Time period concepts
the longest division of geological time, spanning hundreds of millions to billions of years.
what is an Eon
light-colored igneous rocks rich in silica and elements like aluminum and potassium.
What is Felsic
the theory that Earth's surface is divided into large, moving sections that shift and interact
What are Plate Tectonics
a rock wall that was formed by molten Iron that was squeezing into a crack of silver plume granite
What is Iron dike
some of the oldest rocks on Earth, formed more than 540 million years ago during the Precambrian time
what are Precambrian rocks
igneous rocks with a composition between felsic and mafic, containing a mix of light and dark minerals.
What is intermediate
a large igneous body that has congealed form magma underground.
What is a Pluton
a metamorphic rock formed under high heat and pressure. It has a banded texture with visible layers of minerals like quartz and feldspar.
What is Granite gneiss
a key period in Earth's early history, lasting from about 4 billion to 2.5 billion years ago.
what is The Archean Eon
minerals are aligned in parallel layers or bands due to intense pressure. This gives the rock a striped or layered appearance.
What is Foliation
one edge of one lithospheric plate is forced below the edge of another
What is Subduction
a metamorphic rock that forms under intense heat and pressure. It’s made of flaky minerals like mica, giving it a shiny, layered appearance. often has minerals like quartz or garnet mixed in.
What is Schist
Bacteria that uses photosynthesis to oxygenate the atmosphere during the Archean Eon,
what are Cyanobacteria
igneous rocks with a fine-grained texture where the crystals are too small to see without magnification, caused by rapid cooling.
What is Aphanitic
an ancient part of Earth's crust that forms the core of North America and contains some of its oldest rocks.
What is the North American Craton
a metamorphic rock, forms when sand grains and pebbles full of quartz are compressed together. has a rough texture, with rounded pebbles held together by the quartz.
What is Conglomeratic Quartzite
is about 542 mya
what is The proterozoic eon
rocks made from fragments of other rocks or minerals that have been broken down, transported, and compacted together.
What is Clastic
an ancient part of Earth's crust, containing some of the oldest rocks in North America. It forms part of the stable North American Craton.
What is Wyoming Province
a metamorphic rock, layered, primarily made of biotite, quartz, and feldspar. Forms under high pressure and heat.
What is Biotite Gneiss