers.

Answer 58

Sill

Question 59

Solid, composed of iron, magnesium, and silicon.

Answer 59

Lower mantle

Question 60

Solid, high pressure, iron and nickel.

Answer 60

Inner core