Test 1 Study guide Geology 101

Fall 2014

Topics to review: (Know the what-why-when-how and possible

examples of the following items)

Atmosphere-Lithosphere-Hydrosphere + Biosphere

Solar system

Dynamic planet
Closed system - a system that only exchanges energy across its
boundary
Open system - a system that will exchange both matter and
energy across its boundary
Dynamic system - a system in which matter & energy react
Dynamic only means Reactive and Ever-changing

1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics

Physical Laws
Whatever you do, you can NEVER break these laws
First and Second Laws of thermodynamics
First Law (Conservation)
Energy (matter) is neither created nor destroyed, but only
changes form
Second Law (Entropy)
Systems move from High energy states to Low energy states
(sometimes referred to as equilibrium)
nd
-2 Law helps explain water flows downhill, unstable minerals react,
dynamics of earth, process of differentiation

Differentiation solar system to terrestrial- Lecture 2 PPT

 Common elements in earths crust compared to whole earth

Earths internal heat

Convection- Lecture 2 PPT

Tectonic plates

Types of crust, their properties and how this influences plate

tectonics, magma, etc
1. Continental Crust- thicker, less dense, older,
2. Oceanic Crust- Thinner, More dense, Younger, composed of
Basalt,

3 Plate boundaries, types of forces and their subcategories;

examples of each
1. Divergent Boundary- Spreading apart Ex. Mid Ocean Ridge,
Iceland
2. Convergent Boundary- Plates move towards each other
Subduction:
Oceanic-continental -Denser crust dives (subducts) under less dense crust
crust -Oceanic crust subducts under continental crust
-Subduction -Older (cooler and more dense) oceanic crust subducts under younger
Oceanic-oceanic crust (warmer and less dense) oceanic crust
Collision continental to continental crust,Neither subducts under
-Subduction one another
Continental to
continental crust
-Collision
 3. Transform Boundary- Plates move laterally past each other,
Ex. SanAndreasFault
-

Features of the various plate boundaries

Divergent Boundary
In oceans Subduction zone Convergent
Volcanism -Volcanism (New rocks)
Undersea mountain ranges -Earthquakes
(ridges) -Island Arcs
On continents Mountain ranges (Volcanic in origin)
Some volcanism Collision: Earthquake, Mtn. Ranges
Rift valleys
Transform
-Earthquakes

Evidence of plate tectonics

Modern distribution of volcanoes, mountain building, earthquakes
Magnetic orientation of minerals in rocks
Ages of rocks at divergent boundaries

How and why plates move

Plates move because intense heat in the Earth's core that causes
molten rock in the mantle layer to move
Mantle crust - core

3 categories of rocks and rock cycle (know the parts of this

diagram and what it means/suggests)
 Rock Types:
Igneous Rocks , Sedimentary Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks
What is a mineral? What is a rock?
Mineral-Naturally occurring inorganic solid, with a definite
crystal structure and specific chemical formula
Rocks- Aggregate of minerals

Elements atoms ions (cations versus anions)

-Cations lose electrons; Anions gain electrons

Neutrons protons electrons: their properties, organization

and how they influence elements

Isotopes-Elements that have several varieties of different mass

Atomic number- An element is defined by the number of Protons.
Atomic Mass-the number of Protons + Neutrons
Bonding how it happens; types of bonds?
Ionic bonding electrostatic forces, can be broken (ex.
dissolving salt in water)
Covalent bonding very strong bonds, example: H2O; O2
Metallic bonds freely moving electrons in outer shells. What
do you call free flowing electrons?
 van der Waals weak electrostatic forces (not related to
electrons)

Complex anions
Mineral groups- on paper notes
Silica Tetrahedral- SiO4

SiO4 shapes (isolated, single chain; double chain; sheets; 3-d

structures) and key silicate minerals that represent these SiO4
structures)

Polymorphs
-Minerals that have the same formula but different crystal structure
 Physical properties of minerals
Luster how it reflects light
Color not very diagnostic in many cases
Streak color of powdered residue
Cleavage preferred planes of weakness
Bonds!
Hardness resistance to scratching
Special properties taste, smell, magnetism, effervescence

Mohs scale of hardness (know the minerals and their

hardness)

Ferromag (mafic) minerals versus Sialic (felsic) minerals

why/how/what
Ferromag (Mafic)
Silicate minerals rich in iron and magnesium
Relatively high density and higher crystallization
temperatures
Olivine Isolated SiO4 Tetrahedra
Pyroxenes Single Chains
 Amphiboles Double Chains
Mica biotite Sheet silicates

Sialic (Felsic)
Silicate minerals rich in silicon and aluminum
Relatively low densities and low crystallization
temperatures
Quartz Framework Silicates
Feldspars - Framework Silicates
Potassium feldspar
Plagioclase feldspar
Mica muscovite Sheet silicates

Relationship of temperature to mineral crystallization which

silicates form at higher temperatures? What types of SiO 4
structures do they have
Non-silicate minerals, in general, form at lower temperature and
pressure conditions than do silicate minerals
Ferromag silicate minerals form at higher temperatures than do
Sialic minerals
-Ferromags high in Fe and Mg (as well as Ca)
-Sialic high in Si, Al and O, little or no Fe, Mg, Ca

Rocks how do we classify them

By TEXTURE and COMPOSITION.

Texture and composition

Texture the size, shape and arrangement of crystals
Composition-(mineralogy) of the magma and hence rocks

Igneous rocks what are they? How do they form? What are
their characteristics?
From Fire
Crystallization of Magma/Lava
Silicate minerals dominate; some oxides

2 categories of igneous rocks how does each form and how

does this influence texture?
Plutonic (intrusive) versus Volcanic (extrusive)
Extrusive (Volcanic)
Lava at or very near the earths surface
 Rapid cooling male crystals small, interlocking, not
visible
Intrusive (Plutonic)
Magma at depth in earths crust
Slow Cooling make it large, visible interlocking
crystals

Texture: Phaneritic, aphanetic, pophyries; vesicular;

phenocrysts

Composition: Mafic, intermediate, felsic

Mafic- Magma that is high in Ferromag minerals
Intermediate- Magma that is intermediate in composition
Felsic- Magma that is high in Sialic minerals

Compositional equivalents between Volcanic and Plutonic rocks

Basalt andesite rhyolite granite diorite- gabbro

Obsidian, pumice scoria, tuff

Bowenss reaction series: Know the minerals, relative

temperature constraints, silica and mafic metal content. Be
able to associate Bowens with igneous rock formation and
silica tetrahedral structures
 How magma forms
Lowering Pressure
Mantle convection moves deep mantle rocks upwards.
Less confining pressure near the surface
Raising Temperature
Hot mafic magma intrudes into the crust
Changing composition
Adding small amounts of water (lowers melting point)
Fractional Crystallization of magma
Partial melt of surrounding rocks

Magma Differentiation
Fractional crystallization- high T mafic minerals crystallize
first and settle out of magma. Magma becomes more Felsic over
time

Partial melt- Low T minerals in surrounding country rock melt

into magma, making it more Felsic over time

Magma differentiation- fragments of country rock

(sometimes ultra mafic mantle)
 Xenoliths-Magma Mixing

Plate Boundaries