Mastering Geology RA-01

What are the two most important driving forces of metamorphism?

high heat and pressure

The nebular theory is the most widely accepted view of the origin of our solar system. Which of the following is a short description of the nebular theory?

A large cloud of space gas and dust condensed and contracted to form a rotating disk with a star formed at the center. Repeated collisions caused bodies to coalesce, leading to the current configuration of our solar system.

What is the D" layer?

A partially molten layer above the outer core at the base of the mantle.

What main characteristics are used to distinguish the two types of mountain belts?

Age and degree or erosion

The __________ is an example of an old mountain belt, while the Himalayas represent a(n) __________.

Appalachian Mountains; young mountain belt

Which of the following correctly states the order in which major features of North America were formed?

Canadian Shield, Appalachians, North American Cordillera

In the list shown below, label each item for the location where it primarily occurs: 1) on Earth's surface, 2) Earth's shallow subsurface, or 3) Earth's deep subsurface (many miles/km below the surface). Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. Labels may be reused.

Earth's surface - lava cooling and undergoing crystallization to form extrusive igneous rocks - weathering, transport, deposition Earth's shallow subsurface - sediment undergoing lithification Earth's deep subsurface - (rock) melting - high temperature, high pressure (high-grade) metamorphism

In the example below, all of the items are examples of either observations or inference based on a situation where you walk into a dark room, flip the wall switch, and the light does not come on. Drag the appropriate items into their respective bins. Each item may be used only once.

Observation - the light did not come on - i reset the fuses and the lights still doesn't come on Inference - the electricity may be out - the light bulb may be dead - a fuse must have blown

The upper mantle can be divided into the asthenosphere and lithosphere based on what physical properties?

The asthenosphere is solid, but mobile, while the lithosphere is solid and relatively rigid.

What is the difference between magma and lava?

Magma is molten rock located below the surface; lava is molten rock erupted above ground.

Why is the geologic time scale more detailed in the Phanerozoic than in previous eons?

The Phanerozoic Eon is more detailed because of the presence of organisms with hard parts and the rapid increase in biodiversity.

Using a calendar year as an analogy to the geologic time scale, when do the oldest anatomically modern humans appear on Earth?

The oldest human fossils show up at about eleven minutes to midnight on December 31st.

If stable platforms represent sedimentary rocks that cover continental shields, then what statement must be true?

The sedimentary rock atop the stable platforms must be younger than continental shields.

Which statement accurately describes continental shields?

Very old, stable regions composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks

Name the epoch, period, era and eon in which we currently live.

We live in the Holocene Epoch of the Quaternary Period, which is part of the Cenzoic Era and Phanerozoic Eon.

What are the two important processes involved in lithification of sedimentary rocks?

cementation and compaction

The layers of Earth are based on what two sets of characteristics?

chemical composition and physical properties

What is the category name for the largest division of time used on the geologic time scale?

eon

Through the course of time, bodies in our solar system have become __________ and __________ due to collisions.

fewer in number; larger in size

_____ igneous rocks are those that cool below the surface.

intrusive

Can you determine by what process the following rocks formed? Sort the images into their correct bins based on whether they were formed by igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic processes. Drag the appropriate items into their respective bins.

left box - metamorphic layers middle box - sedimentary layers right box - igneous layers

In the image below, label the arrows for the correct processes of the rock cycle. Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. Labels may be reused and not all labels are used.

magma > igneous rock - cooling, crystallization igneous rock > sediment - weathering, transport, deposition sediment > sedimentary rock - lithification sedimentary rock > metamorphic rock - metamorphism metamorphic rock > magma - melting igneous rock > magma - melting igneous rock > metamorphic rock - metamorphism

The Jurassic Period lies in the _____ Era, which was dominated by large terrestrial vertebrates, or _____.

mesozoic; dinosaurs

An igneous rock becomes buried, is subject to high heat and pressure, and recrystallizes. This rock then is eroded, transported, deposited and subsequently lithified. Which rock types—in order—did the original igneous rock develop into?

metamorphic and sedimentary

What are the two types of crust?

oceanic and continental

Which of the following rock types is most abundant on Earth's land surface?

sedimentary rocks

What happens to the atmosphere as you move away from Earth's surface?

the atmosphere thins

The enormous cloud of gas and dust initially condensed due to particle attraction. What force then pulled the cloud into a flat disk shape?

the inward pull of gravity

What object or class of objects makes up most of the solar system's mass?

the sun