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Questions and Answers
What is the primary mechanism of frost wedging in mechanical weathering?
What is the primary mechanism of frost wedging in mechanical weathering?
- Rock layers expanding under thermal changes
- Water freezing and expanding in rock cracks (correct)
- Wind erosion wearing away rock surfaces
- Salt crystals expanding in rock pores
How does salt crystal growth contribute to mechanical weathering?
How does salt crystal growth contribute to mechanical weathering?
- By causing rocks to heat and crack
- Through the evaporation of groundwater leading to pressure buildup (correct)
- By chemically altering the rock minerals
- Through the freezing and thawing cycles of rock
Which process involves the formation of fractures parallel to the rock surface due to pressure changes?
Which process involves the formation of fractures parallel to the rock surface due to pressure changes?
- Pressure-release fracturing (correct)
- Dissolution
- Frost wedging
- Abrasion
What is the result of oxidation in the weathering process?
What is the result of oxidation in the weathering process?
Which process leads to the formation of new solutions as rocks interact with water?
Which process leads to the formation of new solutions as rocks interact with water?
What distinguishes erosion from weathering?
What distinguishes erosion from weathering?
Which environmental setting is most commonly associated with salt crystal growth?
Which environmental setting is most commonly associated with salt crystal growth?
What role does abrasion play in mechanical weathering?
What role does abrasion play in mechanical weathering?
What is the primary structural component of silicate minerals?
What is the primary structural component of silicate minerals?
Which type of silicate has tetrahedra arranged in sheets?
Which type of silicate has tetrahedra arranged in sheets?
What mineral type is classified as a native element?
What mineral type is classified as a native element?
Which type of luster is characterized by a smooth surface and high reflectivity, resembling metal?
Which type of luster is characterized by a smooth surface and high reflectivity, resembling metal?
What is the mineral composition of quartz?
What is the mineral composition of quartz?
What best describes the process of sedimentary formation?
What best describes the process of sedimentary formation?
Which of the following mineral types contains sulfur?
Which of the following mineral types contains sulfur?
What characteristic is NOT associated with minerals classified as having a greasy luster?
What characteristic is NOT associated with minerals classified as having a greasy luster?
Which of the following represents an isolated tetrahedra silicate structure?
Which of the following represents an isolated tetrahedra silicate structure?
Which crystal system is characterized by three unequal axes intersecting at right angles?
Which crystal system is characterized by three unequal axes intersecting at right angles?
What is the primary factor that distinguishes extrusive igneous rocks from intrusive igneous rocks?
What is the primary factor that distinguishes extrusive igneous rocks from intrusive igneous rocks?
Which texture indicates that igneous rock has cooled very rapidly, resulting in no crystal formation?
Which texture indicates that igneous rock has cooled very rapidly, resulting in no crystal formation?
What type of sediment is derived from external sources like space debris?
What type of sediment is derived from external sources like space debris?
Which process describes the transformation of sediments into sedimentary rocks?
Which process describes the transformation of sediments into sedimentary rocks?
Which type of metamorphism occurs due to high pressure from tectonic forces?
Which type of metamorphism occurs due to high pressure from tectonic forces?
What key characteristic distinguishes felsic rocks from mafic rocks?
What key characteristic distinguishes felsic rocks from mafic rocks?
In Bowen's Reaction Series, which mineral crystallizes first from cooling magma?
In Bowen's Reaction Series, which mineral crystallizes first from cooling magma?
Which type of sedimentary rock is formed from the accumulation of organic debris?
Which type of sedimentary rock is formed from the accumulation of organic debris?
What is the primary result of sedimentation processes?
What is the primary result of sedimentation processes?
What is the defining feature of foliated metamorphic rocks?
What is the defining feature of foliated metamorphic rocks?
What type of rock originates from the solidification of molten material?
What type of rock originates from the solidification of molten material?
What characteristic of sedimentary rocks typically indicates they are clastic?
What characteristic of sedimentary rocks typically indicates they are clastic?
Which type of metamorphic rock forms under high pressure and low temperature conditions?
Which type of metamorphic rock forms under high pressure and low temperature conditions?
What process is primarily responsible for the formation of bioclastic sedimentary rocks?
What process is primarily responsible for the formation of bioclastic sedimentary rocks?
Flashcards
Frost Wedging
Frost Wedging
Water seeps into cracks, expands on freezing, enlarging cracks.
Salt Crystal Growth
Salt Crystal Growth
Water evaporates, leaving salt crystals that break rock.
Pressure-Release Fracturing
Pressure-Release Fracturing
Overlying rock erodes, causing fractures in the remaining rock.
Abrasion
Abrasion
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Oxidation
Oxidation
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Dissolution (Limestone)
Dissolution (Limestone)
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Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis
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Pedology
Pedology
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Igneous Rock Formation
Igneous Rock Formation
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Extrusive Rock
Extrusive Rock
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Intrusive Rock
Intrusive Rock
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Aphanitic Texture
Aphanitic Texture
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Phaneritic Texture
Phaneritic Texture
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Porphyritic Texture
Porphyritic Texture
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Sedimentary Rock Formation
Sedimentary Rock Formation
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Lithogenous Sediment
Lithogenous Sediment
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Biogenous Sediment
Biogenous Sediment
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Metamorphism
Metamorphism
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Contact Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism
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Weathering
Weathering
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Clastic Sedimentary Rock
Clastic Sedimentary Rock
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Mineralogy
Mineralogy
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Silicate Mineral
Silicate Mineral
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Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
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Metallic Luster
Metallic Luster
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Vitreous Luster
Vitreous Luster
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Crystal System
Crystal System
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Cubic Crystal System
Cubic Crystal System
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Hardness of minerals
Hardness of minerals
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Luster
Luster
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Study Notes
Minerals
- Minerals are the building blocks of rocks.
- Minerals are natural, inorganic solids with a specific internal atomic structure and chemical composition.
- Mineraloids lack an ordered atomic structure and definite chemical composition.
- Examples include: Pele's hair, Libyan desert glass, tektites.
Classification of Minerals
- Minerals are classified according to their anions (or groups) as this has the largest effect on their properties.
- Silicates: Silicon and oxygen combine to form a framework called a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron.
- Tetrahedra may be isolated, form chains, or sheets.
- Examples :Feldspar, Quartz
Physical Properties of Minerals
- Luster: How a mineral reflects light.
- Metallic luster: Similar to metals, opaque, shiny.
- Non-metallic luster: Various types (e.g., vitreous, pearly, greasy, silky, resinous, adamantine, dull).
- Crystal Systems: Geometric arrangement of atoms.
- There are 7 crystal systems.
- Color: Minerals can vary in color due to impurities in their chemical makeup.
- Streak: The color of a mineral's powder.
- Hardness: Resistance to scratching (Mohs hardness scale, 1-10).
- Cleavage: Tendency to break along specific planes.
- Perfect cleavage: Breaks easily along smooth planes.
- Poor cleavage: Breaks irregularly with little to no discernible patterns.
- Fracture: How a mineral breaks along irregular surfaces.
- Specific gravity: Density of the mineral relative to water.
- Tenacity: How a mineral resists breaking or deformation. -Brittle (breaks easily) -Malleable (can be hammered into sheets) Examples:
- Acid test: Some minerals react with acid to produce gas.
- Fluorescence: Some minerals glow under UV light.
- Gem: minerals with a high value for beauty.
Petrology
- The study of rocks, including their formation, composition, structure, and processes.
- Mineralogy: The study of minerals.
- Rocks are classified into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
- Igneous rocks: Form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
- Extrusive (volcanic) rocks: Form from the cooling of lava on the Earth's surface.
- Intrusive (plutonic) rocks: Form from the cooling of magma beneath the Earth's surface.
- Sedimentary rocks: Formed from the accumulation and cementation of sediment. - Clastic sedimentary rocks: Composed of fragments of other rocks. - Organic sedimentary rocks: Formed from organic material.
- Metamorphic rocks: Form from the transformation of existing rocks by heat, pressure, and/or chemical reactions.
Naming and identifying Igneous rocks
- Texture: Size, shape, and arrangement of mineral grains or crystals
- Aphanitic (fine-grained)
- Phaneritic (coarse-grained)
- Porphyritic (mixture of different-sized minerals)
- Vesicular (contains voids)
- Glassy (no visible crystals)
- Composition (Felsic, Intermediate, Mafic, Ultramafic)
- Felsic rocks: Rich in feldspar and silica.
- Mafic rocks: Rich in magnesium and iron. - Ultramafic rocks: Very high in iron and magnesium.
- Intermediate rocks: Between felsic and mafic in composition
- Bowen's Reaction Series: A tool useful to understand the relationship between composition and temperature during cooling.
Naming and identifying Sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
- Sedimentary
-Formation of sedimentary rocks.
-Erosion and transportation
-Deposition,
-Compaction
-Cementation
- Types of sedimentary rocks
- Clastic sedimentary rocks
- Organic sedimentary rocks
- Bioclastic sediments
- Types of sedimentary rocks
- Metamorphic
-Types of Metamorphism.
- Contact Metamorphism
- Burial Metamorphism
- Regional Dynamothermal Metamorphism
- Hydrothermal Metamorphism
- Cataclastic Metamorphism
- Types of Metamorphic rocks
- Foliated and non-foliated rocks
- Types of Metamorphic rocks
Weathering and Erosion
- Weathering: Breakdown of rocks and minerals by physical and chemical processes.
- Mechanical weathering: Physical breakdown of rocks (frost wedging, pressure-release fracturing, abrasion, thermal expansion/contraction).
- Chemical weathering: Chemical alteration of rocks (oxidation, dissolution, hydrolysis).
- Erosion: Removal and transport of weathered rock material by natural forces (water, wind, ice).
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of minerals, including their definitions, classifications based on anions, and physical properties. You'll learn how different minerals are categorized and their unique characteristics, such as luster and crystal systems. Test your knowledge of these essential geological components!
