EnvSci 11-1 & 11-2 Geological Processes & Mineral Resources

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other on the asthenosphere.

Front

What is the asthenosphere?

Back

A semi-fluid layer of the Earth's mantle that allows tectonic plates to move.

Front

What is a nonrenewable mineral resource?

Back

Mineral resources that take millions or billions of years to form and cannot be replenished within a human timescale.

Front

What is metamorphism?

Back

The process by which rocks change from one type to another due to high temperatures and/or pressures.

Front

What is the rock cycle?

Back

The continuous process of rock formation, breakdown, and reformation, involving sedimentation, metamorphism, and volcanism.

Front

What is sedimentation?

Back

The process of settling or being deposited as sediment, often leading to the formation of sedimentary rocks.

Front

What is volcanism?

Back

The process of magma rising to the Earth's surface, resulting in volcanic eruptions and the formation of igneous rocks.

Front

What is subduction?

Back

The process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle.

Front

What is the hydrologic cycle?

Back

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

Front

What is the significance of studying historical records of earthquakes?

Back

It helps in understanding patterns and locating active fault zones to reduce risks associated with earthquakes.