Geography Quiz: Rocks & Plate Tectonics

Folding

Bending and deformation of rocks due to compression, creating upfolds (anticlines) and downfolds (synclines).

Faulting

Breaking and displacement of rock when crust is strained beyond its limit. Types: normal (tension), reverse (compression), strike-slip (shearing).

Volcanism

Process where magma, gases, and materials erupt from Earth’s crust to form volcanic landforms.

3 types of volcano locations

1) Subduction zones 2) Sea-floor spreading centers 3) Hot spots.

Shield volcanoes

Gentle eruptions, low viscosity magma, large volumes of lava.

Composite (stratovolcanoes)

Explosive eruptions, high viscosity magma, high gas content, formed at subduction zones.

Land shaping processes

Wind, water, and ice wear down land; volcanic and tectonic activity build it up.

Earth’s layers (in order)

Inner core, Outer core, Mantle, Crust.

Igneous rock

Formed from cooling magma or lava.

Sedimentary rock

Formed from compaction and cementation of sediments.

Metamorphic rock

Formed when existing rock is changed by heat and pressure.

Intrusive igneous rock

Forms when magma cools slowly inside Earth; large crystals (ex: granite).

Extrusive igneous rock

Forms when lava cools quickly on the surface; small crystals (ex: basalt).

Pangaea

Ancient supercontinent (all land connected).

Gondwanaland

Southern part of Pangaea after it split.

Diverging plates

Plates move apart, new crust forms (ex: mid-ocean ridges).

Converging plates

Plates collide, mountains/volcanoes form, crust destroyed.

Transform faults

Plates slide past each other (ex: San Andreas Fault).

Biosphere

Combination of atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water), lithosphere (land).

What era did the Rocky Mountains form?

Mesozoic.

What era did the Appalachian Mountains form?

Paleozoic.

What era is called the “Age of Fishes”?

Paleozoic (Devonian).

What era is called the “Age of Reptiles”?

Mesozoic.

What era did birds first appear?

Mesozoic (Jurassic).

Rock Cycle Step 1

Magma cools; Igneous rock forms.

Rock Cycle Step 2

Igneous rock weathers/erodes; Sediments.

Rock Cycle Step 3

Sediments compact/cement; Sedimentary rock.

Rock Cycle Step 4

Sedimentary rock + heat/pressure= Metamorphic rock.

Rock Cycle Step 5

Metamorphic rock melts= Magma again.

Rock Cycle cycle order (full)

Magma, Igneous, Sediments, Sedimentary, Metamorphic, Magma.

Question 8 chart: Limestone becomes

Marble.

Question 8 chart: Shale becomes

Slate.

Question 8 chart: Quartz sandstone becomes

Quartzite.

Question 8 chart: Granite becomes

Gneiss.

Plate tectonics theory

Earth’s crust is broken into plates that move over the mantle, causing earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building.

True/False: Plates never move.

False.

True/False: The biosphere includes air, water, and land.

True.

True/False: Extrusive rocks form large crystals.

False (they form small ones).

True/False: The Appalachian mountains are younger than the Rockies.

False (they are older).

What does WED stand for?

Weathering, Erosion, Deposition.