GEOL 101 Exam 1 Review

Proposes that all matter and energy in the Universe originated from a single infinitesimally small point.

Describes the life cycle of stars, including the fusion of elements, supernovas, and the formation of heavier elements.

Explains the formation of the solar system from a rotating mass of cosmic dust and gas, leading to planet formation.

Process where denser materials sink to the core of a planet, creating layers like the core, mantle, and crust.

Defines a mineral as naturally occurring, formed by geologic processes, inorganic, crystalline solid, and with a definite chemical composition.

Minerals are composed of elements bound by chemical bonds, forming crystals with specific atomic arrangements and properties.

Most common rock-forming minerals on Earth, comprising the majority of the crust and mantle, with various structures like isolated tetrahedra or frameworks.

Formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava, with different textures (crystalline or cemented) based on the cooling environment.

Vary in types like effusive (low viscosity) or explosive (high viscosity), leading to different volcano shapes such as shield, cinder cone, or stratovolcano.

Enormous volcanic depressions formed when a magma chamber empties, causing the collapse of the volcano into the void, creating a large circular depression.

Viscous lava that rarely flows, forming lava domes when it plugs the vent.

Basalt lava with a ropy texture, formed from extremely hot basalt cooling and flowing.

Basalt lava with a jagged, sharp texture, formed from solidified Pahoehoe lava.

Fracturing that creates hexagonal columns in basalt when it cools.

Basaltic lava cooling quickly in water, forming glass-encrusted blobs due to pressure.

Mix of rock fragments, pumice, and volcanic ash.

Volcanic ash and fragmented pumice cemented together, forming glass shards.

Volcanic glass formed from rapidly cooled lava.

Rapidly flowing slurry of ash-rich debris becoming very wet.

Wetted debris moving downhill like wet concrete.

Avalanche of hot ash, gas, and debris, known for the destruction of Pompeii.

Low silica content, low viscosity, and low volatiles, characteristic of basalt rocks.

High silica content, high viscosity, and high volatiles, characteristic of andesite and rhyolite.

Locations where MOR-generated oceanic crust forms from decompression melting of mantle rock.

Locations where most stratovolcanoes form due to flux melting in the lithosphere.

Areas where fractional crystallization and assimilation or heat transfer cause melting of continental crust.

Locations where decompression melting in the asthenosphere and lithosphere creates large volumes of magma.

Known for mantle plume hot spots coinciding with mid-ocean ridges.

Known for mantle plumes cutting through continental crust, creating large volumes of felsic magma.