geol final

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What type of rock is tufa and how is it formed?

Metamorphic rock formed under extreme pressure

Volcanic rock formed by explosive eruptions

Sedimentary rock formed by mineral precipitation from water (correct)

Igneous rock formed from cooled magma

Which of the following statements correctly explains the orthographic effect?

It describes how winds carry moisture from oceans, resulting in heavy rainfall.

It is the phenomenon where mountains block the passage of moist air, creating deserts. (correct)

It refers to the decrease in temperature with altitude, leading to arid conditions.

It relates to soil composition changes due to elevation variations.

What geological feature is formed by the accumulation of sediments at the base of a mountain?

Bajada

Cryptobiotic soil

Alluvial fan (correct)

Inselberg

In the context of earthquakes, what is the primary characteristic of a strike-slip fault?

The two sides of the fault move horizontally past one another. Signup and view all the answers

Why can't people soak in the hot springs at Hot Creek anymore?

High levels of toxic minerals have contaminated the springs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a desert pavement?

A surface covered with tightly packed gravel and stones. Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily responsible for the eastern Sierra Nevada being drier than the western side?

The rain shadow effect created by the Sierra Nevada mountains. Signup and view all the answers

What is cryptobiotic soil and why is it important in desert regions?

Soil containing living organisms that prevent erosion and enhance fertility. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the lowest elevation point in the United States?

Badwater Basin Signup and view all the answers

What kind of evidence indicates that a large super volcano still contains magma?

Presence of seismic activity and ground deformation. Signup and view all the answers

In a normal fault, which direction does the hanging wall move?

Downwards Signup and view all the answers

What scale measures the intensity of an earthquake based on observed effects?

Mercalli Scale Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of seismic waves are classified as body waves?

P waves and S waves Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic differentiates a thrust fault from a reverse fault?

A thrust fault has a shallow dip angle compared to a reverse fault. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fault is the San Andreas Fault classified as?

Strike-slip fault Signup and view all the answers

How does fault creep affect a fault system?

It allows for gradual stress release, possibly preventing sudden quakes. Signup and view all the answers

What physical feature is formed by an anticline?

An upward arching fold in the Earth's crust Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the difference between local magnitude (Richter scale) and moment magnitude?

Moment magnitude considers energy release, while local magnitude does not. Signup and view all the answers

Which islands are part of Channel Islands National Park?

Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel Signup and view all the answers

What are pressure ridges associated with in geological terms?

Mountain building processes due to compression Signup and view all the answers

Which specific type of gem is mined from some pegmatites in the Peninsular Ranges?

Tourmaline Signup and view all the answers

During which geologic era did most of the magma that became the Peninsular Ranges Batholith form?

Mesozoic Signup and view all the answers

What type of rocks primarily make up the pre-batholithic rocks of the Peninsular Ranges?

Metamorphic rocks Signup and view all the answers

How do pegmatites typically form within the geological context of the Peninsular Ranges?

From the cooling of igneous magma at great depths Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary geologic feature that led to the formation of the Peninsular Ranges Batholith?

Subduction of an oceanic plate beneath a continental plate Signup and view all the answers

In what way do the Peninsular Ranges resemble the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range?

Both are batholithic mountain ranges formed from similar geological processes Signup and view all the answers

How is the western region of the Peninsular Ranges different from the eastern region?

The western region typically features younger geological formations. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three regions of the Peninsular Ranges?

Western, central, and eastern Signup and view all the answers

What is a pegmatite primarily known for?

Containing large crystals of minerals Signup and view all the answers

What type of geological process resulted in the formation of magma in the context of subduction related to the Peninsular Ranges?

The release of volatile compounds from oceanic crust Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Basin & Range Province

Tufa is a type of rock formed by mineral deposits from hot springs.
The super volcano near Mammoth Lakes, California, is a large volcano.
When it last erupted, the eruptive column of ash reached a high altitude and deposited ash far east from California.
Evidence suggests the volcano still has magma below the surface.
A major die-off of trees near Horseshoe Lake was likely due to a specific event.
Hot springs at Hot Creek are no longer accessible to the public for some reason.

California Deserts

A desert is an area with low precipitation and arid conditions.
The three California deserts are the Mojave, Colorado, and Sonoran deserts.
Orthographic effect influences desert formation via changes in air pressure and precipitation.
Rain shadows form when moisture-laden air is forced upward over a mountain range, leading to precipitation on one side and aridity on the other.
The Sierra Nevada's eastern side is drier and less forested than its western side due to rain shadow effect.
Alluvial fans form from the deposition of sediments carried by streams as they emerge from a mountainous area.
Bajadas are large, sloping deposits of sediments at the base of mountains, formed by the merging of multiple alluvial fans.
Desert pavement is a layer of rocks and gravel found on the surface of some deserts; it forms from the constant action of wind and water to sort out the surface materials.
Inselbergs are isolated rocky hills or mountains that protrude from a flatter surrounding area. They resemble icebergs, as they rise above the surrounding desert landscape.
Flash floods are common in deserts.
Borax has a history of usage in different fields.

Earthquakes

Faults are fractures in the Earth's crust along which rocks slide past.
Normal faults, reverse faults, thrust faults, and strike-slip faults are different types based on the movement along the fault.
Normal faults show the hanging wall moving downward relative to the footwall.
Reverse faults show the hanging wall moving upward relative to the footwall.
Thrust faults are low-angle reverse faults.
Strike-slip faults involve horizontal movement.
Right-lateral strike-slip faults exhibit movement to the right side, and left ones exhibit movement to the left.
The hanging wall is the block of rock above the fault plane, the footwall is below. The fault plane is the surface that separates them.
Dip-slip faults involve vertical movement.
Richter and Mercalli scales are used to measure magnitude in earthquakes.
Local and moment magnitudes relate to specific measurements, whereas the moment magnitude is usually more reliable and more accurate.
Seismic waves, like P-waves, S-waves, Raleigh waves and Love waves, are different in that P and S waves are body waves that travel through the earth, while Raleigh and Love waves are surface waves that travel along the Earth's surface.
Body waves are more destructive than surface waves.

Transverse Ranges, L.A. Basin and Offshore Islands

The Transverse Ranges are related to the Big Bend in the San Andreas Fault.
Anticlines and synclines are folds in rock layers.
Many thrust faults are located at the base of the Transverse Ranges.
A basin is a low area in the Earth's crust.
Volcanic rocks in the Santa Monica Mountains originated from volcanic activity.
The basement rocks in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains are very old.
The San Gabriel Mountains are composed of different types of rock.

Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are part of a chain offshore California.
They are an extension of the Transverse Ranges.
Pygmy mammoths lived on some Channel Islands.
Fossil remains of various organisms are found on these islands.
One of the islands is an important military base of the US.
The Channel Islands are destinations for tourists.
Catalina schist composes one island.

Peninsular Ranges

The Peninsular Ranges extend from Southern California.
During the Paleozoic Era, Peninsular Ranges area was different than today.

Mesozoic Peninsular Ranges

The Peninsular Ranges were formed during a specific time period.
Composition of the Peninsular Ranges.
Resemblance to the Sierra Nevada.
Formation time and geologic era of the Peninsular Ranges Batholith (PRB).
Subduction processes of the batholith formation.
PRB's relationship to other western North American batholiths.
Three regions of the PRB and their differences.
Pre-batholith rocks: their age relative to the PRB and rock types.
Pegmatites, their formation, common minerals, host rock type.
Southern California gemstone mining location and pegmatites variety.
Gemstone name from Peninsular Ranges pegmatites.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.