Geology Exam 1

Front 1

Uniformitarianism

Back 1

The physical, chemical, biological, and geological laws and processes that operate today have also operated in the geologic past. This is important because in order to understand the vast ancient geologic history, we must first understand current processes first then apply them to the past

Front 2

Law of cross-cutting relationships

Back 2

A principle of relative dating meaning that a rock or fault is younger than any rock or fault in which it cuts.

Front 3

Slab Pull

Back 3

A process where subduction of cold dense slabs of oceanic lithosphere is a major driving force of plate motion.

Front 4

Mafic

Back 4

A type of mineral composition that is common in oceanic plates, is darker, denser, and is comprised primarily of heavier elements such as Fe and Mg. Due to its density and weight: it helps explain why oceanic plates are subducted under continental lithosphere

Front 5

Isotope

Back 5

The variations of the number of neutrons in the nucleus of atoms. Measure Radioactive decay

Front 6

Mantle

Back 6

Is the solid rocky shell and is Fe rich with Oxygen.

Front 7

Asthenosphere

Back 7

A weak plastic zone that makes up the upper part of the mantle

Front 8

Laws of Super Position

Back 8

In an undisturbed sequence, the higher rocks are younger and the lower rocks are older

Front 9

Divergent

Back 9

Plates move away

Front 10

Convergent

Back 10

Plates move toward each other

Front 11

Transform

Back 11

Plates moves past another

Front 12

Unconformity

Back 12

Means the is an interval of time missing in sedimentary layers. This is important because they significant geologic events Earth History

Front 13

3 Divisons of the Earth's Interior

Back 13

Lithosphere: Continental which is felsic and oceanic which mafic

Mantle: Ultramafic and has the largest volume

Core: Fe and Ni rich

Front 14

How did Eratothenes calculated the circumference.

Back 14

Using the shadows of a tower in Alexandria and a well in Syene, using angles and trigonometry.

Front 15

What is peer review

Back 15

Feedback from scientist about their work, and a possibility to include information that their peers have discovered. Checking and verifying the accuracy of the work

Front 16

What is an Alpha Decay?

Back 16

Alpha Decay loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons. The atomic number decreasing by 2. The parent isotope is transformed into a new element and into a daughter isotope

Front 17

Define Felsic Rocks

Back 17

Felsic is light in color, density and made up of Si and Al and is usually on continental lithosphere.

Front 18

How are Volcanoes formed?

Back 18

Subduction happens in oceanic-oceanic convergence. The rocks on the ocean floor are hydrated which increases the melting points because of the higher density. The magma then form a volcano

Front 19

How are Mountains formed?

Back 19

Formed from continental-continental convergence. The plates cannot subduct under one another, so they form mountain ranges in the resulting crash

Front 20

Earthquakes:

Back 20

Occur at fault which are breaks in the mantle. They also occur at subduction zone where plates push into each other (Oceanic-continental)