Geology - Test 1 (Chapter 1)

Chapters 1

The Big Band occurred ______ years ago forming the universe

14 billion

Which of the following sets of 4 correctly identifies the four innermost planets?

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

Early Earth had expansive oceans

False - it was barren

Inner Layer of Earth - Core

Composed of nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe).

Secondary Layer of the Earth - Mantle

Composed of ultramafic and mafic rocks and m

Outer Layer of Earth - Crust

Oceanic (mafic) and Crustal (felsic).

Which of the following groups colonized land first?

Plants

Which of the following is not found in an atom?

Element

What is found inside an atom?

Electrons, Protons, and Neutrons

If the atomic number of Carbon is 6, how many electrons does an atom of Carbon have?

6

The two fundamental characteristics of a mineral are its ______ and its ______.

Chemical composition and crystal structure

Which form of rock is formed by the solidification and crystallization of a cooling magma?

Igneous

Metamorphic rock showing directed stress have _________.

Foliation

Who was the first to postulate continental drift?

Alfred Wegener

Which of the following is not evidence of drift?

Sea Floor Mapping, Fossils, and Sedimentary rocks showing similar records of climate from different continents. (All of the above are evidence for drift)

Which of the following rock stress types is associated with pulling or stretching?

Tensile

Rift valleys form at _________ plate boundaries.

Divergent

You are standing on the lithosphere

True

The Big Bang…

the instantaneous and violent expansion of

all energy and matter in the universe.

Stars…

large and dense collections of mass of energy-

releasing atomic reactions

Planets…

condensed dust from the gases formed

protoplanets and then planets.

In the solar system, most of the mass formed the ___.

Sun

In the solar system, this occurred ___ billion years ago.

4.5

Inner Planets:

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

• Rocky and metallic.

• Very hot (nearest the Sun).

Four Outer Planets:

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

• Gas giants: Jupiter and Saturn.

• Ice giants: Uranus and Neptune.

• Very cold (farthest from the Sun).

Dwarf Planets:

Pluto

Rocky, metallic innermost planets.

Contain mainly metallic iron, a few very high temperature

minerals, and little water or gas

Gaseous outer planets.

Incorporated much larger amounts of low temperature

minerals, liquid water, and condensed gases.

Planet compositions determined by _________.

proximity to the Sun

Earthquakes represent a(n)

release of built-up stress in the lithosphere

Differentiate between seismic and aseismic

Seismic refers to ground displacement and energy release associated with sudden motion of rocks along a fault, while aseismic does not

The actual site of the first movement along a fault at the surface is known as the ___________.

epicenter

A fault with predominantly horizontal displacement is known as a strike-slip fault.

True

Which of the following is a measure of the amount of ground motion related to an earthquake?

Magnitude

Label the Area

Where is which part

Memorize the top four elements and percentage

Formation of universe

Galaxy spreading apart / proof in the sky

The amount of time humans have been on this earth is..

insignificant amount compared to the things around us

Earth is located in the _______.

Goldy Lock Zone

Rocky, metallic innermost planets contain

metallic iron, a few very high temperature minerals, and little water or gas

Gaseous outer planets contain

larger amounts of low-temperature minerals, liquid water, and condensed gases

Select Physical Properties of the Planets

The Planetary densities are consistent with a higher metal and rock content in the four planets closest to the Sun and a much larger proportion of ice and gas in the planets farther from the sun

Early Earth consisted of _____

Barren, cratered surface, rock, hot lava

No oceans, no atmosphere

impacted by asteroids, dust, meteors, comets → often

Formation of Earth as we know it was from

Heating and differentiation of materials helped create

the atmosphere and oceans

Earths Atmosphere was chemically different than today because

No modern pollution.

Lacked free oxygen

Dominated by nitrogen (N) and carbon dioxide

What gases where in the earth atmosphere at the beginning?

Minor amounts of other gases:

• Methane

• Ammonia

• Sulfur gases.

Barren of oxygen-breathing life

Earth Chemical Composition

Iron (32.4%), Oxygen (29.9%), Silicon (15.5%), Magnesium (14.5%)

Crust was dominated by:

Oxygen (46.6%), Silicon (27.7%), Aluminum (8.1%)

Early Life on earth started with?

Single-celled blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)

What helped create oxygen in the atmosphere so breathing organisms could evolve?

Sunlight energized a chemical reaction in algae. (photosynthesis)

• Food was produced from C02

• Oxygen given off as a by-product.

Take carbon dioxide and make three sugars into oxygen

Early life forms consisted of?

no hard parts (no teeth, bones, shells, or claws).

Earliest rocks

limited life forms, single-celled organisms.

Earliest Rocks 2 billion years ago had evidence of?

blue-green algae

What developed appear 1 billion years ago because an oxygenated atmosphere developed?

Multi-celled creatures

Timeline of Life over 541 million years

Marine animals with shells widespread around what time?

541 million years ago

Evolving into humans

Vertebrates appear about 530 million years ago

Land plants appear about 465 million years ago

Insects develop about 400 million years ago

Dinosaurs appear about 230 million years ago

Birds appear about 150 million years ago

Mammals and birds well established by 100 million years

ago

Primitive human beings appear by 1.5 to 2.5 million years

ago

Modern humans (Homo sapiens) appear during last 300,000

years

First Plant to change the surface of the planet

Moss

Label each planet

• 1. Mercury

• 2. Venus

• 3. Earth

• 4. Mars

• 5. Jupiter

• 6. Saturn

• 7. Uranus

• 8. Neptune

• 9. Dwarf planet - Pluto

Why is it hard to find fossils?

Crust gets sucked underneath repeatedly over time

Archean

Time before life

What started Geology?

people being curious and wanting to describe geographic things

Geology is….

the student of rocks and the earth

Geology started off as a __________ science and turned into a __________ science.

Observational, Analytical

Modern geology combines

observation and laboratory activities (measurements and calculations) to explain natural phenomena

Geology’s rapid change over time consists of..

Experiments must consider changes in temperature, pressure, stress,

chemical parameters, and time.

• Not just a descriptive science, but a more quantitative and more

interdisciplinary science through time.

• Starting materials that form rocks and minerals often are completely

changed over time

Geology is an

environmental science

Geology is the _______ of 4 major sciences

youngest

Rocks record how Earth has changed over time.

Like the Climate and environment engraved in the rocks

Recognition and mitigation of natural hazards.

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions.

Landslides and ground failures.

Flood damage, soil erosion

Supports resource exploration to sustain human populations

mining, petroleum exploration

The Scientific Method is…

A set of observations and/or a body of data from measurements of phenomena

and/or experiments

Rocks are ________ which in turn helps to show when the Poles change because of the direction they face

Magnetic

A hypothesis is

formed to explain the observations or data

Hypothesis tested repeatedly becomes a ______ only after extensive testing

Theory

Theory is

formed as accepted explanation for an observation or set of data

A Hypothesis must be

Conceptual framework or model is developed.

Multiple explanations or equations developed.

Must be testable and test must be reproducible.

Proof of a hypothesis is sought as well as evidence to disprove it.

You can or can’t prove something true?

CAN’T

You can or can’t prove something false

CAN

What challenges does geology face?

Size(earth scale), time(over billions of years), and resolution(increase in technology challenges old theories) limitations

What hazards does environmental geology study?

Earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, mass wasting, soil erosion

What resource issues does it address?

Mining, petroleum, water, energy, pollution, remediation

Challenges Unique to Geology (SIZE)

A volcano is big.

A river is not easily contained within a laboratory.

Plate Tectonics involves the whole Earth.

Challenges Unique to Geology (Time)

Geologic processes take millions of years to complete.

Geologists are limited by human time (years to decades).

Challenges to Geology (Resolution)

New technology and procedures often impact, or challenge, old

theories.

We can see more details now than a century ago.

Scientific Method

1. Observe 2. Hypothesize 3. Experiment 4. Conclusion 5. Rinse + Repeat

Scientific Method Explained

• 1. Observe: Notice a phenomenon, pattern, or problem in the world around you and ask a question about it.

• 2. Hypothesize: Formulate a testable explanation or an educated guess to answer your question.

• 3. Experiment: Design and run a test to gather data and see if your hypothesis holds up.

• 4. Conclusion: Analyze the results of your experiment to determine if your guess was right, wrong, or inconclusive.

• 5. Rinse + Repeat: Use your new knowledge to refine your idea, fix errors, ask new questions, and start the process over again

Why does Geology Matter?

The Earth is a Dangerous Place

Environmental geology…

explores the many and varied interactions

between humans and geologic environments

Earth is a dangerous place why?

• Earthquakes and Volcanoes.

• Floods, Mass wasting, and Soil erosion.

• Global Warming.

• Quest for more energy.

• Pollution and Storage of toxic waste.

• Find and manage fresh water.

• Find new resources (they are limited).

• Remediate sites of mineral extraction.

What is the projected world population for 2050?

9.7 billion.

What drives population growth?

Increased life expectancy, high birth rates, mobility.

Which region has the fastest growth rate?

Africa (2.5%/yr)

What is carrying capacity?

The ability to sustain a population at a healthy, comfortable standard of living.

What major issues arise from exceeding carrying capacity?

Loss of farmland, water shortages, energy/mineral depletion, waste disposal challenges, global warming.