GEO 1111 Study Guide - North American Plate, Basalt, Granodiorite

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Geology
• Course: GEO 1111
• Professor: All

Document Summary

We think we understand the composition of other planets by learning about earth"s rocks and minerals (3 rock types, 10-15 mineral types) rock: aggregate of 1 or more minerals e. g. salt. Three rock types: igneous: originally molten material, once lava then cooled and crystalized. sedimentary: originally weathered and broken pre-existing rock that is compacted and cemented together. Metamorphic: any pre-existing rock that has undergone temperature, pressure or structural changes. Rock in the mantle of the earth, melts into magma, solidified and can become igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Earth is made up of a series of dynamic, moving plates. The pattern these plates form and deform are not random, but are predictable. Pattern recognition: earthquakes occur where mountains rise & volcanoes explode. Outer portion of the earth is composed of plates. The plates move slowly (rate of fingernail growth cm/yr) Most large scale geological activity occurs at plate boundaries.