Questions and Answers
What is a pluton?
An intrusive igneous structure that results from cooling and hardening of magma beneath Earth's surface.
How are plutons classified?
Classified according to their size, shape, and relationship to surrounding rock layers.
What are the types of plutons?
Sills, Laccoliths, and Dikes.
What is a sill?
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What are laccoliths?
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What are dikes?
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What are batholiths?
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What is a stock?
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How do batholiths form?
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Study Notes
Plutons
- Intrusive igneous structures formed by the cooling and solidification of magma beneath Earth's surface.
Classification of Plutons
- Classified based on size, shape, and how they interact with surrounding rock layers.
Types of Plutons
- Sills: Form between parallel layers of sedimentary rock; most common type of sill is horizontal; occur at shallow depths with low overburden pressure.
- Laccoliths: Lens-shaped plutons that push overlying rock layers upward; formed near the surface where magma intrudes between sedimentary layers; have higher viscosity than sills.
- Dikes: Sheet-like plutons formed when magma invades fractures in surrounding rocks; vertical or steeply inclined.
Batholiths
- Large bodies of intrusive igneous rock with surface exposure exceeding 100 square kilometers.
Stocks
- Similar to batholiths but smaller, with an exposure area of less than 100 square kilometers.
Formation of Batholiths
- Develop from plutons that start as blobs of magma beneath the surface, which rise towards the crust and merge to create a massive body of rock.
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Description
Test your knowledge on plutons and their classifications with these flashcards from Geology Chapter 10.3. Explore definitions, types, and characteristics of intrusive igneous structures. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of geological concepts.
