GEO1111 Winter 2023 Lecture 4/5: Earth Materials II, III

This set of flashcards covers key terms and definitions related to sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, their formation processes, and classifications.

Sedimentary Rock

A type of rock that is formed by the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

Sediments

Rock fragments that settle and accumulate in layers after being transported or precipitated.

Lithification

The process of turning sediment into solid rock through compaction and cementation.

Detrital/Clastic Rocks

Sedimentary rocks formed from transported sediment as solid particles.

Chemical Rocks

Sedimentary rocks formed from minerals that precipitate from a solution or are extracted from water.

Weathering

Physical and chemical breakdown of rocks due to exposure to the atmosphere and biosphere.

Erosion

The process by which weathered rock and soil are removed from their original location.

Deposition

The process by which sediment settles out of the transporting medium.

Magma

Molten rock located beneath the Earth's surface.

Metamorphism

The process that alters the mineral content and structure of pre-existing rocks through heat and pressure.

Protolith

The original rock from which a metamorphic rock is formed.

Foliation

The alignment of minerals in a metamorphic rock that creates a layered appearance.

Metamorphic Grade

The degree of metamorphism a rock has undergone, reflecting conditions of temperature and pressure.

Granoblastic Rocks

Non-foliated metamorphic rocks characterized by interlocking crystals.

Contact Metamorphism

Metamorphism resulting from the intrusion of magma into cooler rock.

Regional Metamorphism

Metamorphism affecting large areas of the Earth's crust due to tectonic forces.

Hydrothermal Metamorphism

Metamorphism caused by hot, ion-rich fluids circulating through rocks.

Clastic Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed from fragments of pre-existing rocks, cemented together.

Biochemical Rocks

Sedimentary rocks formed from the remains of once-living organisms.

Evaporitic Rocks

Chemical sedimentary rocks formed when water evaporates, leaving behind minerals.

Limestone

A common chemical sedimentary rock primarily composed of calcite.

Coal

A fossil fuel formed from the decay of plant material in anoxic environments.

Chert

A hard, fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of microcrystalline quartz.

Slate

A fine-grained, foliated metamorphic rock derived from shale.

Schist

A medium to high-grade metamorphic rock that exhibits prominent foliation.

Gneiss

A high-grade metamorphic rock characterized by its banded or foliated appearance.

Migmatite

A composite rock that forms under high temperatures, exhibiting features of both igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Porphyroblast

A large metamorphic crystal embedded in a finer-grained matrix.

Metasomatism

Metamorphic alteration of rock through the introduction of new elements, typically via fluids.

Extrusion

The process by which magma reaches the Earth's surface, solidifying into igneous rock.

Intrusion

The process of magma accumulating and solidifying below the Earth's surface.