Geology Module 1

Catastrophism

stated that the Earth formed by a few big, catastrophic events

pioneering people who contributed to geology

Nicholas Steno & James Hutton,

When was uniformitarianism popularized?

1830s

What did Nicholas Steno suggest?

Sedimentary rocks originally formed in horizontal layers

What did James Hutton notice?

He noticed that small slow changes could add up over time to create a big change.

What is the most important theory of geology?

Plate Tectonics

Steps to create sedimentary rocks

Weathering & Erosion

The lithification process

Deposition, Compaction, &Cementation

Steps to create igneous rocks

1. Melt rock to magma

2. Cool and Solidify magma

Steps to create metamorphic rock

1. Bury a rock deep so it experiences high pressure and temperature

2. Original minerals chemically react and create new minerals

3. Mineral types have change and is now considered a brand-new metamorphic rock

Nebulae

Giant clouds of dust & gas in space that planets & stars form in

Universe age

13.8 billion years old

Earth age

4.5 billion years old

What pulls materials together in the Nebula

gravity