Geology - Lessons 4.5, 5, 6, & 7

2.3 Ga atmospheric oxygen %

1-2% of now

Origin of life requirements

1. Elements from table that are capable of creating life forming molecules (i.e. protens) 2. Energy sources to promote chemical reactions (currently debateable).

Anoxic atmosphere evidence

1. Lack of oxidized iron(bonds with sulfer instead) 2. Hematite and Pyrite unoxidized in precambrian rocks but oxidized today. 3. Precambrian sedimentary rocks are mostly dark from carbon. 4. Early Archean carbonate rocks have chert due to Co2 , acidic atmosphere. 5. appearance of Banded iron formations 6. simplest living organisms (ex.bacteria) have anaerobic metabolism and are killed by oxygen 7. chemical building blocks of life (ex. amino acids, DNA, etc.) are prevented from forming in the presence of oxygen.

Arguments for Snowball Earth

1. too difficult for Earth to recover from. 2. It was more of a slush than ice.

Change to Oxygenated atmosphere occurred

1.8 GA

BIF vs. Red Beds

1.8 GA BIF stopped. Red Beds started indicating oxygen.

Carbonite stabilization

1.8 GA. As oceans became less acidic Ca ions bonded with CO2 to form carbonate (CaCO3) rocks

The resolution of a human eye is about

1/16th mm

Surface phosphates

10% came from meteorites.

Proterozoic Eon

2.5 Ga-541 Ma. conversion to more fully oxygenated atmosphere, several glaciations, multicellular life, fully formed tectonic plates

The supercontinet Pangaea formed when? 270 Ma. 66 Ma. 541 Ma. 1.8 Ma.

270 Ma.

Terrestial (or Continental), Transitional, & Marine

3 main depositional environments for sediments that will be turned into rocks.

What's the average density of oceanic crust? 2.7 g/cm3 3.0 g/cm3 8.0 g/cm3 10.2 g/cm3

3.0 g/cm3

Archean Eon

4.0-2.5 GA. Internal heat transfer to surface 3X higher, No breathable oxygen, landmasses not in final shape, fist life.

Precambrian timeline

4.6 Ga-541 Ma

Hadeonic Earth

4.6-4 GA. period of extreme heat during the early part of the Earth's history. Magma Oceans, no Oxygen, atmosphere Co2 based, water starts to accumulate

Estuaries

A dumping point of freshwater into saltwater without the delta fan.

Ozone

A form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of the usual two.

Oceanic Transgression

A relatively permanent (non-tidal) rise in sea level. Results in a deepening-upward depositional sequence; coarser materials is at base with finer materials near surface.

Migmatite

A rock formed when gneiss is heated high enough so that it begins to partially melt, creating layers, or lenses, of new igneous rock that mix with layers of the relict gneiss.

offlap sequence

A sequence of sediments resulting from a marine regression and characterized by an upward progression from offshore marine sediments (often limestone) to shales and finally sandstones (above which will follow an unconformity).

onlap sequence

A sequence of sediments resulting from a marine transgression. Normally, the sequence begins with a conglomerate or sandstone deposited over an erosional unconformity and followed upward in the vertical section by progressively more offshore sediments.

The Rock Cycle

A series of processes on the surface and inside Earth that slowly changes rocks from one kind to another. Not always the circle that it's described as.

tidal heating

A source of internal heating created by tidal friction due to gravitational pull.

Which of the following describes a craton? An area that experienced significant tectonic compression to form mountains. A stable portion of interior continental lithosphere. Section of ancient crystalline rock covered by flat/gently warped sedimentary rock. Small crusty bead cubes normally found on a salad.

A stable portion of interior continental lithosphere.

aphanitic texture

A texture in igneous rocks in which individual mineral grains are too small to be seen without magnification; results from rapid cooling of magma and generally indicates an extrusive origin.

plate tectonics

A theory stating that the earth's surface is broken into plates that move.

Mars

According to folds, uplifts, and giant volcanic features, it's likely this rocky planet had tectonic activity similar to Earth during it's youth but no longer

Easy way to identify carbon

Acid makes it fizz.

How did oceans develop on Earth? Condensation of water vapor outgassed from volcanoes Ice encasing meteorites was melted All of the above None of the above

All of the above

What is a continental sediment deposition location closest to source rock with poor sorting and varying particle sizes? Tidal Flat Playa Lake Alluvial Fan Dune

Alluvial Fan

Which of the following is NOT related to tectonic plate motion across Earth's surface? Varying magnitudes of earthquake activity. Both violent and passive volcanic activity. Building of large continental and marine mountain chains. Alteration of Earth's magnetic field from North to South.

Alteration of Earth's magnetic field from North to South.

BIF formation

Alternating colors from Blue green algae that created photosynthetic activity. Oxygen waste created oxidation. Oxygen dumped created toxic waters, algae died, algae comes back, rinse & repeat.

Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 components that make up a sedimentary rock? Matrix Cement Ampersand Clasts

Ampersand

banded iron formations

Appear 3.8-1.8. Alternating lines of dark iron minerals and red chert containing oxidized iron

Continental Depositional Envirments

Areas located on the continent and closer to source rock than other depositional environments.

Alluvial Fans

Asian fan shaped deposits at the base of mountains. Common in arid and semiarid areas with rapid erosion. Sediments are coarse and poorly sorted boulders, cobbles, gravels, and some sands.

Levees

Barriers composed of sediments made on either side of a river due to flooding. fine silts and clays

Komatiite partial melt

Basalt and then granite

graded bedding

Bedding in which the particle sizes become progressively heavier and coarser toward the bottom layers. Graded bedding preserved in sedimentary rock can help determine which side is up.

Foraminifiers body type

Body types is different depending on water type (Ex. Tropical vs deep ocean) Allows us to see past climates/changes.

free oxygen

Breathable oxygen. Comprised of 2 oxygen atoms sharing 2 electrons through covalent bonding

organic sedimentary rock

Burial, heating, and pressurizing of organic decay matter (ex. coal).

Silica makes up 92% of the Earth, the other 8% is?

Carbonate (1 carbon, 3 oxygen)

Dolomite

Carbonate, similar to calcite, fizzes with acid, but is resistant. Needs to be scratched and powdered to create surface area.

Facies

Characteristics of a rock unit that can be used to interpret a depositional environment.

Hyperthermophiles food source.

Chemicals emitted and precipitated from thermal vents. (chemosynthesis).

3 components of sedimentary rocks

Clasts, Matrix, Cements

Ice albedo feedback

Colder temperatures increase ice coverage on surface and alter the amount light being reflected

mantle plumes

Columns of rising magma

Core

Composed of Fe and Ni. Liquid outer core that's mainly molten iron (85%) with some nickel. 6700F Solid inner core also mainly molten iron (85%) with some nickel and is slightly larger than moon sized. 7800F

Shelf canyon

Comprised of sediments much smaller than those found at mountains bases. Larger sedimentary grains deposited more on shore. Can contain submarine canyons.

Conglomerate vs Braccia Sedimentary

Conglomerate = rounded, Braccia = angular

What were the two preliminary theories that gave birth to Plate Tectonics Theory? Continental Resilience & Sea Bottom Banding. Plutonism & Neptunism. Continental Drift & Seafloor Spreading. Lunar Progression & Seafloor Spreading.

Continental Drift & Seafloor Spreading.

Which marine environment is characterized by a relatively flat surface and shallow waters?

Continental shelf

Which marine environment is characterized by a gentle inclination and often features turbidity currents?

Continental slope

What can be considered the driving mechanism for Plate Tectonics theory? Convection in Earth's interior. Radiation in Earth's interior. Conduction on Earth's exterior. Insolation of Earth's exterior and interior.

Convection in Earth's interior.

nucleic acids

Create, encode, store, and transmit genetic information inside and outside cell nuclei.

Volcanic igneous rock classification

Crush to powder, send to lab for chemical analysis. Most important is the silica which forms X axis. Y Axis is sodium and potassium. Based on the amount of comparison, they come up with specific names.

Rifting

Crustal stretching and thinning occurs in divergent boundaries.

25% of oak remains above water despite block size is because of?

Density.

Hazen

Did the same thing as mill-urey expirement without electricity

Which of the following plate tectonic boundary types is shown? (Plate A and B seperate) < | > Divergent plate boundary. Convergent plate boundary. Transform plate boundary. Inner pate hot spot.

Divergent plate boundary.

Which region type is associated with sediment transport strictly by winds in arid areas? Lacustrine regions Glacial regions Eolian regions fluvial regions

Eolian Regions

Rodinia

Everything that existed in Columbia broke apart and formed back together.1.3.

Columbia

First non hypothesized super continent 2.1-1.8 GA

Location of early life

First thought it was from ocean due to darwin, thought it needed life to create life, but things keep evolving and being discovered.

Which region type is associated with sediment transport from rivers and streams? Lacustrine Regions Glacial Regions Eolian Regions Fluvial Regions

Fluvial Regions

Phyllite

Foliated. Sheen comes from micah minerals coming to surface.

Tidal Heating

Found on moons like Io, this internal heating process produces large amounts of volcanism from internal friction when Jupiter and the Sun are in alignment making it quite different from Earth's internal processes.

Coral Reef

Found on the continental shelf. Made of Calcium Carbonate. Containers for Carbon dioxide. If destroyed, release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

Exotic terrains

Fragments of continents, some very far travelled

Pyroclastic Classification

Fragments of violent eruptions. Tuff: volcanic ash that has fallen on land. Volcanic Lapilly stone: Medium blocks or bombs: made of larger volcanic fragments

Cause of Regression

Freezing of polar ice and glacial regions. Reduced undersea volcanism and earthquake activity. Surface stability in coastal areas or even surface uplifting.

Early Ocean Chemistry

Fresh water, nuetral ph. Outgassing of Carbon D. assisted in carbonic acid ocean.

Rivers are responsible for delta creation, which way do rivers typically flow? North to South South to North From higher to lower elevation overwhelmingly to the East

From higher to lower elevation

How did Earth's early stable atmosphere likely form? From byproducts of photosynthesizing plants and bacteria From gasses caught up in planetary accretion settling From outgassing of volcanoes From radioactive decay of minerals in the crust

From outgassing of volcanoes

What was the result of the Miller-Urey Experiment?

Fundamental life molecules were produced from representative early atmospheric gasses and conditions after introducing electric charge

Plants intake water, carbon dioxide, and light and eventually output what? Glucose and oxygen Comatose and oxygen Diagnose and methane Fructose and carbon dioxide

Glucose and oxygen

Color of rocks w/ copper

Green

dunes

High piled mounds of these fine sediments.

Primordial Soup Theory and vents

Hot water could dissolve materials creating a "rich organic soup", ocean currents continuously stirring and interacting with this soup could build larger organic compounds

Early Unstable Atmosphere

Hydrogen and Helium.unstable, temporary, and dissipated relatively fast. Absorbed into crust? Drifted into space?

RNA world hypothesis

Hypothesis that describes how the Earth may have been filled with RNA-based life before it became filled with the DNA-based life we see today.

Urr

Hypothetical. Elongated "island" Existing about 3.13

Valvarra

Hypothetical. Meteorite evidence.

Foliated

In certain metamorphic rocks this texture displays segregation and alignment of specific mineral bands

Ocean became salty because..

Increased acid from rain caused weathering and broken materials to be dumped into ocean (Potassium, sodium, calcium). Calcium, sodium, iron was added by submarine volcanism and nuetralized it. Accumulation of these ions created salt water.

fermenter organisms

Initial life could have been fermenters that digested chemicals in the absence of oxygen to obtain energy

Seismometer

Instrument used to measure horizontal or vertical motion during an earthquake.

San Joaquin Basin

Is the basin that Bakersfield is located in.

limestone formation

It most commonly forms in clear, warm, shallow marine waters. It is usually an organic sedimentary rock that forms from the accumulation of shell, coral, algae, and fecal debris. It can also be a chemical sedimentary rock formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate from lake or ocean water.

Which of the following may have a plate tectonic setup similar to that found on Earth? Venus. Mars. Jupiter's Europa moon. Jupiter's Io moon.

Jupiter's Europa moon.

Europa

Jupiter's moon. Cryolavas and cryovolcanoes. Subduction believed to exist from missing ice when sheets are placed back in original form.

Io

Jupiter's moon. Over 100 active Volcanoes. Driven by Tidal Heat

The Pangaea supercontinet broke into which two smaller supercotinents? Narnia & Neverlandia. Gonorrhea & Chlamydia. Laurasia & Gondwana. Rodinia & Pannotia.

Laurasia & Gondwana.

Carbonate Group Minerals

Lesser components of the crust. Derived from skeletons and shells of microscopic organisms and sea creatures

Thylakoid

Light reaction happens(granum is a stack)

Continetal rise

Located at the base of the continental slope that can be hundreds of miles wide, reach depths of water up to 2000 ft, and is where turbidity currents deposit settle.

Badwater Basin (Death Valley)

Lowest point in U.S.A

prokaryotes

Mainly asexually reproduce by simple cell division. No diversity, didn't change until Oxygen introduced diversity in 1.9-1.8 GA.

Eukaryotes

Mainly sexually reproduce (sperm and egg) Chromosomes from parents(unique) Dramatically increased the rate of evolution

Causes for Transgression

Melting of polar ice and glaciated regions. Displacement of ocean water by undersea volcanism and earthquake activity. Localized sinking or subsidence in coastal areas.

Igneous(Source vs rock component)

Melting of rocks in hot, deep crust and upper mantle, then cooling and crystallization.

cell membrane

Membrane separates the cellular insides from the outside environments. Holds material and controls movement.

Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rock

Metamorphic rock that does not exhibit a banded or layered appearance. Heat re-introduced with regrowth/larger

First multicellular life

Mid-to late proterozoic. Evolved in pockets of new formed oceans.

Fred Hoyle

Miller-Urey Skeptic

Magma

Molten rock beneath the earth's surface

Lava

Molten rock extruded from volcano onto the surface

What happens when two continental plates collide at a convergent boundary? The plate with higher density is subducted into the mantle. The plate with lower density is subducted into the mantle. Neither plate subducts and overlap occurs. Volcanism apparently migrates in away fro the direction of motion.

Neither plate subducts and overlap occurs.

First Stable Atmosphere

Non-breathable oxygen. Abundant water vapor and carbon dioxide. Caused by outgassing, leftovers from accretion, or transported by meteorites.

Carbon Material Location Source

Ocean

Which of the following is FALSE about the Hadean eon? There may have been oceans of magma covering large parts of Earth Meteorite collision was seemingly frequent Humans would not have been able to survive during this time Oceans filled with water covered large portions of the Earth

Oceans filled with water covered large portions of the Earth

Morton Gneiss

Oldest Rock in the world. Nucleation point for America.

Olivine

Olive green, deep crust

Largest volcano in the solar system

Olympus Mons on Mars

Subduction

One lithospheric plate going under another plate

Hyperthermophiles

Organisms that grow in extremely high temperatures (90 degrees C). Different DNA from bacteria.

What do symmetrical ripple marks in a sedimentary rock indicate? Oscillatory water flow similar to a lake Fluvial water flow similar to a river Water rapid dropping off similar to a waterfall Blockage of water by a dam-like structure

Oscillatory water flow similar to a lake.

autotrophic organisms

Other early organisms were autotrophic with the ability to produce their own energy

Calcite

Perfect, 3 directional, rhombic. Quickly dissolves to Acid

Convergent

Plates collide, 3 types, crustal material often destroyed, Associated with moderate to deep earthquakes

Divergent

Plates separate, causes rifting, predominantly associated with normal faulting. Volcanism is Basaltic.

Transform

Plates slip past each other. Plate material is neither created nor destroyed. Shallow Earthquakes.

Proto- Gondwana & Proto-Laurasia

Pre-Pangea

Ediacra

Puzzling fossilized organism. Complex, believed to be soft body, unknown if it's plant or creature, almost extinct before cambrian, unsure what caused extinction, Period named after it

Color of rocks w/ iron

Red

Which of the following is TRUE? Red coloring in a rock can represent presence of iron oxides. Asymmetrical ripple marks do not represent any type of current. Graded bedding is a chaotic inter-mixture of various sediment sizes. Sediments like clay require a great amount of energy to be transported.

Red coloring in a rock can represent presence of iron oxides.

continental shelf

Relatively flat areas beneath shallow (< 700 ft) coastal waters.

12%

Removing the Precambrian supereon from the geologic time scale would only leave this much geologic remaining.

fluvial

Revier regions and related transportation of particles.

Igneous

Rocks like Gabbro, Diorite, and Granite belongs to this rock category.

Metamorphic

Rocks under high temperature and pressure in deep crust and upper mantle. re crystallization in solid state of new material.

Titan

Saturn's moon. Possible plate tectonics. Magma is more watery and dense which makes it hard to predict how it could work similar to the Earth.

Which of the following is NOT a transitional depositional environment? Estuaries Deltas Seafloor Beaches

Sea floor

Which defines oceanic regression? Sea level rising covering more land relatively permanently. Sea level falling covering less land relatively permanently. Sea level remaining the same throughout geologic time. Seas completely drying up due to Earth's extensive heating.

Sea level falling covering less land relatively permanently.

Which of the following is TRUE? Sea levels have fluctuated across geologic time. An offlap sequence contains only sands and no other sediments. Freezing of polar ice and glaciers can result in oceanic transgression. Sedimentary facies do not indicate any type of depositional environment.

Sea levels have fluctuated across geologic time. (This one is probably wrong)

chemical sedimentary rock

Sedimentary rock that forms when minerals precipitate from a solution(mineral rich ponds and short lived lakes rich with minerals, water evaporates, minerals join together in evaporate fashion) or settle from a suspension.

Mantle

Semi-molten (plastic-like) to molten. Composed of iron and magnesium mineral rich rocks. 1800 miles thick with temperatures ranging from 1800-3700.

Playa lakes

Shallow short-lived lakes forming in arid regions. Water disappears quickly from high temperatures resulting in evaporation.

Pannotia

Short lived. Almost entirely in southern hemisphere

provides most detailed fossil preservation

Siltstone, shale, claystone

Which is NOT one of the four essential components of life? Proteins Organic Phosphorous compounds Nucleic acids Skeletal Vertebrae

Skeletal Vertebrae

Ash

Snowflake size segments of very rapidly cooled igneous material that do not crystallize.

Precambrian rocks

So old and often metamorphosed they're difficult to interpret geologically.

Crust

Solid, rigid rock. 2 types: continental which is Granitic crustal rock (21-37 mi / 34-60 km thick & density of 2.7 g/cm3) and oceanic which is Basaltic crustal rock (3-6 mi / 5-10 km thick & density of 3.0 g/cm3).

photosynthetic organisms

Some early organisms became photosynthetic relying on light for their energy possibly due to a shortage of chemicals to consume for energy

Foliate metamorphic rock

Some sort of pattern that gets brought on with re-introduction of heat. (Bands). Minerals are separating due to heat and pressure.

Sorting, particle size, rounding, and composition are factors that provide clues to what?

Source Location

Cratons

Stable portions of interior continental lithosphere

Cratons

Stable portions of interior continental lithosphere.

Earliest evidence of life(first to last)

Stromatolites, bacteria fossils, molecular fossils

Shields

Subdivision of Cratons. large areas of areas of exposed ancient crystalline rocks

Platforms

Subdivision of cratons. ancient crystalline rock covered by flat or gently warped sedimentary rock

Slab Pull

Term for force applied when a lithospheric plate is subducted into the mantle and gravity assists.

Lithosphere can be defined as what? The entirety of the crust and uppermost 60 miles of the mantle. Mantle material beneath the crust to a depth of 430 miles. A thin layer of unconsolidated sediments covering the seafloor. The boundary between the mantle and the outer liquid core.

The entirety of the crust and uppermost 60 miles of the mantle.

Geodynamo

The geosystem that sustains Earth's magnetic field, driven by convection in the outer core.

Which has roughly the same size as Earth's inner core? The planet Mars. The moon. The planet Neptune. The Death Star.

The moon.

Isostatic Adjustment

The more crust is exposed above mantle the deeper the crustal root.

Pangaea

The name of the single landmass 270 MA.

sea-floor spreading

The process by which molten material adds new oceanic crust to the ocean floor

Cementation

The process in which minerals precipitate into pore spaces between sediment grains and bind sediments together to form rock.

Lithification

The process that converts sediments into solid rock by compaction or cementation.

Sphericity

The state or condition of being a sphere. The more spherical the further the sediments have likely been transported from their source.

Great Oxygenation Event

The time in Earth's history, about 2.4 Ga, when the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere increased dramatically.

It should be note that Plate Tectonics remains a?

Theory. Even though supported by numerous lines of geologic and geophysical evidence.

Which of the following is TRUE about the Archean eon? Large continental landmasses already existed since billions of years before the Archean Earth's internal temperatures were much cooler during the Archean Oxygen filled the atmosphere starting at the beginning of the Archean There is substantial evidence Earth's first life came into existence during the Archean

There is substantial evidence Earth's first life came into existence during the Archean

Rounding, sorting, and particle size

These 3 features observed in sediment are often used to evaluate sediments and determine how far sediments have traveled from their source

Hydrogen and Helium

These gasses are believed to originally have coalesced into Earth's first unstable atmosphere then shortly after drifted off into space or perhaps into the crust

water vapor and carbon dioxide

These gasses, likely outgassed from numerous volcanoes, created the majority of Earth's first stable atmosphere during the early and mid-Precambrian

Sea-floor spreading and Continental Drift

These two ideas were fundamental hypotheses that laid the foundation for modern Plate Tectonics Theory.

Jupiter's Europa

This Jupiter moon demonstrates possible subduction zones as demonstrated by folding of thick sheets of ice and inland cryovolcanoes

Convection

This lava lamp-like heat transfer process in Earth's interior is believed to be causing tectonic plates at the surface to migrate.

Divergent

This type of extensional plate boundary is considered constructive as it generates new crustal material

Which is characterized by incoming and outgoing water twice daily? Estuaries lagoons Barrier Islands Tidal Flats

Tidal Flats

Tills

Tills contains large amounts of unsorted materials of varying sizes including boulders, gravel, sands, and clays.

Which of the following plate tectonic boundary types is shown? (Plate A moves up Plate B moves down)^|v Divergent plate boundary. Convergent plate boundary. Transform plate boundary. Inner pate hot spot.

Transform plate boundary.

Miller-Urey Experiment

Two scientists attempted to reproduce the condition of the (assumed) earth's primitive ocean's under a reducing atmosphere. They produced some of the key molecules to life (amino acids and nucleotides). (electricity used)

Glacial regions

Typically arctic to near arctic landscapes. Sediments become entrapped in ice and are subject to movement as it melts. Glacial deposits are known as tills.

Lacustrine Regions

Vary in size and can range from shallow or deep. Sediments are typically fine grained but may be coarser near edges. Fine sediments and organic matter settling in some lakes produced laminated oil shales.

Hadean crust

Was different. Ultramafic crust was made predominantly of komatiite

Sedimentary(Source vs rock component)

Weathering and erosion of exposed rocks on surface. sedimentation, burial, and lithification.

Can there be tectonic activity on other planets?

Yes.

slate and gneiss

________ is a low grade foliated metamorphic rock and _______ is a high grade foliated metamorphic rock.

turbidity current

a downslope movement of dense, sediment-laden water created when sand and mud on the continental shelf and slope are dislodged and thrown into suspension

turbidite

a graded bed of sediment built up at the base of a submarine slope and deposited by turbidity currents

erg

a group of dunes. Also called dune field, sand sea, or a dune sea.

abyssal plain

a large, flat, almost level area of the deep-ocean basin, that can be 2-3 miles deep, and where the finest sized material end up and settle.

gravimeter

a measuring instrument for measuring variations in the gravitational field of the earth

Oceanic regression

a relatively permanent (non-tidal) lowering of sea level. Results in a deepening-downward depositional sequence; finer materials at base with coarser materials near surface.

depositional environment

a specific type of place in which sediments are deposited, such as a stream channel, a lake, or the bottom of the deep ocean.

Precambrian

a supereon combining the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic

Lithosphere

all the crust and uppermost 60 miles of the mantle; materials acts very rigid.

Proteins

amino acids that perform important tasks for cell function or serve as building blocks

Komatiite

an ultramafic extrusive igneous rock. 50% partial melt of pre-existing rocks. Komatiite lavas were higher degrees and flowed easier than basalt lavas.

platforms

ancient crystalline rocks covered by flat-lying or gently warped sedimentary rocks

Oceanic convergent boundaries

are marked by deep sea trenches or troughs

coccolithophores

are microscopic algae

Foraminifers

are protozoans (single celled eukaryotic organisms)

Eolian regions

are typically desert landscapes where wind is responsible for erosion. Since winds are responsible for erosion particle sizes are much smaller consisting of sands, silts, and clays.

Sedimentary Basins

areas affected by long-term subsidence that accumulate large amounts of rock fragments; often associated with valleys

Transitional Depositional Environments

areas located between continents and oceans, and typically feature moderately sorted sediments with intermediate grain sizes.

Aerobic metabolism

began to develop in certain organisms in proterozoic; organisms first began intaking oxygen to convert their food into energy

Lagoons

bodies of water primarily on the shore ward side of barrier islands but can also form behind reefs and within atolls

photochemical dissociation

breaking up of water molecules into H and O in the upper atmosphere, caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun

Beaches and Barrier Islands

can be separated from the mainland by lagoons or salt marshes

reverse faulting

caused by compressive forces that squeeze and shorten a rock. crustal upthrow and overhang.

Sedimentary rock color

changed by minerals present in rock

Channel Deposits

coarse rounded gravels and sands

Clasts

coarser particles or fragments of pre- existing rock (gravels and varying size sands)

nucleotides

comprising DNA and RNA have sugar-phosphate backbones. Shows up 3 times in ATP.

Ocean Formation

could have come from outgassing (volcanic activity) or perhaps meteorite/comet (Pure ice that evaporated)

point counting

counting the number of times that each kind of mineral crystal occurs in a specified area of the sample, or along a line randomly drawn across the sample, then calculating the relative percentage of each mineral

Deltas

deposits of sand and soil at the mouth of a river form (looks like Asian fan)

Rift Basin

downward slip on faults produces narrow troughs

volcanic igneous rock

extrusive igneous rocks

Matrix

finer material surrounding class (often silts and clays)

Basins are traps

for gas and oil

Compaction

forceful squeezing of materials together as to eliminate void space.

Intrabasinal sediments

form inside their own basin; geologic materials are the same as in location.

Reduction

gain of electrons

Cement

glue material holding the rock together (silica, calcite, iron oxide, etc.)

normal faulting

gravity pulls the hanging wall block down and forces it to slide down off of the foot wall block. crustal dropdown

Mars tectonic activity

has significant evidence of tectonic activity such as numerous volcanoes, satellite documented lava flow, numerous faults, uplifted and folded sections. Currently tranquil.

phaneritic texture

igneous rock texture in which minerals are easily visible without magnification. Deep below the surface. (Like granite)

Plutonic Rocks

igneous rocks that form at depth

Mercury Craters

images show that they may have lava flows, but there is no proven volcanism and it's currently tranquil.

Bars

intermediate to coarse sands or gravels

hot spots

irregular inner pate volcanic areas with adnormally high temperatures.

shields

large areas of exposed ancient crystalline rocks.

Laurasia

late Paleozoic continent that formed the northern part of Pangea

Gondwana

late Paleozoic continent that formed the southern portion of Pangaea

Oxidation

loss of electrons

Coccolithophores

microscopic algae

orogenic belts

mountain belts that border the craton and have been deformed by tectonic compression.

tidal flats

nearly level areas along lagoons, shorelines, and estuaries that are continuously flooded then exposed by tides twice daily, Can feature a variety of sediment types from muds to sands to carbonates. Get tides when moons, sun, earth are all aligned. Every 6 hours.

Venus plate tectonics

no active volcanoes, but we see mountains that are possibly folded

continental continental convergence

no subduction, overlap instead. tall mountains uplifted, causes double insulation.

Asthenosphere

part of upper mantle directly beneath the lithosphere extending to depths up to 430 miles; near melted material acts semi-fluid like.

Benioff Zone

pattern of earthquake distribution along slab of subducting oceanic crust. Shows a deepening of focal depth inboard from subduction trench.

Pangaea Ultima

possible future supercontinent configuration 250 Million years in the future.

transform faulting

process by which a transform fault moves with side-to-side motion.

Photosynthesis

process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose

Four Essential Components of Life

proteins, nucleic acids, organic phosphorus compounds, cell membrane

Foraminifers (Forams)

protozoans (single celled eukaryotic organisms)

Continental convergence boundaries

results in crustal thickening

Oceanic Oceanic convergence

results in subduction of the older, colder, more dense lithosphere. deep trenches generated.

Paleomagnetism in Sea Floor Spreading

revealed alternating patterns of normal and reverse magnetism (termed "zebra striping") across the seafloor.

Detrital (clastic)

sedimentary rock made of visible broken fragments

hydrothermal vents

submarine volcanic outgas pipes

passive margin basin

subsidence occurs over thinned crust at the edge of an ocean basin

Snowball Earth

suggests Earth's surface became entirely or near entirely frozen. 4-2.2 Ga and 850-630 Ma. Some believe it's a trigger for multicellular life.

Pangea

term for the super continent which contained all the plates together

intracontinental basins

the basin forms in the interior of a continent, perhaps over an old rift

floodplains

the flat area around a river that is covered with sediment as a result of frequent flooding. are typically covered by the finest slits and clays.

continental drift

the gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface through geological time.

sediment transport

the movement of eroded materials from one place to another by water, wind, and/or glaciers.

Apparent Polar Wandering

the perceived movement of the poles in relation to the continent

partial melting

the process by which different minerals in rock melt at different temperatures. Incomplete magmatic conversion. Sections that would melt ascend to the surface and form new rocks.

slab-pull

the pulling of a tectonic plate as its edge subducts deep into the mantle

continental slope

the slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor. May be about 12 miles wide.Rapid sediment transport occurs here from dense muddy turbidity currents.

mantle convection

the slow creeping motion of Earth's solid silicate mantle caused by convection currents carrying heat from the interior of the Earth to the surface.

endosymbiotic theory

theory that eukaryotic cells formed from a symbiosis among several different prokaryotic organisms. Mitochondria containing their own DNA is proof.

isostatic equilibrium

vertical movement in response to a changing load to reach a density specific buoyancy level.

Extrabasinal sediments

weathered rocks outside the basin that have been transported in; geologic materials may not be the same as in location.

sedimentary rock formation

weathering(Break down), erosion(Travel), deposition(stop travel), lithification(cementation)

foreland basin

weight of the mountain belt pushes down the crust's surface

ridge-push

when the force of gravity moves a plate downward and away from a ridge