Rock cycle Flashcards
Definition of the rock cycle
cycle of processes that occur in the Earth’s crust to
create and destroy rocks.
Definition of a rock
a naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or
mineraloid matter
Definition of a mineral
‘naturally occurring, inorganic crystalline solids that have a
definite chemical composition. Minerals have characteristic physical
properties’
How are sediment generated
Sediments are generated through weathering
and erosion
How does the lithification of sedimentary rocks occur
- Compaction and cementation
- Sedimentary rock formation
Define a igneous rock
An igneous rock is a rock that has formed
by the cooling and crystallization
(solidification) of molten rock.
________ 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.
magma
lava
igneous rocks are typically classified by
- rock texture - size of crystals or grains in
the rock, called grain size - composition - type of minerals present
- colour- type of minerals present
Rock texture - mineral crystal size can be affected by
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.
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
Plutonic
slowly
What does phaneritic texture mean
Visible grains
1 to 5mm
interlocking crystalline texture
Plutonic rocks posses a ________ _________
Phaneritic texture
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
quickly
Aphanitic meaning
fine grained texture. crystals are too small to see with the naked eye
extrusive rocks have a ________ texture
aphanitic
What is vesicular texture
If the solidifying
igneous rock contains
gas (e.g., sulfur and
carbon dioxide),
bubbles of entrapped
gas may form holes as
the rock solidifies.
How does volcanic glass occur
rapid cooling, or chilling, prevents the
crystallization of minerals
very rapid cooling forms a natural glass
known as
obsidian
frothed natural glass as a result of
excessive gas in the magma creates
_______ when it cool
pumice
Define equigranular
If all mineral crystals are approximately the same size,
use the term
Define porphyritic rock texture
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)
Felsic rocks contain what minerals
Potassium feldspar
Quartz
Plagioclase feldspar(Na-rich)
Biotite
Amphibole
Intermediate rocks contain what minerals
Mainly: Plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene
Smaller amounts of potassium feldspar, quartz, biotite, and amphibole
Mafic rocks contain which minerals
Plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene and a small bit of olivine
the colour of felsic minerals are
light
the colour of mafic minerals are
dark
Which two broad categories do we separate igneous rocks
felsic and mafic
Does Ferromagnesian make mafic minerals dark or not
yes, Ferromagnesian makes mafic dark
Does Ferromagnesian make felsic minerals light
no, non-Ferromagnesian minerals are in felsic rocks
Is granite felsic, intermediate or mafic
Felsic
Is rhyolite felsic, intermediate or mafic
felsic
Is granite or rhyolite an intrusive igneous rock
Granite is intrusive
Rhyolite is extrusive
Where do we find felsic rocks
Continental crust
continental hot spots
Is gabbro phaneritic, or equigranular, aphanitic
Phaneritic
What minerals is gabbro composed of
pyroxene, plagioclase feldspar, and olivine
Which two elements are mafic rocks rich in
Iron and magnesium
Which minerals are not in mafic rocks
Quartz, potassium feldspar, biotite, and amphibole
Where do you find mafic rocks
upper mantle
mid-ocean ridges, ocean hotspots, continental rift zones
What are ultra-mafic rocks composed of
Mainly olivine, pyroxene and small amounts of plagioclase feldspar
Where do we find intermediate rocks
Subduction zone arc volcanoes and plutons beneath them
Mt St Helens, the Andes mountains
What are two types of intermediate igneous rocks
Diorite and andesite
What are two types of mafic rocks
Gabbro and basalt
Do mafic minerals or felsic minerals crystalize first
Mafic minerals crystalize first, then felsic minerals
Give examples of geomorphic processes
This is how sediments are transported
Wind - aeolian, gravity, mass wasting, river currents - fluvial, waves - coastal, ice - glacial
What are the 6 steps for sediments to turn into sedimentary rocks
- exposure(uplift of tectonic plates coming together to form mountains)
- Weathering
- Erosion (transportation)
- processes acting on the sediments as they are moving them (can change the minerology and sorting occurs)
- Deposition (Sediments settle in a basin and layers form
- Compaction and lithification
What is one thing that can cause a mafic rock to not be dark
If it is rich in olivine it will be green
Today, do volcanoes erupt ultra-mafic rocks
nope
What is Bowens reaction series
order of mineral crystallization as the magma cools
Give the Bowens reaction series from first to last
First: olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, biotite, Quartz, Muscovite, K-feldspar :last
Which mineral can crystalize at any temperature
Plagioclase, its crystallization depends on if it is Ca-rich(High temps) or Na-rich(low temps)
Define Phenocrysts
Phenocrysts – form in the magma and are brought up in the magma
Define Xenocrysts/xenoliths
Xenocrysts/xenoliths – didn’t form in the magma, brought along by
the magma
Define bedrock
Rock that is attached to the earths crust
Define outcrop
is an exposure of bedrock to the surface
Describe weathering
- 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
What are sedimentary rocks composed of
sediments or salt that have dried out of a solution - like in salt lakes
What are sediments
particles of rock, minerals, shells, fossilized organic material
is sand a rock or sediment
sediment
grains are loose and unconsolidated
is sandstone a rock or a sediment
rock
grains are bound together by natural cement
At what temperature does the lithification of sediments into sedimentary rock occur
150 - 200 Celsius