IMPORTANT TERMS AND
CONCEPTS
The following is a list
of key terms and concepts that I expect you to know for this course. For each
term you should know how it is defined, why is it important, and example(s)
used in class.
Introduction (~8 questions)
How does ÒscienceÓ and
how does it differ from Òpseudo-scienceÓ
Characteristics and
constraints of scientific investigations
The Scientific Method:
Induction
Deduction
Hypothesis
Theory
Catastrophism
Plutonists vs.
Neptunists
James Hutton
Uniformitarianism
The Rock Cycle: Know the
three main rock groups and how they form
Geologic Time,
including:
Approximate
age of the earth
Precambrian
(including approximate age and major events)
Phanerozoic
Eon (approximate age and major subdivisions)
Basis
for subdividing the Phanerozoic Eon
Possible origin of the
moon
Main compositional and
mechanical layers of the earth
What drives earthÕs
internal and external heat machines?
Alfred Wegener
Continental Drift,
including lines of evidence used by Wegener
Harry Hess
Sea-Floor Spreading (and
how it differs from continental drift)
Magnetic inclination and
how it varies with latitude.
Apparent Polar Wandering
Curves
Magnetic Reversals
Magnetic Stripes
How did deep sea
drilling test the Sea Floor Spreading Hypothesis?
How can magnetic stripes
be used to date the age of the ocean basins?
Fundamental concepts of
Plate Tectonics
Types of Plate
Boundaries: modern examples and what happen at each type.
Hot Spots, Mantle
Plumes, and Hot Spot Tracks
How can satellite data
be used to test the Plate Tectonics Theory?
Mineral
Atom
Element
Ion
Compound
Molecule
Structure of the atom
Atomic number
Atomic mass
Isotope
Energy-level shells
Valence and valence
electrons:
The octet rule
Types of chemical bonds
Ð examples Ð properties
Ionic
bond:
Covalent
bond:
Vander
Waal bond:
Metallic
bond:
Phase diagrams (e.g. H2O,
Carbon)
Physical properties of
minerals Ð examples (e.g. Mohs Hardness Scale)
What is Ionic Radius and
why is it important?
Major mineral families Ð
examples and how defined
The silicate family,
including:
Silica
tetrahedra
Single
tetrahedra silicates (including example)
Single-chain
silicates (including example)
Double-chain
silicates (including example)
Sheet
silicates (including examples)
Three-dimensional
framework silicates (including examples)
Mafic verses Felsic
minerals (see list below)
Examples of non-silicate
minerals (see list below)
You should be able to match
the following minerals with their formulas, however you will not have to
be able to reproduce the formulas. In addition, you should know a major use of
those minerals marked with an *. Minerals in bold are especially important.
1. Olivine
2. Pyroxene
3. Amphibole
4. Biotite
5. Muscovite
6. Plagioclase
7. Orthoclase
8. Quartz*
9. Calcite*
10. Gypsum*
11. Apatite*
12. Halite*
13. Talc*
14. Corundum*
15. Diamond*
16. Graphite*
17. Fluorite*
18. Clay
19. Magnetite*
20. Pyrite
Igneous Rocks (~10
questions)
Magma (and lava)
Crystallization
Genetic verses
descriptive classifications of igneous rocks
Variables controlling
igneous texture
How cooling rate affect
texture
Igneous textures: what
are they, how do they form, and example of each.
Aphanitic
Phaneritic
Porphyritic
Glassy
Vesicular
Ultramafic, Mafic,
Intermediate, and Felsic igneous rocks
Systematic changes from
mafic to felsic rocks
|
Chemical composition |
Felsic |
Intermediate |
Mafic |
Ultramafic |
|
Dominant minerals |
|
|
|
|
|
Phaneritic |
|
|
|
|
|
Aphanitic |
|
|
|
|
Igneous rocks you should
know include:
1. Rhyolite:
2. Granite:
3. Andesite:
4. Basalt:
5. Gabbro:
6. Peridotite:
7. Obsidian:
8. Pumice:
9. Porphyry:
Effect of composition,
pressure (decompression melting) and moisture content (volatiles)
on melting temperature of rocks
Use of Depth-Temperature
graphs to predict where magmas will form
Processes of for
changing Magmatic composition: examples, evidence?
Magma
mixing
Magma
Assimilation
Fractional
crystallization
Crystallization (with
examples)
Simple
Discontinuous
Continuous
How can fractional
crystallization and crystal settling change the composition of a magma?
BowenÕs Reaction Series:
How BowenÕs Reaction
Series relates to the formation of different types of igneous rocks
How does BowenÕs
Reaction Series explain mineral patterns in the Palisades Sill?
How tectonic setting
controls distribution and type of magma, e.g. (with examples)
Origin
and composition of magmas at divergent margins
Origin
and composition of magmas at convergent margins
Origin
and composition of magmas at mantle hotspots
How can partial melting
generate a mafic, intermediate, or felsic magma?
On what two criteria are
intrusive igneous bodies (plutons) classified?
How would you tell a
Batholith from a sill from a dike?
Volcanoes (~10 questions)
Where are most of the
volcanoes in the world located?
How most volcanic
activity is controlled by plate tectonics
Types of volcanic
material
Lava
Pyroclastic
Volatiles
Types of lava
How do pillow basalts
form?
How do pahoehoe, aa,
andesitic, and rhyolitic flows differ (other than composition)?
Factors controlling the
viscosity of magmas
Types of pyroclastic
material (with definitions and examples of each)
Airfall
Pyroclastic
flows
Lahars
Effect
of composition in magma properties and landforms
|
Magma composition |
Silica content |
Gas content |
Viscosity |
Pyroclastics |
Landforms |
|
Mafic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intermediate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Felsic |
|
|
|
|
|
Volcanic features formed
from central vent eruptions, i.e. where they form, what they look like, and
example(s)
Shield
volcanoes
Cinder
cones
Composite
volcanoes
Lava
domes
Craters
Calderas
What are Fissure
eruptions?
Types of volcanic
hazards (with examples)
Lava
flows
Gas
Ashfall
Pyroclastic
flow
Lahar
Tsunami
Important volcanic
events (including lessons learned):
Mt
Mazama, 5700 BC
Santorini,1660
BC
Vesuvius,
79
Krakatoa,1883
Mt
Pelee, 1902
Mt
St Helens, 1980
Nevado
del Ruiz, 1985
Camaroon,1984
Mt
Pinatubo, 1991
Kilauea,1998
What is the effect of
volcanic activity on climate? Examples?