Overview of Earth Science and Rock Cycle Processes

Earth Science

All of the sciences that deal with earth and its place in the solar system is earth science

Some of the sciences that fall into Earth Science are

Geology, Astronomy, Meteorology, Oceanography

Atmosphere

Layer of gases surrounding Earth, supports weather.

Hydrosphere

All water on Earth, including oceans and glaciers.

Biosphere

Regions of Earth supporting life and ecosystems.

Geosphere

Earth's solid surface and internal layers.

Uniformitarianism

Geological principle: present processes explain past events.

Hypothesis

Tentative explanation based on limited evidence.

Theory

Well-supported explanation based on extensive evidence.

Minerals

Naturally occurring, solid, inorganic substances with structure.

Crystalline Structure

Ordered arrangement of atoms in minerals.

Ions

Atoms with an electrical charge due to electrons.

Element

Pure substance consisting of one type of atom.

Compound

Substance formed from chemically combined elements.

Silicon Oxygen Tetrahedron

Basic building block of silicate minerals.

Igneous Rocks

Formed from cooled and solidified molten rock.

Bowen's Reaction Series

Sequence of mineral crystallization from cooling magma.

Crystallization Temperatures

Temperatures at which minerals crystallize from magma.

Mechanical Weathering

Breaks rocks into smaller pieces without composition change.

Chemical Weathering

Alters mineral composition, forming new minerals.

Frost wedging

Freeze-thaw process causing rock fragmentation.

Exfoliation dome

Rock layers peel off due to temperature changes.

Chemical weathering

Decomposition of minerals through chemical reactions.

Desert chemical weathering

Heat present, moisture often lacking.

Carbonic, sulfuric, and organic acids contribute.

Sources of acid

Clay minerals

Most abundant product from silicate mineral weathering.

Oxidation

Chemical weathering process involving oxygen.

Abrasion

Mechanical weathering through friction and impact.

Unloading

Mechanical weathering from pressure release.

Carbonic acid

Chemical weathering agent in groundwater.

Sedimentary rocks

Stratification/Layering is a key characteristic of

Geological significance of sedimentary rocks

Reveal Earth's history and past environments.

Detrital sedimentary rocks

Formed from weathered solid particles accumulation.

Detrital minerals

Quartz, feldspar, and mica are prevalent.

Grain size

Primary basis for classifying detrital rocks.

Detrital rock formation process

Weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition, compaction, cementation.

Compaction in lithification

Effective for fine-grained sediments like clay.

Chemical sedimentary rocks

Form from minerals precipitating from water.

Biochemical sedimentary rocks

Formed from organic material accumulation.

Evaporite deposits

Minerals left after water evaporation.

Examples of sediment-collecting areas

Riverbeds, deltas, beaches, lake bottoms.

Rock salt

Example of evaporite rock formed from evaporation.

Conglomerate

Detrital rock composed of rounded clasts.

Particle size

Indicates energy and environment of rock formation.

Fine particles

Suggest low-energy environments like lakes.

Coarse particles

Indicate high-energy environments like rivers.

Particle shape

Reflects distance and environment of transportation.

Rounded particles

Suggest long transport from source.

Angular particles

Indicate short transport near source.

Mudcracks

Indicate drying and wetting periods in sediments.

Ripple marks

Formed by water movement in shallow environments, sedimentary structure

Fossil

Preserved remains or traces of ancient life.

Conditions for fossil preservation

Rapid burial, hard parts, low oxygen, low-energy.

Oyster

Highest fossilization chance due to hard shell.

Cow

Durable bones and teeth enhance fossilization.

Moth

Soft body; fossilizes under specific conditions.

Jellyfish

Very low fossilization chance without rapid burial.

Sedimentary rocks

Most fossils found in this rock group.

Weathering

Alteration due to new environmental conditions.

Metamorphism

Change in rock due to temperature and pressure.

Differential pressure

Creates foliated metamorphic texture through mineral alignment.

Confining pressure

Produces nonfoliated texture by even pressure application.

Contact metamorphism

Localized changes from nearby magma heating.

Regional metamorphism

Large-scale changes from high pressure and temperature.

Slate, schist, gneiss from low to high intensity

Metamorphic rock order.

Rock cycle

Process where one rock type transforms into another.

Igneous rock

Can break down into sediments for sedimentary rock.