SHSEARTHSCI

cramming for earth science man

Igneous Rocks

Rocks formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava, classified based on silica content and mineral composition.

Plutonic Rocks

Also known as intrusive rocks, these are formed from solidified magma beneath the Earth's surface, characterized by slow cooling and phaneritic textures.

Volcanic Rocks

Also known as extrusive rocks, these are formed from solidified lava at or near the Earth's surface, characterized by fast cooling and common textures like aphanitic and porphyritic.

Pyroclastic Rocks

Fragmental rocks associated with explosive volcanic eruptions, examples include tuff and ignimbrite.

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed at or near the Earth's surface through processes like weathering, erosion, sediment transport, and deposition.

Clastic Sedimentary Rocks

Composed of grains, matrix, and cement, classified based on particle size and may include volcanic origin rocks.

Non-Clastic Sedimentary Rocks

Formed from evaporation and precipitation from solutions or lithification of organic matter, examples include halite and limestone.

Metamorphic Rocks

Formed below the Earth's surface through metamorphism, involving recrystallization of minerals due to changes in pressure and temperature.

Contact Metamorphism

Occurs when pre-existing rocks come into contact with magma, leading to non-foliated metamorphic rocks like hornfels.

Regional Metamorphism

Occurs on a large scale due to pressure during orogenic events, creating foliated rocks like schist and gneiss.

Mineral

A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a specific chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Streak

A more reliable property than color for identifying minerals, indicating the color of a mineral's powder.

Luster

The way a mineral reflects light, categorized as metallic or non-metallic.

Density

The measure of how much matter is contained in a given volume, often expressed as specific gravity.

Hardness

A mineral's resistance to scratching, measured using Moh's Hardness Scale.

Cleavage

The tendency of a mineral to break along specific planes, resulting in smooth surfaces.

Mining Methods

Techniques used to extract minerals, including underground, surface (open pit), strip, and placer mining.

Milling Process

The series of processes that extracted rocks undergo to separate valuable minerals from waste material.

Heavy Media Separation

A method where crushed rocks are submerged in liquid to separate heavier minerals from lighter ones.

Magnetic Separation

A technique that uses magnets to separate magnetic minerals from non-magnetic waste.

Flotation

A process where powdered ore is agitated in a slurry to separate minerals based on their physical and chemical properties.

Cyanide Heap Leaching

A method for extracting gold from low-grade ore by spraying cyanide solution over crushed rock.

Environmental Impacts

Negative effects of improper mining, including flooding, erosion, pollution, and habitat damage.