Earth's Subsystems & Rock Classifications PDF

**I. EARTH'S SUBSYSTEMS** ***[Earth]*** \- only known planet in the solar system to support life \- holds unique traits capable of sustaining itself **UNIQUE TRAITS:** \- has an atmosphere - water sources \- strong magnetic field - exact tilting \- right distance - presence of moon **Moon**...

**I. EARTH'S SUBSYSTEMS** ***[Earth]*** \- only known planet in the solar system to support life \- holds unique traits capable of sustaining itself **UNIQUE TRAITS:** \- has an atmosphere - water sources \- strong magnetic field - exact tilting \- right distance - presence of moon **Moon** -- planetary body with its own gravitational pull *(for Earth)* \- influences tides in bodies of water \- acts as a satellite for other planets **Biosphere** -- most depended subsystem \- maintains the equilibrium of the 4 subsystems **Hydrosphere** -- vast bodies of water \- water source and habitat for organisms **Atmosphere** -- houses gaseous substances \- influences climate and weather **Geosphere** -- rock formations, minerals and land masses \- provides pathways for water and materials for shelter ***[Cycles]*** ***1. Water Cycle*** -- simple evaporation, condensation and precipitation \- continuous movement of water from Earth & atmosphere ***2. Rock Cycle*** -- how the types of rocks are processed or formed \- factors can be *heat and pressure* \- **Igneous**; cooled molten rock, **Sedimentary**; weathered/eroded rocks, **Metamorphic**; heated and pressurized sediments ***3. Carbon Cycle*** -- reusing of carbon atoms \- carbon travels from *[atmosphere]*, *[organism]* and over \- ***carbon*** stored in rocks, organisms and atmosphere \- ***fossilized organisms*** become fuel or more carbon ***3. Oxygen Cycle*** -- cycle of breathable air; *biogeochemical* cycle \- circulation of oxygen atoms **II. ROCK CLASSIFICATIONS** ***[Rocks]*** -- solid mass; aggregate of various natural minerals \- composed early *weaponry*¸ *construction*, *ornaments*, *jewelry* \- foundation of advancement in technology **TYPES:** ***1. [Igneous]*** -- cooled hot molten rock \- crystal-like materials \- either ***[Intrusive]*(Plutonic)** & ***[Extrusive]*(Volcanic)** \- ex. *Granite* & *Obsidian* **Plutonic** -- formed from magma cooling underground \- large crystals **Volcanic** -- formed from lava flowing on Earth's surface \- smaller crystals **Composition:** **[Felsic]** -- high [Si], [Na], [Al], [K], low in *Fe*, *Mg*, *Ca* **[Mafic]** -- high [Fe], [Mg], [Ca], low *Si*, *Na*, *Al*, *K* **[Intermediate]** -- mix or balance of felsic and mafic ***2. [Metamorphic]*** -- exposed to heat, pressure and hot-mineral fluids rocks \- found near tectonic movement & surfaces of geologic uplifts or erosion \- *[striped rocks]*; light and dark \- comes from other rocks \- can undergo partial melting \- more ***felsic***(quartz, feldspar) can melt; more ***mafic***(biotite, hornblende) do not \- melted can recrystallize and form *[light-colored igneous]* with *[dark-colored metamorphic]* (**Migmatite**) **Types:** **Foliated** -- layered or bandered \- exposed to high heat \- pressure from regional ***metamorphism*** \- ex. *Gneiss*, *Phyllite*, *Schist* **Non-Foliated** -- not layered or bandered \- heat from ***metamorphism*** \- ex. *Hornfels*, *Marble*, *Quartzite* ***3. [Sedimentary]*** -- organic fossils and pre-existing rock formations broken to small sediments \- found close to Earth's surface \- accumulation of sediments \- deposition of weathered rocks or biogenic activity \- effect of solution precipitation (i.e Acid Rain) \- ***Sedimentary**;* settling of organic and mineral particles \- **Factors:** *lithification, weathering, dissolution, erosion* **Classes:** **1. Organic** -- dead plants & animals in rock layers **2. Clastic** -- rock layers undergoing mechanical weathering **3. Chemical** -- minerals present in rocks undergo chemical change, cools during precipitation and changes to a rock **Characteristics** \- ***Layered Structure***; *"strata"* -- layers of sedimentaries showing info of Earth's past environment \- ***Visible Particles***; has particles or fragments of varying sizes (i.e clay, slit, sand, pebbles) \- ***Fossils***; contains remains of ancient organisms preserved within the rock \- **Varied Composition**; no exact composition, contains minerals, organic matter and chemicals \- ***Soft and Easily Eroded**;* susceptible to weathering, reshaping and natural change **III. MINING** ***[Mining]*** - set of processes where useful resources are withdrawn, collected or stocked \- extraction of non-renewable resources \- utilize tools & machines to collect specific minerals \- methods differ from harvested mineral \- methods have varied degrees of impact **[Natural Resources]** - materials in nature \- renewable and non-renewable **[Mineral Resource]** - total amount of minerals in Earth **[Mineral Reserves]** - portion of a mineral that can be mined **[Minerals]** - can be metallic & nonmetallic **[Industrial Minerals]** - nonmetallic minerals for general use **[Ores]** - rocks with high concentration of minerals \- processed to take the mineral **METHODS** 1. ***[Open Pit Mining]*** - starts from the surface \- maintains exposure throughout extraction \- no vegetation after operation **Benefits:** \- Trucks & shovels can move large volumes \- Equipment is not restricted \- Faster production \- Lower cast to mine 2. ***[Underground Mining]*** - extracting below surface \- safe, economic & little waste \- entry from surface to underground may be *horizontal or vertical* known as **adit,shift, decline** **Benefits:** \- ore bodies are too deep to mine open pit \- quality of ore bodies are high \- lower ground footprint **Methods:** a. **Room & Pillar** - tunnels driven in a chess board pattern with massive square pillars which are gradually cut away \- used in mining *coal* b. **Narrow Vein** - underground excavation along *[geological veins]*, distinct sheet-like bodies of crystallized minerals \- supports underground mining stoping, with excavations for engine rooms & pump chambers \- used in mining *platinum* c. **Long Wall** - excavating ores from tabular deposits or soft mineral deposits \- long walls of ores are mined in a single slice in rectangular blocks that are defined during development and ore extracted in a single operation d. **Underwater Mining** - necessary wherein product is identified in an aquatic environment \- uses purpose-designed ships with specialized tools **IV. WATER & SOIL** ***[Water]*** \- oceans contain **97%** of its water; **3%** in freshwater \- most ***freshwater*** found in glaciers or ice sheets \- composes **70%** of Earth's surface \- poses great impact on ecosystems \- ***technology*** increased availability = **digging wells, collecting rain & desalination/filtratiaon** \- ***freshwater***(*2.5%, **35 000 000 km^3^***) = Lakes and Rivers(**0.3%**), Ground Water(**30.8%**), Glaciers & Snow (**68.9%**) \- ***saltwater*** (*97.5%, **1 365 000 000 km^3^***) **[Reservoir]** - storage of water in the environment **[Residence Time]** - duration of water's stay in a reservoir **WATER SYSTEMS:** 1. **Lentic** - stationary bodies of water \- Lakes, Ponds, Wetlands, Lagoons, Swamps 2. **Lotic** - freely-flowing bodies of water \- Creeks, Streamas, Rivers, Canals ***In Human Activities*** \- [ *Industrial, Agricultural & Urban Sectors of the Country*] \- produces **Industrial Wastes** \- disposal of **Animal Excretements & Scraps** \- Continuous **Littering** ***[Soil]*** \- unconsolidated rocks & fragments mixed with *water, air & organic matter* \- supports plant growth & composes Earth's surface \- composed of ***[Humus]***; mass assisting structure, texture & organic growth \- can be used for *agriculture* \- ***[Arable land]***; land suitable for farming & gardening - **10%** in totality is arable, **6%** remains **LAYERS** 1. ***Horizon 0/Humus*** - layer substantially rich in organic matter 2. ***Horizon A/Topsoil*** - contains minerals & varied organic soil 3. ***Horizon B/Subsoil*** - few organic matter \- assortment of soluble minerals (*zone of accumulation*) 4. ***Horizon C/Parent Material*** - little to no organic matter containing rocks 5. ***Horizon R/Bedrock*** - hardened rocks \- source of Horizon C and not beneficial to soil **CONSERVATION OF SOIL & WATER** \- use only when necessary \- proper waste management for quality \- crop rotation for proper circulation \- application of organic matter