ENVI 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Outer Core, Lithosphere
Document Summary
Study of dynamic processes taking place on earths surface and in earths interior. Geologists study the dynamic processes within the earth and on its surface that produce the mineral resources on which we depend. Produced and renewed over millions of years mostly by the earths rock cycle. Earths structure crust, mantle, outer core, inner core. Huge volumes of heated and molten rock moving around the earths interior form massive solid tectonic plates that move extremely slowly across the earths surface. About 12 or so rigid tectonic plates move across the surface of the mantle very slowly. Some processes wear down the earths surface by moving topsoil and peices of rock from one place to another, while other processes build up soil on the earths surface. Weathering is the physical, chemical, and biological processes that break down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces. Mineral naturally occurring compound that exists as a crystalline solid.