4.a
What is the name of the molten rock that originates deep within the Earth?
Magma
What are the two main types of weathering?
mechanical and chemical
What are the three main types of rocks?
Igneous, sedimentary, and Metamorphic.
What is the name of the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface?
The Hydrologic cycle
What are the two main geological regions of Alabama mentioned in the presentation?
Appalachian Mountains and the Coastal plains
Describe the texture of plutonic igneous rocks
Glassy or crystal like
How does freeze-thaw cycles cause mechanical weathering?
water expands as it freezes, breaking rocks apart.
How are igneous rocks formed?
They form from the cooling and solidification of molten rock or magma.
What is the process called when water evaporates from the oceans, lakes, and land surfaces into the atmosphere?
Evaporation
Name three mineral resources that are found in Alabama.
Coal, Limestone, iron ore
How does the composition and viscosity of magma affect the resulting texture of the igneous rock?
Felsic magma produces light colored and coarse granite rocks, while Mafic magma produces dark, fine grained rocks.
Describe the process of hydrolysis and how it leads to chemical weathering.
water reacts with minerals that make new compounds
Identify two ways that heat and pressure can be applied to existing rocks to create metamorphic rocks.
It can come from tectonic plate movement, or magma intrusion.
Explain the role of water in the weathering and erosion of rocks and minerals.
It breaks it down over time
Describe the general characteristics of the Appalachian Mountains and Coastal Plain regions in Alabama.
Appalachian mountains; rugged terrain and valleys
Coastal plain; flat, low-lying terrain and sandy soil
Explain the key differences between the formation of plutonic and volcanic igneous rocks.
Plutonic rocks form when magma forms bellow the surface, while volcanic forms above the surface.
Explain how plant root growth can contribute to mechanical weathering.
plant roots can get into small cracks, breaking rocks apart as they grow
Describe how sediments are transported and deposited to form sedimentary rocks.
They can be transported and deposited by water, wind, or ice over long periods of time, and as they are buried, they are compressed together to form the rocks
Describe how groundwater movement can influence chemical weathering.
groundwater can dissolve and transport minerals
How did the geological history of Alabama, including sedimentary processes and volcanic activity, shape the landscape we see today?
Sedimentary rocks formed in ancient seas and river systems and volcanic activity with mountain building events
Predict how the rate of cooling would affect the mineral crystal size in an igneous rock.
The slow cooling from being under the surface (plutonic) makes the rocks coarse, while above, (volcanic) makes the rocks a fine texture from cooling quickly.
explain how the presence of acid rain would affect the chemical weathering of rock monuments over time.
pollution can create acid rain that speeds up the process of chemical weathering.
How does understanding the rock cycle help geologists infer the past environmental conditions of a region?
it helps them with the tectonic history of a region based on the types of rocks that are present.
Analyze how changes in the hydrologic cycle (e.g. due to climate change) could impact surface and subsurface processes.
Evaporation may take place more often and quicker leaving usually lush land to eventually dry out and change.
How might the geological diversity of Alabama and the southeastern U.S. impact the types of industries, agriculture, or other economic activities in the region?
Things in some areas are closer together in the plains because unlike the more mountain-ee areas they don't have to worry as much about terra-forming and distance.