Studied by 9 people
what is the earth’s core composed of?
iron and nickel
what layer of the earth is above the core?
mantle
what is in the mantle?
magma, circulating in convection cells
outer part of the mantle?
asthenosphere
what is in the asthenosphere?
semi-molten ductile rock
what is the crust?
chemically distinct outermost layer
how are hot spots formed?
molten material from the mantle reaches the lithosphere
the theory that the lithosphere is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion
plate tectonics
the sum of the processes that build up and break down the lithosphere
tectonic cycle
define seismic activity
frequency and intensity of earthquakes over time
how are rocks formed?
magma reaches the surface, cools, and hardens
what are the three distinct rock types?
igneous sedimentary metamorphic
what are the two types of chemical composition igneous rocks can have?
basaltic or granitic
what are the two modes of formation igneous rocks can have?
intrusive or extrusive
how are sedimentary rocks formed?
sediments are compressed by overlying sediments
how are metamorphic rocks formed?
rocks subjected to high temperature and pressure
how is pressure exerted on metamorphic rocks?
overlying rock layers or tectonic processes
Note 
Flashcard (175)