Earth's Layers and Volcanoes Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the age of the oldest known fossils of cyanobacteria?

3.8 billion years old

3.5 billion years old (correct)

4 billion years old

2 billion years old

What process do cyanobacteria use to produce their own food?

Photosynthesis (correct)

Respiration

Fermentation

Chemosynthesis

Where are living stromatolite mounds believed to be found?

Amazon Rainforest

Nile River

Shark Bay, Australia (correct)

Great Barrier Reef

Which of the following environments is characteristic of anaerobic conditions?

Deep sea with limited oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What must happen first for fossils to form?

The organism must die Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feature of bog bodies?

They are preserved due to anaerobic conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which substance is NOT bound to other atoms in an anaerobic environment?

Oxygen (O2) Signup and view all the answers

Stromatolites are primarily composed of layers created by which type of organisms?

Photosynthetic microorganisms Signup and view all the answers

What process explains the transformation of an organism's remains to stone?

Petrification Signup and view all the answers

Which type of remains preserves the original organic matter of the organism?

Bog bodies Signup and view all the answers

What is amber primarily formed from?

Fossilized pine tree resin Signup and view all the answers

What happens to resin that reaches the forest floor?

It can entrap and engulf organisms Signup and view all the answers

Where are the largest deposits of amber located?

Baltic Region of Europe Signup and view all the answers

What did the Amber Room contain that made it significant?

6 tons of amber and other semi-precious stones Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Amber Room dismantled during World War II?

To save it from being destroyed by bombings Signup and view all the answers

What property does resin have when it is secreted by trees?

It repels insects and diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between MAGMA and LAVA?

MAGMA is molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, while LAVA is molten rock on the surface. Signup and view all the answers

Which temperature range is correct for LAVA?

700°C – 1200°C Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of the Earth's layers referred to as the LITHOSPHERE?

The upper portion of the mantle and the crust. Signup and view all the answers

Which layer is thinner but denser than the continental crust?

Oceanic crust Signup and view all the answers

What does the atmosphere primarily consist of?

Gases surrounding the planet. Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate diameter of the Earth based on the given details?

12740 km Signup and view all the answers

Where is the lowest region of the atmosphere located?

Troposphere Signup and view all the answers

Which one of the following is NOT a component of Earth's structure as mentioned?

Troposphere Signup and view all the answers

What is the composition of magma?

Liquified rocks, crystallized minerals, solid rocks, and dissolved gases Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the Earth contains molten rock?

The Outer Core Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about volcanoes?

Volcanoes allow molten rock to escape from the Earth's interior. Signup and view all the answers

What primarily prevents the INNER CORE from becoming molten?

High pressures Signup and view all the answers

What part of the Earth's structure is predominantly solid, despite varied temperatures and pressures?

The Mantle Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between magma and lava?

Lava is magma that has erupted onto the Earth's surface. Signup and view all the answers

In which layer are crystals and solid rocks typically included when forming magma?

The Crust Signup and view all the answers

What allows magma to rise and escape onto the Earth's surface?

High pressure and temperatures Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature is formed by the sinking of one tectonic plate beneath another?

Subduction Zone Signup and view all the answers

What type of magma is primarily associated with subduction zones?

Gummy Magma Rich in Silica Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following volcanoes is classified as a stratovolcano?

Mount St. Helens Signup and view all the answers

What is released when thick magma erupts from stratovolcanoes?

Thick Lava Rich in Gases Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary is characterized by tectonic plates sliding past one another?

Transform Plate Boundary Signup and view all the answers

What geological phenomenon can result from the friction between tectonic plates at transform plate boundaries?

Earthquakes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a stratovolcano?

A cone-shaped volcano with thick lava that erupts explosively Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of sediment in subduction zones?

It alters the magma's composition Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Magma vs Lava

Magma is molten or semi-molten rock beneath the Earth's surface.
Lava is molten or semi-molten rock on the Earth's surface (magma that has erupted from a volcano).
Both magma and lava can contain suspended minerals and gases.
The temperature of magma ranges between 600°C and 1300°C.
The temperature of lava ranges between 700°C and 1200°C.

Earth's Layers

The Earth is composed of four main layers: the core, the mantle, and the crust.
The core is the innermost layer and consists of an inner core made of solid iron and nickel and an outer core made of liquid iron and nickel.
The mantle is the thickest layer, composed of mostly solid rock, but containing areas of molten rock (magma).
The crust is the outermost layer, composed of solid rock, thinner and denser under oceans (oceanic crust) compared to continents (continental crust).
The lithosphere comprises the upper portion of the mantle and the crust.

The 4 Spheres of the Earth

The lithosphere (also known as the geosphere) is one of the four spheres of the Earth.
The other three spheres are:
- The atmosphere: The gases surrounding Earth, held by gravity.
- The hydrosphere: All the water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and ice.
- The biosphere: All living organisms on Earth.

Preserved Remains

Bog bodies are preserved remains where the organism's original organic matter is kept intact.
Amber is a fossilized tree resin that can preserve organisms, such as insects, arachnids, and amphibians.
Amber is formed over time from resin that has been compressed by layers of sediment.
Most amber comes from the Baltic region, especially Kaliningrad Oblast in Russia.

Stromatolites: Living Fossils

Stromatolites are layered sedimentary formations created by photosynthetic microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria.
Cyanobacteria create layers that eventually form mounds over time.
Living stromatolites are found in marine environments, including Shark Bay, Australia, and are believed to be among the oldest living organisms on Earth.

Fossil Formation

The formation of fossils requires an organism to die.
Anaerobic environments, lacking free oxygen, help preserve remains due to the lack of decomposition.
Examples of anaerobic environments include bogs, wetlands, and deep soils.

Volcanoes

Volcanoes are openings on the Earth's surface through which magma can erupt.
Magma consists of liquid rocks (melt), crystallized minerals, solid rocks that are pulled into the melt, and dissolved gases.
The sinking of an oceanic plate beneath a continental plate creates a subduction zone.

Convergent Plate Boundaries

Convergent plate boundaries are formed when tectonic plates collide.
Subduction zones are created when one plate sinks beneath another.
The sinking of one plate drags sediment into the magma below, resulting in a thick silica-rich magma.
Volcanoes along subduction zones are often cone-shaped and called stratovolcanoes.
Famous stratovolcano examples include Mount Saint Helens, Mount Vesuvius, and Mayon.

Transform Plate Boundaries

Transform plate boundaries are formed when tectonic plates slide along one another.
The rubbing of plates can cause earthquakes due to stress build-up.
The San Andreas Fault in western USA is an example of a transform plate boundary.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the Earth's layers, magma, and lava with this engaging quiz. Explore the differences between magma and lava, as well as the composition and characteristics of the Earth's four main layers. Perfect for anyone interested in geology and earth science!