Geology: Paleomagnetism and Seafloor Spreading

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Questions and Answers

What type of sedimentary rock is formed from biological processes?

  • Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
  • Biogenic Sedimentary Rocks (correct)
  • Metamorphic Rocks
  • Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Which metamorphic rock is produced from limestone?

  • Slate
  • Marble (correct)
  • Gneiss
  • Schist

What distinguishes volcanic rocks from plutonic rocks?

  • Volcanic rocks are primarily made of silica.
  • Volcanic rocks cool quickly at the surface. (correct)
  • Volcanic rocks form below the Earth's surface.
  • Volcanic rocks have larger crystal sizes.

Which of the following statements about the rock cycle is incorrect?

<p>Sedimentary rocks can transform directly into igneous rocks. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process describes the transformation of sandstone into quartzite?

<p>Metamorphism (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which rock type is formed directly from cooling lava or magma?

<p>Igneous (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process is NOT involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks?

<p>Cooling (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of metamorphic rocks?

<p>Formed from existing rocks under temperature and pressure (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of sedimentary rock?

<p>Volcanic (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT contribute to the formation of igneous rocks?

<p>Biological processes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes is primarily responsible for the formation of sedimentary rocks?

<p>Erosion and deposition (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock is primarily formed through temperature and pressure with existing rocks?

<p>Metamorphic (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of clastic sedimentary rocks?

<p>Made from rock fragments (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process is classified under physical/mechanical weathering?

<p>Frost wedging (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of weathering involves the chemical alteration of minerals?

<p>Chemical weathering (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism is responsible for the formation of clay from feldspar?

<p>Hydrolysis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of biological weathering?

<p>Lichens (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of rock is most likely to undergo dissolution by acids?

<p>Limestone (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Rock Types

  • Igneous Rocks: Formed from lava or magma; divided into plutonic (formed underground) and volcanic (formed above ground).
  • Sedimentary Rocks: Originates from sediments; categorized into clastic, chemical, and biogenic types.
    • Clastic: Composed of fragments from other rocks.
    • Chemical: Formed by chemical precipitation, including subcategories like calcareous, siliceous, and evaporites.
    • Biogenic: Derived from biological processes.
  • Metamorphic Rocks: Result from alteration of existing rocks under heat and pressure; includes transformation from sandstone to quartzite and limestone to marble.

Processes of Rock Formation

  • Sedimentation: Involves processes like diagenesis, lithification, and chemical precipitation, transforming loose sediments into solid rock.
  • Weathering: The breakdown of rocks into soil or sediment due to atmospheric and hydrospheric conditions; leads to the creation of more stable end products.

Deformation and Geological Structures

  • Deformation: Changes in rock shape due to applied stress or temperature changes; measured in units of length, whereas strain is unitless and compares deformed length to original length.
  • Types of Structures:
    • Brittle Structures: Exhibit fracture.
    • Ductile Structures: Flow or bend under stress.

Fault Types

  • Normal Fault: Occurs when the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall.
  • Reverse Fault: The hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall.
  • Strike-Slip Fault: Horizontal movement between tectonic plates.

Rock Cycle

  • Illustrates the continuous transformation between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks through geological processes.

Seafloor Spreading and Continental Drift

  • Seafloor Spreading: Introduced by Harry Hess in 1962, it proposes that the seafloor moves away from mid-ocean ridges due to mantle convection, with a speed of 1-24 cm per year. Evidence involves age dating of crust.
  • Continental Drift: Aligned with Wagner’s hypothesis, suggesting continents were once connected, now integrated into the Plate Tectonics Theory.

Weathering Types

  • Physical/Mechanical Weathering: Breaks rocks into smaller fragments without changing their chemical structure.
    • Examples: Frost wedging, exfoliation.
  • Chemical Weathering: Alters rock composition through chemical reactions, such as dissolution by acids and hydrolysis.
  • Biological Weathering: Involves living organisms in degrading rocks, such as roots and lichens.

Soil Profile and Weathering Degree

  • Weathering results in varying degrees, from fresh rock to completely weathered soil, indicating the extent of exposure and alteration of the rock material.

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