Geologic Activities: Exogenic and Endogenic Processes

A set of flashcards covering the key concepts of geologic activities, including exogenic and endogenic processes, weathering types, erosion, mass wasting, sedimentation, and metamorphism.

What are exogenic processes?

Processes that occur on or near the Earth's surface, influenced by gravity, water, wind, and organisms.

What is weathering?

The disintegration of rocks, soil, and minerals through contact with Earth’s subsystems.

What causes mechanical weathering?

The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

What is ice/frost wedging?

A type of mechanical weathering where water enters cracks in rocks, freezes, then expands, causing the rock to break.

What is root wedging?

A type of physical weathering where plant roots grow into cracks in rocks, widen them, and eventually break the rock.

What is exfoliation in weathering?

The peeling off of layers of rock due to pressure release when overlying material is removed.

What is oxidation in chemical weathering?

A type of chemical weathering where minerals containing iron react with oxygen to form new compounds like rust.

What is erosion?

A process that wears away the earth's surface by wind, water, or ice, and moves rock debris or soil.

What is mass wasting?

The movement of large masses of materials down a slope due to gravity.

What is mudflow?

A type of mass wasting that occurs when soil and water flow down a slope.

What is sedimentation?

The accumulation of materials such as soil and rock fragments that settle on the ground.

What is diastrophism?

The movement of rock masses on Earth’s crust involving bending, breaking, folding, and uplifting.

What are plate tectonics?

The theory that the Earth's surface is divided into structures called lithospheric plates.

What happens at convergent boundaries?

Plates move toward each other, possibly forming mountains or causing one plate to subduct beneath another.

What is magmatism?

The generation of magma that can develop into igneous rocks either beneath the surface or on Earth's surface.

What is volcanism?

The process where magma escapes from its source through openings like volcanoes, becoming lava when it reaches the surface.

What is metamorphism?

The process of changing the materials that make up a rock due to heat and pressure.

What is regional metamorphism?

Metamorphism occurring over large areas due to high pressure and high temperature, usually associated with mountain building.

What defines foliated metamorphic rocks?

Foliated rocks have minerals arranged in parallel layers or bands due to directed pressure.

What is a non-foliated metamorphic rock?

A type of metamorphic rock where minerals are not layered or banded; they appear uniform.