Earth Science Reviewer

1. G E O L O G Y, M E T E O R O L O G Y A N D A S T R O N O M Y
EARTH SCIENCE (PART 1)
BY JESS CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ
MAY 2012

2. GEOLOGY
• GEO – EARTH
• LOGOS – TO STUDY
• MINERALS
• ROCKS
• FORMATIONS
• HISTORY

3. MINERALS

4. MINERALS
• N – aturally occuring
• O – rdered Structure
• I – norganic
• S – olid
• E – xact Chemical Composition
• They are the building blocks of rocks

5. ORDERED STRUCTURES

6. PROPERTIES OF A MINERAL
• HARDNESS – Refers to which materials a mineral can
scratch, (Moh’s Hardness Scale**)
• COLOR – A property referring to the light which is
reflected by the mineral to the human eye
• STREAK – (Streak Plate**), refers to the color of the
mineral in its powder form. Note a minerals color may
differ from its streak
• CLEAVAGE – Refers to the number of cleaves or breaks
a mineral has. Aids in identification of minerals ordered
structured as related to how it is broken into pieces.

7. MOH’S HARDNESS SCALE

8. ROCKS
• Formed due to the presence of one or more minerals
• The rock cycle – refers to the processes that a rock has
undergone to obtain its present state
• Has 3 major classification; IGNEOUS, SEDIMENTARY,
METAMORPHIC

9. THE ROCK CYCLE

10. IGNEOUS ROCKS
• IGNIS – Fire/Flame
• Developed inside the Earth (Intrusive) or cooled on the
Earth’s surface (Extrusive)
• Higher time of cooling = Larger crystals
• Less time of cooling = Smooth, glassy features

11. EXTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCKS
• Obsidian

12. • Basalt

13. INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCKS
• Pegmatite

14. • Diorite

15. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
• EROSION
• DEPOSITION
• LITHIFICATION/DIAGENESIS
• COMPACTION
• CEMENTATION

16. • These SEDIMENTARY PROCESSES give us an idea of
what type of environment the aggregate debris of these
rocks has and its mode of transport
• Classified as; CLASTIC (cemented rock with clasts or
pebble like mixed rocks), BIOCHEMICAL and
CHEMICAL SEDIMENTARY ROCKS.

17. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

18. METAMORPHIC ROCKS
• RESULT of the WEATHERING (either due to heat,
pressure of both) or sedimentary or igneous rock(s).
• FOLIATED OR NONFOLIATED
• FOLIATION refers to the layers/bands found on rocks

19. EARTHQUAKES
• Caused by rapid vibrations of the Earth releasing energy
coming from the focus, associated with fractures called
faults.
• Epicenter – Above the focus, on the “ground” where
vegetation is found.

20. EARTHQUAKE WAVES
• Surface Waves: Travels along the outer layer of the
Earth
• Body Waves: Travels through Earth’s interior
• P waves: PUSH-PULL waves, fastest among waves. Can travel
on all medium
• S waves: SHAKE waves, cannot travel on liquids

21. MEASURING THE “STRENGTH” OF AN
EARTHQUAKE
• INTENSITY: compares strength relative to effect, ie.
Swinging or lampshades, waking of asleep persons, etc.
• MOMENT MAGNITUDE: compares strength using
energy release by the earthquake as measured by a
seismograph

22. VOLCANISM
• VULCAN – Roman God of Fire
• Refers to any geological structure that has a
crater(mouth) that emits and/or contains magma(molten
rock) beneath the surface of the Earth.
• Basic classification includes: SHIELD(wide),
CINDER(cone like) and COMPOSITE(steep)

24. COMPOSITION OF THE EARTH

25. COMPOSITION OF THE EARTH
• CRUST: thinnest layer of the Earth
• MANTLE: thickest layer of the Earth.
• OUTER CORE: liquid(higher temp, lower pressure)
• INNER CORE: solid(high temp, high pressure)
• DISCONTINUITIES
- Mohorovicic: “Moho”, Crust-Mantle
- Gutenberg: Mantle - Outer Core
- Lehmann: Outer Core –Inner Core

26. CHANGES IN THE EARTH’S SURFACE
1. Continental Drift Theorem: proposed by Alfred
Wedgener
• Pangea: Large land mass, evidences are as follows
• Puzzle like arrangement of Brazil and Africa
• Fossil Evidences
• Rock Structures
• Ancient Climate

27. CHANGES IN THE EARTH’S SURFACE
2. Plate Tectonics Theory
- Argued that the Continental Drift Theory
- Separates Crust into Plate Boundaries
TYPES OF PLATE BOUNDARIES
• Convergent: Plates move toward each other
• Divergent: Plates move away from each other
• Transform: Plates slide past from each other

28. GEOLOGIC TIME
• Nicolas Steno: pioneered the study of geological
structures and relate them with computations regarding
dates and other time related features.
• STENO’S LAWS:
• Law of Superposition: The fossil on top is younger than the
bottom
• Principle of Original Horizontality: Layers are deposited
horizontally
• Principle of Cross Cutting: When a fault cuts through other rocks,
the fault is younger than these rocks.

29. ANY
QUESTIONS?

30. QUIZ

31. 1. A mineral is defined as NOISE, give at least 2 def’ns.
2. A rock is composed of several minerals that undergo the process of
_________
3. An igneous rock that develop inside the Earth is called _____ and
develops ______ crystals, while that develop outside/surface of the Earth
is called the ________ and develops ________ crystals.
4. A sedimentary rock relates its origin through ________
5. The release of energy due to vibration of the Earth is the ______
6. The source of 5, is the _____ and its reflection on the vegetation is the
_________
7. The ______ measures relative effect on persons due to 5, and ______
measures energy due to 5 using a __________
8. The father of Historical Geology is _______, he formulated the ______.
Explain at least 2 of these 3 laws.