Academic Earth/Space Science : Midterm Exam Study Guide

What are the major elements of Earth’s crust?

elements make up minerals

an atom that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

consists of two or more elements that are chemically combined in specific proportions

form when atoms share electrons

form when metal ions share electrons

forms between negative and positive ions

crystalline structure, chemical compound, solid, naturally occurring, and inorganic

the building blocks of all silicates

the color of the powder of a mineral

color

In the atomic structure of a mineral, some bonds are weaker than others. These weak bonds are places where a mineral will break when it’s stressed.

d=m/v

By how they form

underground causes large grains

above ground causes smaller grains

new minerals grow with different sizes, shapes, and orientations than those of other minerals.

intruding magma causes localized areas of elevated temperature that alter rock

occurs over large areas of Earth’s crust, usually during mountain building, and is associated with very high temperatures and pressure

minerals that fall into the cracks of creek beds

free, clean, renewable source

a uranium atom is split in a controlled reaction, which creates energy, which generates heat, which boils water, which creates steam that spins a turbine

water spins a turbine

pollution from a known and specific location, such as factory pipes

pollution that doesn’t have a specific point or origin

1970s

Clean Air Act

occurs when physical forces break rock into smaller and smaller pieces without changing the rock’s mineral composition

the mechanical breakup of rock caused by the expansion of freezing water in cracks and crevices

frost wedging

rock characteristics and climate

hot, wet climate

mineral matter, or broken-down rock; humus, which is the decayed remains of organisms; water; and air.

grain size, sand (large), silt, and clay (small)

plants

loose and partly decayed mineral matter)

clay transported from above

partially weathered parent material

usually form in temperate areas that receive more than 63 cm of rain every year. This soil is present in much of the forested areas in the eastern area of the states. The B horizon in this type of soil usually contains a large amount of iron oxide, making it a red-orange color.

found in the western US in areas that have grasses and bush vegetation. Since chemical weathering is slower in drier climates, they usually contain less clay than pedalfers. They contain calcite, or calcium carbonate, and are typically a light-gray brown.

form in hot, wet, tropical areas. Chemical weathering is intense. The large quantity of water that passes through these soils removes most of the calcite and silica. Iron oxide and aluminum are left behind and the iron oxide gives it it’s distinct red color.

The soil erosion rates are faster today because of human and biological removal of plant life and vegetation

Human activities that remove natural vegetation, such as farming, logging, and construction, have greatly accelerated erosion

saturation of surface materials with water, over steepening of slopes, removal of vegetation, and earthquakes.

a steepened slope that exceeds over 40 degrees

creep is the slowest, mudslide is the fastest

a fracture in the earth where movement has occurred

the point where an earthquake starts

a small earthquake that can happen days or years before an earthquake

after an earthquake and can happen for weeks or months after the initial quake

the fastest, can travel through solids, liquids, and gasses

come second, and can only travel through solids

come last and are the most destructive

richter scale, seismograph, modified mercalli scale, and momentum magnitude

instrument that records earthquake waves

comes from the seismograph

based on the height of the largest seismic wave based on a seismograph

triggered by an earthquake, occurs where a slab of the ocean floor is displaced vertically along a fault

Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, Lower Mantle, Inner core, Outer Core

Crust, Mantle, Core

below mantle and composed of iron-nickel alloy

has the igneous peridodite

thin, rocky layer that is mostly made out of granite

crust and uppermost mantle

below the lithosphere and has the upper mantle

consists of rocks that are very hot and capable of gradual flow

liquid layer surrounding the inner core

behaves like a solid due to extreme pressures