Earth Structures

General Science

Identification: The solid, outer layer of the Earth.

crust

Identification: The part of the Earth beneath the crust and above the outer core.

mantle

The knowledge of mathematics, geometry, and astronomy pre-dates the Greek civilization. True or False?

True

Measurements by Sir Isaac Newton indicate that the Earth's diameter at the poles is (greater than, less than) that of the equator.

greater than

The first known people to calculate the circumference of the Earth were the _____.

Egyptians

Rocks that originated from the liquid phase are classified as

igneous

Igneous rocks are formed from _____.

magma

Match the sedimentary rocks with their components.

• sand

• rounded stones

• angular rocks

• clay

• calcium carbonate

• sandstone

• conglomerate

• breccia

• shale

• limestone

Match the sedimentary rock with its metamorphic equivalent.

• slate

• marble

• quartzite

• graphite

• shale

• limestone

• sandstone

• coal

The three types of rock in the Earth's crust are _____.

sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic

Metamorphic rock is formed from:

heat and pressure

Sedimentary rocks usually form near _____.

water

What is basalt?

• It is a dark lava rock

• It is found on the surface

• It is found as prominent buttes

Granite is a metamorphic rock. True or False?

False

Granite originates _____.

by solidification of subsurface magma

Gerta finds a sedimentary rock with large rounded cobbles cemented together. Each cobble is larger than 2 mm. Gerta has found:

a conglomerate

Which of the following is a sedimentary rock?

• slate

• basalt

• shale

• quartz

shale

Evan finds a rock while hiking. It has a fossil in it. The rock is most likely a(n) _____.

sedimentary rock

How much of the Earth's land surface is covered with sedimentary rocks?

75 percent

Sedimentary rocks are over 10,000 feet thick in some areas. True or False?

True

The progressive change of fossilized vegetation into metamorphic rock progresses first from bituminous coal to anthracite coal and finally to marble. True or False?

False

Coal requires long geologic ages to form from vegetation. True or False?

False

Compression shock waves move through both solids and liquids. True or False?

True

Temperatures in the Earth's interior are above the normal melting point of rock. True or False?

True

Rock transfers heat rapidly. True or False?

False

The foundations of continents are made mostly of basalt. True or False?

False

The density of the Earth is greater than the density of an equal volume of water by _____.

5½ times

Compression waves passing through the liquid outer core are _____.

bent

What percent of the Earth's surface does the ocean cover?

71

In some places, granite rock extends as deep as _____.

50 kilometers

Oceans make up the Earth’s layer called the _____.

hydrosphere

The Earth's magnetic field is associated with the _____.

core

The operating mechanism of the magnetic field is completely understood by scientists. True or False?

False

Measurements of the Earth's magnetic field have been recorded since _____.

1829

In the past, the intensity of the Earth's magnetic field was _____.

greater

How many times stronger was the Earth's magnetic field in 800 B.C.?

4 times

What can be reasonably inferred from the knowledge of a declining magnetic field?

The Earth is relatively young.

Much of the general structure and physical properties of the interior of the Earth are inferred from _____.

analysis of seismic waves

The energy released by _____ is analyzed by a world-wide network of seismographs.

earthquakes

Compression waves move through liquid faster than solids. True or False?

False

Identification: made of iron and nickel

core

Identification: outermost layer

crust

Identification: the solid portion of the Earth

lithosphere

Identification: semi-liquid region below the crust

asthenosphere

Identification: contains melted silicon compounds

mantle

Identification: the part of the earth capable of life

biosphere

The point of origin of an earthquake is the:

epicenter

Release of pressure converts mantle rock from solid to liquid. True or False?

True

Lava is extrusive magma. True or False?

True

A vertical wall of intrusive rock is a batholith. True or False?

False

A large mass of hardened igneous rock extending from beneath all layers of sedimentary rock is a _____.

batholith

Water-rich solutions carrying metallic salts fill cracks and form _____.

veins

____________ keeps mantle rock from melting.

pressure

In 1986, scientific study of a historical basalt lava flow from Mt. St. Helens yielded a radiometric date of _____.

2,800,000 years old

The primary source of evidence proposed by many scientists to support the theory of an ancient Earth is ______________ dating.

radiometric

Identification: fills fissures cutting across rock layers

dike

Identification: injected between parallel layers

sill

Identification: large mass below entire sedimentary layers

batholith

Identification: lens-shaped intrusion deforming overlying layers

laccolith

Mineralized veins containing valuable metals were deposited by _____.

hydrothermal fluids

Lava flows seldom occur more than once in any area. True or False?

False

Gases form bubbles in lava. True or False?

True

Highly liquid lava forms wide, shield-like mountains. True or False?

True

Pillow basalt originates at the surface of volcanic islands. True or False?

False

The primary gas in a volcano is _____.

water vapor

Former volcanoes now under the sea are called _____.

seamounts

Some regions of the world are capped with volcanic flows which are thousands of feet thick. True or False?

True

Lava flows do not occur anymore. True or False?

False

Many extrusive volcanic rocks contain holes which have formed from _____.

escaping gases

Identification: broad volcanoes with fast-flowing lava and shallow slopes

shield

Identification: volcanoes with steep slopes and alternating layers of cinders and basalt flows.

composite cones

Identification: volcanic peaks under the sea.

seamountsId

Identification: flat-topped seamounts which exhibit prior surface erosion.

guyots

Steep-sloped volcanoes with alternating layers of cinders and basalt flows are called ______________ cones.

composite

A unique discovery made on the island of Surtsey shortly after its formation was that _____.

some landforms appeared ancient

What is the scientific implication of the discoveries at Surtsey?

Some processes previously thought to take ages must happen quickly.

Volcanic peaks under the sea are generally called

seamount

Flat-topped seamounts which exhibit prior surface erosion are called

guyot

Volcanoes are fairly evenly distributed all over the world. True or False?

False

Volcanoes are randomly located all over the world. True or False?

False

Folded mountains start from flat-lying sedimentary rock. True or False?

True

Dome mountains are formed by vertical forces that push rock layers upward. True or False?

True

Masses of magma are responsible for dome mountains. True or False?

True

Mesas are flat, topped hills that are smaller than plateaus and smaller than buttes. True or False?

False

Sedimentary rocks were initially deposited as _____.

horizontal layers

It is more reasonable to explain folded sedimentary rocks as a result of _____.

relatively rapid folding of soft sediments

Mountains which are raised by intrusion of magma in the subsurface often form _________ shaped structure.

dome

Topography which results from vertical movements along faults may form ________________ mountains.

fault-block

Plateaus consist of vertical beds of sedimentary rock. True or False?

False

Mesas are formed from _____.

plateaus

__________________ mountains erode much faster than other mountains.

Volcanic