Differential Weathering Flashcards

Weathering Processes

• Sediments: Smaller pieces of rock, soil, and other materials formed through weathering.
• Weathering: A slow process that breaks down rocks into sediments over time, affecting various landscapes differently.
• Differential Weathering: Occurs in areas with varied rock types, leading to different erosion rates and landscape features.
• Mechanical Weathering: Physical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their composition.
• Chemical Weathering: Alters the chemical structure of rocks, resulting in disintegration through chemical reactions.

Geological Concepts

• Law of Superposition: In undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers lie at the bottom, and each layer is younger than the one beneath it.
• Geological Time Scale: A chronological framework linking geological strata to the history of Earth, serving as a calendar for geological events.
• Stratigraphy: The study of rock layers and their sequences to understand geological history.

Rock Types

• Igneous Rocks: Formed from the cooling of molten rock (magma or lava) beneath or at the Earth’s surface, often associated with volcanic activity.
• Metamorphic Rock: Rocks transformed by substantial heat and pressure, altering their form and structure.
• Sedimentary Rock: Formed from layers of compressed or cemented sediment, often containing fossils and indicating past environments.

Geological Processes

• Cementation: The crystallization of dissolved minerals that binds sediments together into solid rock.
• Compaction: Pressing sediments together, reducing their volume and density, resulting in the formation of sedimentary rock.
• Deposition: The laying down of sediments in new locations, reshaping Earth’s surface.
• Erosion: The removal of surface materials by wind, water, or other natural agents, contributing to landscape change.

Fossils and Geological Evidence

• Fossil Record: The vast collection of ancient organism remains preserved in rock, providing insight into Earth’s biological history.
• Fossil: A preserved trace or remnant of an ancient organism, offering clues about past life on Earth.

Rock Cycle

• Rock Cycle: A continuous series of processes transforming one rock type into another, encompassing igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic formations.
• Rock Strata: Distinct layers of rock observed in geological formations, reflecting the history of deposition and geological events.

Test your knowledge of differential weathering with these flashcards. Each card presents key terms and their definitions to help you understand the processes that shape landscapes over time. Perfect for geology students and enthusiasts!