Earth and Space science finals study guide

Flashcards covering the key vocabulary and concepts related to rocks and minerals.

Igneous Rocks

Rocks that form from the cooling of magma and lava

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks that form from the compaction and cementation of sediments

Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks that form from extreme heat and pressure

Granite

An example of a coarse-grained igneous rock with a felsic composition; considered an intrusive igneous rock

Basalt

An example of a fine-grained igneous rock

Obsidian

An example of a glassy igneous rock with a mafic composition that exhibits fracture

Pumice

An example of a vesicular igneous rock that is considered to be extrusive

Gneiss

An example of a foliated metamorphic rock

Marble

An example of a nonfoliated metamorphic rock

Clastic Sedimentary Rock

A type of sedimentary rock that forms from sediments compacted and cemented together

Chemical Sedimentary Rock

A type of sedimentary rock that forms from minerals precipitating out of a solution

Slump

Movement of a large block of soil or rock downhill in one piece

Ice Wedging

A common type of mechanical weathering that occurs in cold climates

Pumice

A vesicular rock

Granite

A coarse grain sized rock

Shale

A sedimentary rock

Gneiss

A foliated rock

Obsidian

A fractured rock

Mineral

Naturally occurring, inorganic solid with specific chemical composition and definite crystalline structure

Silicates

Composed of 96% of earth's crust, contains silica and oxygen, examples: feldspar, quartz

Carbonates

Composed of one or more metallic elements with carbonated compounds, example: calcite

Oxides

Compounds of oxygen and a metal; examples: hematite, magnetite

Sulfides

Combined with sulfur and one or more elements; example: pyrite

Sulfates

Composed of elements that have sulfate compounds, example: anhydrite

Halides

Made of chloride or fluoride along with calcium, sodium, or potassium; example: halite

Native elements

Made of 1 element, examples: copper, silver

Crystal Size

Slower cooling and evaporation leads to larger crystal formation

The process of breaking down rocks into sediments is called

weathering

example of chemical weathering

acids produced by lichens

what is the weathering process in which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces

mechanical weathering

erosion

movement of rock to one place from another

what causes erosion

wind, water, and ice

how does water chemically break down rocks

acids in water reacting with chemicals in rock

chemical weathering is:

Breaking down rocks and changing the chemical composition of the rock

what causes greater amount of erosion

water

where can you find the most chemical weathering

raining tropical area