Rock cycle Flashcards

1
Q

Definition of the rock cycle

A

cycle of processes that occur in the Earth’s crust to
create and destroy rocks.

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2
Q

Definition of a rock

A

a naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or
mineraloid matter

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3
Q

Definition of a mineral

A

‘naturally occurring, inorganic crystalline solids that have a
definite chemical composition. Minerals have characteristic physical
properties’

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4
Q

How are sediment generated

A

Sediments are generated through weathering
and erosion

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5
Q

How does the lithification of sedimentary rocks occur

A
  • Compaction and cementation
  • Sedimentary rock formation
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6
Q

Define a igneous rock

A

An igneous rock is a rock that has formed
by the cooling and crystallization
(solidification) of molten rock.

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7
Q

________ originates deep
within the Earth’s
lithosphere / upper
mantle due to the melting
of rock and associated
minerals.
________ is the name given to
molten rock when it
reaches the Earth’s
surface from volcanic
activity.

A

magma
lava

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8
Q

igneous rocks are typically classified by

A
  • rock texture - size of crystals or grains in
    the rock, called grain size
  • composition - type of minerals present
  • colour- type of minerals present
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9
Q

Rock texture - mineral crystal size can be affected by

A

A) the rate of cooling,
B) the original temperature of the
magma, and
C) the crystallization temperature of
the mineral the crystal is composed
of.

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10
Q

Intrusive igneous rocks:
If a large volume of magma cools slowly within the
lithosphere, the crystallized rock is known as a _________
igneous rock or an intrusive igneous rock
Magma cools _______ within the lithosphere, permitting the
growth of mineral crystals to form intrusive igneous rocks

A

Plutonic
slowly

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11
Q

What does phaneritic texture mean

A

Visible grains
1 to 5mm
interlocking crystalline texture

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12
Q

Plutonic rocks posses a ________ _________

A

Phaneritic texture

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13
Q

Extrusive igneous rocks:
Igneous rocks that reach the
Earth’s surface cool, solidify, and
crystallize relatively _______ (e.g.,
at a rate of minutes to months)
and are called extrusive igneous
rocks

A

quickly

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14
Q

Aphanitic meaning

A

fine grained texture. crystals are too small to see with the naked eye

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15
Q

extrusive rocks have a ________ texture

A

aphanitic

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16
Q

What is vesicular texture

A

If the solidifying
igneous rock contains
gas (e.g., sulfur and
carbon dioxide),
bubbles of entrapped
gas may form holes as
the rock solidifies.

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17
Q

How does volcanic glass occur

A

rapid cooling, or chilling, prevents the
crystallization of minerals

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18
Q

very rapid cooling forms a natural glass
known as

A

obsidian

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19
Q

frothed natural glass as a result of
excessive gas in the magma creates
_______ when it cool

A

pumice

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20
Q

Define equigranular

A

If all mineral crystals are approximately the same size,
use the term

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21
Q

Define porphyritic rock texture

A

If the rock has large mineral grains surrounded by a
finer-grained groundmass (i.e., the majority of finer
mineral grains forming the bulk of the rock)

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22
Q

Felsic rocks contain what minerals

A

Potassium feldspar
Quartz
Plagioclase feldspar(Na-rich)
Biotite
Amphibole

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23
Q

Intermediate rocks contain what minerals

A

Mainly: Plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene
Smaller amounts of potassium feldspar, quartz, biotite, and amphibole

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24
Q

Mafic rocks contain which minerals

A

Plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene and a small bit of olivine

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25
Q

the colour of felsic minerals are

A

light

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26
Q

the colour of mafic minerals are

A

dark

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27
Q

Which two broad categories do we separate igneous rocks

A

felsic and mafic

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28
Q

Does Ferromagnesian make mafic minerals dark or not

A

yes, Ferromagnesian makes mafic dark

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29
Q

Does Ferromagnesian make felsic minerals light

A

no, non-Ferromagnesian minerals are in felsic rocks

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30
Q

Is granite felsic, intermediate or mafic

A

Felsic

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31
Q

Is rhyolite felsic, intermediate or mafic

A

felsic

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32
Q

Is granite or rhyolite an intrusive igneous rock

A

Granite is intrusive
Rhyolite is extrusive

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33
Q

Where do we find felsic rocks

A

Continental crust
continental hot spots

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34
Q

Is gabbro phaneritic, or equigranular, aphanitic

A

Phaneritic

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35
Q

What minerals is gabbro composed of

A

pyroxene, plagioclase feldspar, and olivine

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36
Q

Which two elements are mafic rocks rich in

A

Iron and magnesium

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37
Q

Which minerals are not in mafic rocks

A

Quartz, potassium feldspar, biotite, and amphibole

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38
Q

Where do you find mafic rocks

A

upper mantle
mid-ocean ridges, ocean hotspots, continental rift zones

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39
Q

What are ultra-mafic rocks composed of

A

Mainly olivine, pyroxene and small amounts of plagioclase feldspar

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40
Q

Where do we find intermediate rocks

A

Subduction zone arc volcanoes and plutons beneath them
Mt St Helens, the Andes mountains

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41
Q

What are two types of intermediate igneous rocks

A

Diorite and andesite

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42
Q

What are two types of mafic rocks

A

Gabbro and basalt

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43
Q

Do mafic minerals or felsic minerals crystalize first

A

Mafic minerals crystalize first, then felsic minerals

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44
Q

Give examples of geomorphic processes

A

This is how sediments are transported
Wind - aeolian, gravity, mass wasting, river currents - fluvial, waves - coastal, ice - glacial

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45
Q

What are the 6 steps for sediments to turn into sedimentary rocks

A
  1. exposure(uplift of tectonic plates coming together to form mountains)
  2. Weathering
  3. Erosion (transportation)
  4. processes acting on the sediments as they are moving them (can change the minerology and sorting occurs)
  5. Deposition (Sediments settle in a basin and layers form
  6. Compaction and lithification
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46
Q

What is one thing that can cause a mafic rock to not be dark

A

If it is rich in olivine it will be green

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47
Q

Today, do volcanoes erupt ultra-mafic rocks

A

nope

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48
Q

What is Bowens reaction series

A

order of mineral crystallization as the magma cools

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49
Q

Give the Bowens reaction series from first to last

A

First: olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, biotite, Quartz, Muscovite, K-feldspar :last

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50
Q

Which mineral can crystalize at any temperature

A

Plagioclase, its crystallization depends on if it is Ca-rich(High temps) or Na-rich(low temps)

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51
Q

Define Phenocrysts

A

Phenocrysts – form in the magma and are brought up in the magma

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52
Q

Define Xenocrysts/xenoliths

A

Xenocrysts/xenoliths – didn’t form in the magma, brought along by
the magma

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53
Q

Define bedrock

A

Rock that is attached to the earths crust

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54
Q

Define outcrop

A

is an exposure of bedrock to the surface

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55
Q

Describe weathering

A
  • Breakdown of rock due
    to physical, biological,
    and chemical processes
  • modifies rocks and the
    minerals within them
  • produces sediment,
    small particles of rock
    and/or minerals
  • Sediment can be
    transported (moved) to
    another location by
    water, wind, or ice
    this is called erosion
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56
Q

What are sedimentary rocks composed of

A

sediments or salt that have dried out of a solution - like in salt lakes

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57
Q

What are sediments

A

particles of rock, minerals, shells, fossilized organic material

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58
Q

is sand a rock or sediment

A

sediment
grains are loose and unconsolidated

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59
Q

is sandstone a rock or a sediment

A

rock
grains are bound together by natural cement

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60
Q

At what temperature does the lithification of sediments into sedimentary rock occur

A

150 - 200 Celsius

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61
Q

Sediments lithify as flat lying beds, what are these called

A

Strata
This is through the principal of original horizontality

62
Q

Sedimentary rocks are formed by the consolidation
and lithification of __________ and/or ________ in
solution.

A

sediments
ions

63
Q

What can we subdivide sedimentary rocks into

A

Clastic, biochemical/organic, chemical

64
Q

silt vs clay

A

silt feels like finely ground flour, clay is sticky and
you can’t feel any particles.
if you put a tiny bit of the
material on your teeth and rub it gently with your tongue,
silt will feel granular and clay will feel smooth.

65
Q

What is the rock name of gravel (rounded particles)

A

Conglomerate

66
Q

What is the rock name of gravel (angular particles)

A

Breccia

67
Q

what is the sediment name of siltsone

A

silt

68
Q

What is the sediment name of shale

A

clay

69
Q

Order these sedimentary rocks from most coarse to least coarse

Diamictite
siltstone
shale
conglomerate
sandstone
Breccia

A

Conglomerate
Breccia
Diamictite
Sandstone
Siltstone
Shale

70
Q

What are the 4 types of sorting to classify clastic rocks

A

Angular, subangular, subrounded, rounded

71
Q

What will cause a clastic sedimentary rock to become more sorted(rounded)

A

The more process it undergoes during its transportation will cause it to be more sorted

72
Q

What are some examples of biochemical/organic sedimentary rocks

A

coal, carbonate rocks such as fossiliferous limestone, dolostone, chalk, and coquina

73
Q

What are the two ways that biochemical/organic sedimentary rocks form

A

organisms generating mineral matter (Coral)
Fossilized organic matter such as coal

74
Q

How are biogenic (ie biochemical/organic) sedimentary rocks derived

A

from hard parts of organisms
-tiny diatoms made of silica
-tiny coccolithophores made of calcite
-sea shells
-coral
-coprolites (fossilized animal poop)

75
Q

How do chemical sedimentary rocks form

A

These rocks form through a chemical
process of precipitation of ions out of
solution

76
Q

How/when do evaporite deposits form

A

Evaporite deposits form when ions precipitate (form solids) out of
solution in an alkali lake or sea to form rocks composed of minerals
such as gypsum (Ca sulfate) and sylvite (K carbonate KCl)

77
Q

What are examples of chemical sedimentary rocks

A

Inorganic limestone, chert, rock gypsum, rock salt

78
Q

Describe chemical sedimentary rocks that form from hot water

A

Ions dissolve in hot water of hot
springs, as it cools the ions
precipitate out of solution
* form different rocks depending on
the water chemistry

79
Q

Sedimentary rocks have specific features and structures that make what possible for geologists to do now

A

Geologists are able to reconstruct the environment of
deposition and the environmental conditions prevalent at that
time based on this evidence

80
Q

What are the economic importance of sedimentary rocks

A

*Reservoirs for oil and gas, and water
*Economic minerals: potash (sylvite), limestone for
cement
*Quarried aggregate or building stone

81
Q

What is the geological environment of formation for conglomerate

A

high energy environments such as a stream

82
Q

What is the geological environment of formation for Sandstone

A

beaches, rivers, deserts

83
Q

What is the geological environment of formation for shale

A

low energy environments
like lakes

84
Q

What is the geological environment of formation for dolostone

A

Shallow marine, tropical

85
Q

What is the geological environment of formation for limestone

A

shallow marine, tropical

86
Q

What is the geological environment of formation for potash

A

hot, dry climate and a restricted marine basin

87
Q

In what layer of the earths crust does metamorphism occur

A

lithosphere

88
Q

What type of process causes metamorphism

A

plate tectonics
This creates increased pressure and temperature acted on the rocks

89
Q

Metamorphism can cause the original texture and/or minerology to become ________ and the rock changes

A

unstable

90
Q

Which types of rocks can become metamorphic rocks

A

Igneous
Sedimentary
metamorphic
(all of them)

91
Q

Which 3 agents drive metamorphism

A

High temperature
High pressure
Chemically active hot fluids(sometimes)

92
Q

At what temperature causes metamorphic rocks to change

A

> 200C drives chemical reactions

93
Q

How do we see metamorphic rocks on the surface today

A
  • rocks are brought to the surface (or closer to the surface) by plate
    tectonic processes
  • the overlying rocks have been eroded away
94
Q

Why does chemically active hot fluids cause metamorphism

A

Reactive hot fluids (e.g., H
enhance the metamorphic process.
Such fluids become more reactive with increasing
temperature and assist in modifying a rock’s mineralogy.

95
Q

The composition of the original ______ rock determines the characteristics of a given metamorphic rock

A

parent

96
Q

What is the range that most metamorphic rocks form

A

250C to 850C

97
Q

At what depth does metamorphism start

A

> 8km

98
Q

list the increase of metamorphic rocks from beginning at shale

A

Shale, slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss

99
Q

Metamorphic rocks are divided into two textural groups…

A

foliated and non-foliated

100
Q

The minerals within foliated rocks are flattened or aligned (oriented), forming a new
texture with a layered appearance. ______ and _______ minerals are in separate layers

A

mafic
felsic

101
Q

Ways to tell between a sedimentary rock and a foliated metamorphic rock

A

minerals observed can be different
metamorphic rocks have fold structures (augen)
Don’t see grains
crystals in metamorphic rocks interlock
We can’t see sedimentary structures in foliated rocks and the foliation
planes are often not as flat as in sedimentary beds

102
Q

How does foliation develop

A

pressure from plate tectonics causes
-rotation of minerals
-change in mineral shape
-recrystallization -

103
Q

Foliation forms parallel or perpendicular to the force of pressure?

A

perpendicular

104
Q

What happens if we continue to heat up gneiss

A

The rock begins to melts and you eventually
get a magma! There is an intermediate between metamorphic and igneous rock called a
migmatite

105
Q

When do non-foliated rocks occur

A
  • the pressure is low or equal from all directions
    (contact metamorphism), or
  • the composition of the rock does not include platy
    minerals such as mica
106
Q

For a non-foliated rock, what does limestone become

A

marble

107
Q

For a non-foliated rock, sandstone becomes

A

quartzite

108
Q

What kind of minerals do non-foliated metamorphic rocks not contain?

A

no platy minerals in non-foliated rocks

109
Q

List the grades of metamorphic rocks from least temp and pressure to most

A

sedimentary
low-grade metamorphic rock
intermediate-grade metamorphic rock
high-grade metamorphic rock
magma region

110
Q

Describe low grade for metamorphism

A

May appear similar
to the protolith, but will have
some difference in texture and
(depending on the protolith)
mineralogy

111
Q

Describe medium grade for metamorphism

A

Often very
different appearance from the
protolith, with different
texture and (depending on the
protolith) mineralogy e.g.,
schist

112
Q

Describe high grade for metamorphism

A

Generally appears
very different from the
protolith, with different
texture and mineralogy e.g.,
gneiss

113
Q

What does it mean to be an index mineral

A
  • Certain minerals only form through metamorphism, at specific P and
    T (pressure and temperature) conditions
114
Q

What type of metamorphic rock form from hot water flowing through the rock

A

Greenschist

115
Q

When increasing the metamorphism of a foliated rock, what mineral becomes more abundant

A

mica

116
Q

Higher the grade of metamorphism the greater the size of the ______ crystals

A

mica

117
Q

is quartz an index mineral

A

Can form under metamorphic, igneous, sedimentary conditions. Therefore it is not an index mineral

118
Q

is feldspar an index mineral

A

no

119
Q

is sillimanite an index mineral

A

yes

120
Q

is kyanite an index mineral

A

yes

121
Q

is garnet a index mineral

A

yes

122
Q

is biotite an index mineral

A

yes

123
Q

is muscovite an index mineral

A

yes

124
Q

is chlorite an index mineral

A

yes

125
Q

What are the grades of the following index minerals:
chlorite, muscovite, biotite, garnet, kyanite, sillimanite

A

chlorite - low to medium to high grade,
muscovite - low to medium grade,
biotite - medium to high grade,
garnet - medium to high grade,
kyanite - high grade ,
sillimanite - high grade

126
Q

Describe diagenesis

A

chemical alterations of sedimentary rock occurring at shallow crustal depth (<8km, 150-200C)
oil and gas are generated

127
Q

When do oil and gas break down

A

*Oil and gas break down into CO
occur (temperature >200°C)
2
if buried to depths where metamorphism can

128
Q

What is the geothermal gradient on continents

A

25C per km

129
Q

What are the types of metamorphism

A
  • Contact metamorphism
  • Seafloor metamorphism
  • Burial metamorphism
  • Regional metamorphism
130
Q

What are the two main sources of heat for metamorphism

A

Igneous intrusions
Increase in depth of burial

131
Q

Describe contact metamorphism

A

Hot magma chambers bake the host rock(country rock) where they come in contact this causes a change in mineral composition and texture and heats up surrounding groundwater which transports heat and dissolved ions(form vein deposits). This is localized within a few 100 meters.
High temperature, low pressure

132
Q

Does contact metamorphism cause foliation

A

no

133
Q

What kind of grades does contact metamorphism cause

A

low, medium, high

134
Q

what are two examples of contact metamorphism

A

Quartzite and marble

135
Q

What kind of rocks do we see for seafloor metamorphism

A

mafic rocks

136
Q

What is regional metamorphism

A

A pattern of metamorphism associated with mountain building
and plate tectonics occurs over a large area, regional.

137
Q

Regional metamorphism includes what temperatures, pressures and grades?

A

a range from low to high temperatures and low to high
pressures and may involve fluids.

  • Grades from low to high grade based on P and T conditions
138
Q

If i begin with the igneous rock basalt, what does the photolith become after continuous metamorphism

A

Basalt - Greenschist, amphibolite, Granulite

139
Q

Ignore this card

A
140
Q

Describe burial metamorphism

A

temperature increases with depth
and the geothermal gradient
* No directed pressure acting on the rocks, just weight of overlying
rocks. The pressure increases steadily with depth and rocks do not
have foliation associated with the metamorphism.

141
Q

What is confining pressure

A

Feeling pressure from all sides. Force applied equally in all directions

142
Q

What is the geological environment for gneiss

A

high grade
regional

143
Q

What is the geological environment for schist

A

medium grade
regional

144
Q

What is the geological environment for Slate

A

low grade
regional

145
Q

What is the geological environment for quartzite

A

contact and regional

146
Q

What is the geological environment for marble

A

Contact and regional

147
Q

Which of the following are foliated:
Gneiss, Schist, slate, Quartzite, marble

A

Gneiss, Schist, slate,

148
Q

Which of the following are non-foliated: Gneiss, Schist, slate, Quartzite, marble

A

Quartzite and marble

149
Q

Reactive hot fluids such as ____ and ____ containing ions enhance the metamorphic process

A

H2O and CO2

150
Q

Protolith composition will not change unless there are ______ moving through the rock

A

fluids

151
Q

Crystal size always gets ________ and _______ interlocked as you move from low to high grade

A

bigger
more