chapter 4 geology

Igneous rock forms by

solidification of magma at the surface or within the Earth.

What can the formation of a sedimentary rock involve?

precipitation of minerals when water evaporates, consolidation of shells, and transportation of weathered rock fragments

In what way(s) does the formation of a metamorphic rock differ from that of a sedimentary or igneous rock?

 

Changes from the previously existing rock from which it forms all take place in the solid state.

Which of the following is a possible origin of a metamorphic rock?

A sedimentary rock is buried deeply beneath other sedimentary rocks.

The texture of a rock is controlled by

the process by which it forms

Why is quartz one of the most abundant minerals?

made of the two most abundant elements in the earths crust, resistant to weathering, and It can form in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks

The texture of a rock includes the of its constituent grains.

size, shape, and orientation

Which rock transformation(s) can occur in the rock cycle?

igneous rocks into sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks into sedimentary rocks, and sedimentary rocks into different sedimentary rocks

What is true of a clastic sedimentary rock?

Mineral grains can come from many different previously existing rocks.

A glassy texture is most characteristic of

igneous rocks

All of the following properties of a mineral can be observed or measured when the mineral is found in a rock, EXCEPT its

specific gravity

In identifying a rock, a geologist (or geology student) must consider its

mineral content and texture

Rocks that are forming today

recycle materials from previously existing rock