Earth Science Rocks Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What process in the rock cycle forms igneous rock?

Cooling or crystallization

When it is beneath the earth's surface, molten rock is called what?

Magma

What general type of igneous rock has large grains?

Intrusive

What happens to a rock when it undergoes melting in the rock cycle?

It becomes magma Signup and view all the answers

What feature does lava cooling quickly on Earth's surface give extrusive igneous rock?

Small grains Signup and view all the answers

Explain the difference between a grain and a sediment.

A grain is part of a whole rock; a sediment is broken off of a rock. Signup and view all the answers

Describe granitic rock by naming two features and explaining what causes those features.

Granitic rock is light-colored and less dense because of the high amount of silica in the magma. Signup and view all the answers

Name three igneous rocks.

Gabbro, diorite, granite, basalt, rhyolite, pumice, obsidian Signup and view all the answers

What two features can be used to classify igneous rocks as extrusive or intrusive?

Extrusive rocks can have gas holes and intrusive rocks cannot. Extrusive rocks have small grains and intrusive rocks have large grains. Signup and view all the answers

Explain why intrusive igneous rocks cannot have gas holes.

Intrusive igneous rocks form underground and there is too much pressure underground for the gases to escape from the magma. Signup and view all the answers

What process forms sedimentary rock by compressing sediment grains together?

Compaction Signup and view all the answers

What forms sedimentary rock when water moves through and reacts with minerals?

Cementation Signup and view all the answers

What forms when rocks are weathered and eroded?

Sediments Signup and view all the answers

When sedimentary rocks form, which age of layers is found at the bottom?

The oldest layers Signup and view all the answers

Rock and mineral fragments form which type of rock?

Clastic sedimentary Signup and view all the answers

Minerals crystallizing from a water solution forms what type of rock?

Chemical sedimentary Signup and view all the answers

Name three sedimentary rocks.

Conglomerate, limestone, sandstone, siltstone, claystone, gypsum, rock salt, coal Signup and view all the answers

Explain why sedimentary rock can contain small pieces of other rocks or pebbles, but igneous rock can't.

Sedimentary rock is made through compacting and cementing already existing sediments together. Igneous rock is made from magma and any small pieces of rock would have melted in the process of forming the igneous rock. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how intrusive igneous rock becomes sedimentary rock.

Intrusive igneous rock is exposed at Earth's surface where it experiences weathering and erosion to become sediments. The sediments compact and cement together to form sedimentary rock. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three major types of rock?

Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic Signup and view all the answers

What process in the rock cycle forms metamorphic rock?

Increased temperature and pressure Signup and view all the answers

What process in the rock cycle causes metamorphic rock to become sediments?

Exposure, weathering, erosion Signup and view all the answers

The composition of a metamorphic rock is determined by what?

The mineral content of the parent rock Signup and view all the answers

Foliated metamorphic rock has mineral grains that are like what?

Flat and elongated in parallel layers Signup and view all the answers

Nonfoliated metamorphic rock has mineral grains that are like what?

Rearranged and interlocking Signup and view all the answers

Name three metamorphic rocks.

Gneiss, slate, schist, marble, quartzite Signup and view all the answers

What can regional metamorphism create?

A mountain range of metamorphic rock Signup and view all the answers

Use the following words in a complete and correct sentence: metamorphic rock, solid state, melting, plastic deformation.

Metamorphic rock changes in the solid state without melting by experiencing bending or folding during plastic deformation. Signup and view all the answers

What two general characteristics do scientists use to classify rocks?

They use texture, like the size of the grains in igneous rock, and composition, like the minerals in magma determining a rock's color and density. Signup and view all the answers

Label each arrow in the diagram with the correct process of the rock cycle.

Melting, Cooling or crystallizing, Increased heat and pressure, Weathering and erosion, Compaction and cementation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Igneous Rocks

Formation Process: Igneous rock is formed through cooling or crystallization of molten rock.
Types:
- Intrusive rocks have large grains and form beneath the Earth's surface, allowing slow cooling.
- Extrusive rocks have small grains and form from lava that cools quickly on Earth's surface.
Magma vs. Lava: Molten rock beneath the surface is called magma, while lava is the term for molten rock above the surface.
Grains vs. Sediments: Grains are the individual particles of a rock, while sediments are loose fragments that have broken off from existing rocks.

Characteristics of Granitic Rock

Granitic rock is typically light-colored and has a lower density due to its high silica content.

Common Igneous Rocks

Examples: Gabbro, diorite, granite, basalt, rhyolite, pumice, obsidian.

Classification of Igneous Rocks

Extrusive Features: Can contain gas holes and have small grains.
Intrusive Features: Lack gas holes due to high pressure and have larger grains.

Formation of Sedimentary Rocks

Processes:
- Compaction: Sediment grains are pressed together.
- Cementation: Minerals in water bind sediments to form rock.
Sediment Formation: Occurs from weathering and erosion of rocks.

Sedimentary Rock Characteristics

Layering: The oldest sedimentary layers are found at the bottom.
Types:
- Clastic: Formed from rock and mineral fragments.
- Chemical: Formed through the crystallization of minerals from water solutions.

Common Sedimentary Rocks

Examples: Conglomerate, limestone, sandstone, siltstone, claystone, gypsum, rock salt, coal.

Transition to Sedimentary Rock

Sedimentary rock can incorporate small pieces of other rocks, while igneous rock cannot due to the melting process during formation.

Rock Cycle Dynamics

Intrusive igneous rocks can transform into sedimentary rocks through weathering, erosion, compaction, and cementation.
The three major types of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Metamorphic Rocks

Formation: Result from increased temperature and pressure affecting existing rocks.
Transformation Processes: Exposure leads to weathering and erosion, turning metamorphic rock into sediments.
Composition: Determined by the mineral content of the parent rock.

Types of Metamorphic Rocks

Foliated: Characterized by flat and elongated mineral grains in parallel layers (e.g., schist).
Nonfoliated: Consists of interlocking mineral grains that are rearranged (e.g., marble).

Common Metamorphic Rocks

Examples: Gneiss, slate, schist, marble, quartzite.

Regional Metamorphism

Can lead to the formation of mountain ranges composed of metamorphic rock.

Classification Parameters

Rocks are classified by texture (grain size in igneous rocks) and composition (minerals present influencing color and density).

Rock Cycle Processes

Major processes in the rock cycle include melting, cooling or crystallizing, increased heat and pressure, weathering and erosion, compaction, and cementation.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the rock cycle and igneous rocks with these flashcards. Each card provides a key term related to Earth science and its definition, helping you to understand the foundational concepts of geology. Perfect for students learning about the Earth's processes and rock classification.