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What is a craton, and how does tectonic activity help explain the formation of new continental crust along the edges of a craton?
What is a craton, and how does tectonic activity help explain the formation of new continental crust along the edges of a craton?
A craton is the ancient nucleus of a continent, and new continental crust is added along its margins as oceanic plate is subducted, resulting in volcanic activity that adds igneous rock. Terranes are fragments of crust accreted onto the continent.
What is an anticline and a syncline, and how are they thought to form?
What is an anticline and a syncline, and how are they thought to form?
An anticline is an upward fold in bedrock, whereas a syncline is a downward fold. They form due to the interactions of continental plates that compress and deform the rock.
What is a fault and how are faults thought to form?
What is a fault and how are faults thought to form?
A fault is a break in bedrock where movement occurs, forming due to tectonic activity that pulls rock apart or compresses it.
Where is the Basin and Range Province, and how does the landscape of this region show the influence of faulting?
Where is the Basin and Range Province, and how does the landscape of this region show the influence of faulting?
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What is orogenesis?
What is orogenesis?
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How does the interaction of tectonic plates explain how orogenesis occurs?
How does the interaction of tectonic plates explain how orogenesis occurs?
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What is denudation?
What is denudation?
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What is weathering?
What is weathering?
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How does physical weathering differ from chemical weathering?
How does physical weathering differ from chemical weathering?
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What are mass movements, and what causes them?
What are mass movements, and what causes them?
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Characterize the following types of mass movement by speed and water content:
Characterize the following types of mass movement by speed and water content:
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Study Notes
Cratons and Continental Crust Formation
- Craton: ancient, stable part of a continent, exposed in the continental shield.
- New continental crust forms at craton margins via subduction of oceanic plates.
- Subduction leads to volcanic activity, adding igneous rock to the continent.
- Terranes: fragments of crust, like islands, accreted to craton edges during tectonic activity.
Anticlines and Synclines
- Anticline: upward fold in bedrock, indicating compression forces.
- Syncline: downward fold in bedrock, also formed from compression.
- Formation linked to interactions of continental plates that cause rock deformation.
Faults
- Fault: break in bedrock with movement occurring along its plane.
- Formed through tectonic activity: pulling apart (causing fault drops) or compressing (creating folds).
Basin and Range Province
- Located in the American West, primarily Nevada and Utah.
- Characterized by faulting that results in grabens (downward-faulted blocks) and horsts (upward-faulted blocks).
- Landscape features alternating valleys and mountains.
Orogenesis
- Orogenesis: the process of mountain building caused by plate tectonics.
Tectonic Plates and Orogenesis
- Mountain building arises from volcanic activity and crustal deformation due to plate interactions.
- Deformation includes folding and faulting of the Earth's crust.
Denudation
- Denudation: processes that wear down or rearrange landforms, critical in geomorphology.
- Involves weathering and erosion that strips down landscape features.
Weathering
- Weathering: breakdown of bedrock into smaller particles, can involve dissolution of rocks.
Physical vs. Chemical Weathering
- Physical Weathering: mechanical breakage of rocks, no chemical change occur.
- Chemical Weathering: alters rock minerals through chemical reactions, e.g., limestone forming karst terrain.
Mass Movements
- Mass movements, or mass wasting: downslope movement of weathered material due to gravity.
Types of Mass Movement
- Rockfall: rapid movement of dry material.
- Debris avalanche: rapid movement of moderately wet material.
- Soil creep: slow movement of dry material.
- Solifluction: slow, water-saturated movement in regions with freezing and thawing.
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Description
Prepare for your geology test with these review flashcards focusing on cratons and tectonic activity. This set includes definitions and discussions surrounding the formation of new continental crust and the role of terranes. Enhance your understanding of fundamental geological concepts.
