Metamorphic Rocks and Plate Geet Patelectonics Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts related to metamorphic rocks, earthquakes, and plate tectonics, providing a comprehensive review for the upcoming exam.

What are metamorphic rocks?

Rocks formed from pre-existing rocks that have undergone metamorphism due to heat and pressure.

What is metamorphism?

A process by which a rock undergoes a chemical change usually from heat and/or pressure.

Where does most metamorphism occur?

In rocks that are buried deep within the Earth's crust.

What is contact metamorphism?

Metamorphism that occurs when magma heats up nearby rocks.

What is regional metamorphism?

Metamorphism that occurs over large areas due to tectonic plate activities, usually resulting in major changes.

What characterizes foliated metamorphic rocks?

They have a layered, striped, or banded appearance.

What distinguishes non-foliated metamorphic rocks from foliated ones?

Non-foliated rocks do NOT have a layered, striped, or banded appearance.

What is a parent rock?

The original rock from which a metamorphic rock is formed.

What is a daughter rock?

The new metamorphic rock that is formed from heat and pressure.

What is a fault?

A fracture along which the blocks of crust on either side have moved relative to one another.

Where are most active faults located?

At or near plate boundaries.

What causes earthquakes?

Movement that occurs along a fault.

What is the focus of an earthquake?

The place in the Earth where the actual earthquake occurs.

What is the epicenter of an earthquake?

The place on the surface directly above the focus.

What type of waves are primary (P) waves?

The first seismic waves to leave the focus; they can travel in solids and liquids.

What are secondary (S) waves?

The second type of seismic waves to leave the focus; they only travel through solids.

What distinguishes surface/body (L) waves?

They are the last to leave the focus and cause the crust to ripple like waves in the ocean.

What is a tsunami?

A seismic sea wave caused by an underwater earthquake.

What is the Richter scale?

The oldest scale measuring the amplitude of the largest wave produced by an earthquake.

What is the moment magnitude scale?

A newer, more accurate scale that measures the movement of the plate and damage to the area.

What is a seismograph?

An instrument used to record earthquakes.

What does a seismogram show?

The record produced on paper or computer during an earthquake.

What is triangulation in locatiing earthquakes?

Using three seismograph stations to determine the location of an earthquake.

What theory explains the formation and movement of plates on Earth?

Plate Tectonics.

Who proposed the Theory of Continental Drift?

Alfred Wegener in 1915.

What is paleomagnetism?

A method that shows rocks are permanently magnetized to point north when formed.

What occurs at convergent plate boundaries?

Two continental plates collide, forming mountains, earthquakes, folds, and faults.

What happens at subduction zones?

An oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, causing the denser plate to slide under.

What forms at divergent plate boundaries?

Mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, fissure zones, and flood lava.

What is the result of transform plate boundaries?

The formation of faults and earthquakes.

What is deformation in mountain building?

Changes in the original shape of the rock.

What is stress in geology?

Pressure applied to a rock.

What is an anticline?

An upfold in rock layers.

What is a syncline?

A downfold in rock layers.

What are the Earth's layers, starting from the surface?

Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core.

What characterizes the crust of the Earth?

It's solid, rocky, brittle, and the thinnest layer.

What is the lithosphere?

Composed of all of the crust and the upper portion of the mantle.

What is the asthenosphere?

The partially melted portion of the lower crust and upper mantle.

What is the Mohorovicic Discontinuity (MOHO)?

The boundary between the crust and the mantle.

What is the outer core made of?

Liquid iron and nickel.

What is the inner core composed of?

Solid iron and nickel, the hottest most compressed layer.

What is the Ring of Fire?

An area of volcanoes around the Pacific plate where earthquakes and volcanoes are common.

three features that are a direct result of tectonic movement.

folded mountains, oceanic trenches, folded mountains

All of these features are associated with divergent plate boundaries except

Group of answer choices

volcanoes

rift valleys

under water ridges

trenches

trenches

When granite is subjected to high enough amounts of heat and pressure to change it but not melt it, granite changes into

metamorphic

Which provides the best evidence for the theory that faults and volcanoes are results of tectonic plate interactions?

 

faults and volcanoes are often found at tectonic plate boundaries

Which layer of the Earth is the densest?

 

solid inner core

Compared to the taller Himalayan Mountains (less weathering and erosion), the shorter Appalachian Mountains (more weathering and erosion) are much

older

Which one correctly matches the boundary image to the boundary name?

1- Divergent

2- Convergent

3- Transform

What causes an abundant amount of earthquakes to originate around the Japanese islands?

 

the islands of Japan are located on the meeting point of several plate boundaries

What best describes the process of subduction?

 

the process of more dense plate sinking beneath a less dense plate during a tectonic collision

Compared to Earth's continental crust, Earth's oceanic crust is 

 

thinner and denser

Match the stress to the boundary.

- tension

2- compression

3- shear (tcs)

What is the time interval between the arrival of the S and P waves in the seismogram. 

36

The map shows the location of 4 core drilling sites. Which site would you expect to find the youngest rocks?

4

Which of the following processes will change a sedimentary rock into an igneous rock?

 

melting and crystallization