Rock your world Flashcards
Q: What are the main layers of the Earth’s structure?
A: The Earth’s structure includes the core, mantle, crust, and lithosphere.
Q: What is the difference between minerals and rocks?
A: Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic substances with a specific chemical composition, while rocks are made up of one or more minerals.
Q: What properties do geologists use to distinguish between minerals?
A: Geologists use properties such as color, hardness, luster, streak, and cleavage to identify minerals.
Q: How can common minerals be identified?
A: Common minerals can be identified using tables or classification keys based on their properties.
Q: What are the three main types of rocks?
A: The three main rock types are sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
Q: How are igneous rocks formed?
A: Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
Q: What are some types of igneous rocks and their properties?
A: Types of igneous rocks include pumice (light, porous), basalt (dark, fine-grained), granite (coarse-grained), scoria (dark, porous), and obsidian (glassy, smooth).
Q: How is sedimentary rock formed?
A: Sedimentary rock forms from the deposition and compaction of sediments over time.
Q: What are some types of sedimentary rocks?
A: Common sedimentary rocks include coal, limestone, conglomerate, sandstone, and shale.
Q: How can sedimentary layers reveal Earth’s history?
A: Examining sedimentary layers provides information about past environments and geological events.
Q: Where are the oldest rocks found in sedimentary layers?
A: The oldest rocks are at the base of sedimentary layers, with the youngest at the top.
Q: What is a fossil?
A: A fossil is evidence of past life, often preserved in rock.
Q: Under what conditions do fossils form?
A: Fossils form when organisms are buried quickly in sediment, protecting them from decay.
Q: How is metamorphic rock formed?
A: Metamorphic rock forms when existing rocks are altered by heat and pressure.
Q: What are some common metamorphic rocks and their parent rocks?
A: Slate (from shale), quartzite (from sandstone), and marble (from limestone).
Q: What is the difference between erosion and weathering?
A: Weathering breaks down rocks, while erosion transports the sediment away.
Q: How does human activity cause changes to Earth’s surface?
A: Human activities like mining, construction, and deforestation alter the Earth’s surface.
Q: What are examples of chemical and physical weathering?
A: Chemical weathering includes rusting and acid rain; physical weathering includes freeze-thaw and abrasion.
Q: What are the agents of weathering and erosion?
A: Agents include water, wind, and gravity.
Q: How does weathering and erosion affect rocks?
A: Weathering breaks down rocks, and erosion redistributes the resulting sediment.
Q: What does the rock cycle describe?
A: The rock cycle describes the continuous formation and transformation of rocks in the lithosphere.
Q: What processes form landforms?
A: Landforms are formed through physical and chemical weathering, erosion, and deposition.
Q: How is science used in mineral exploration, mining, and processing in Australia?
A: Science is used to locate mineral deposits, determine extraction methods, and refine minerals into usable products.
Q: How are metals mined and extracted?
A: Metals are extracted by mining ores and using chemical or physical processes to separate the metal from other elements.
