ENV100Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Metamorphic Rock, Gneiss, Lithification

• School: UTM
• Department: Environment
• Course: ENV100Y5
• Professor: Barbara Murck

Document Summary

Geological cycles provide the physical foundation to support life on earth. Heating, melting, cooling, breaking, reassembling of rocks and minerals. Processes related to the movement of large fragments of lithosphere. Drive formation of mineral resources and fossil fuels. Ultimately influence the distribution of vegetation and ecosystems. Igneous rock: magma= molten rock + gases + crystals. Intrusive (plutonic) rock: magma cools and crystalizes slowly, well below earth surface. Ex, granite // minerals are large and easy to see by eye. Extrusive (volcanic) rock: magma is ejected from a volcano, cools and solidifies. Ex, basalt // black and extremely fine grained - even glassy. Sediment = particles of rock, transported by wind, water, ice, or gravity. Sedimentary rock = forms in the near surface or surface environment. Lithification = formation of rock through the processes of compaction an cementation. Fossils = preserved remains of long dead organisms. Ex, sandstone // can easily see the gains of sand that accumulated in layers.