GEG 111 EXAM 3 HARPER COLLEGE LATEST ACTUAL EXAM
Geomorphology - ANSWER: The study of Earth's surface landforms - their origin,
evolution, form, and spatial distribution
Layers of Earth's Interior - ANSWER: Earth's Core (inner and outer)--> Earth's mantle
(lower and upper)--> Earth's crust--> Asthenosphere and Lithosphere
Earth's Core - ANSWER: The core is differentiated into an
inner core and outer core.
• Earth's outer core is separated from
the mantle by a transition zone
known as the Gutenberg
discontinuity.
Earth's Crust - ANSWER: Outer layer, thickness varies. Made up of 8 natural
resources. Continental and Oceanic: continental made out of granite, oceanic made
out of basalt
Asthenosphere and Lithosphere - ANSWER: The interior layers of core, mantle,
and crust are differentiated by chemical composition.
• The outer part is divided into the
lithosphere (rigid layer) and the
asthenosphere (plastic layer).
Mineral - ANSWER: An inorganic, natural, solid compound with a specific chemical
formula, and often a crystalline structure. Earth's most common mineral is quartz
SiO2.
Common mineral groups - ANSWER: Silicates, Oxides, Sulfides & Sulfates,
Carbonates, Halides.
Rock - ANSWER: A collection of minerals or a single mineral that forms a mass.
Examples include granite, obsidian, coal.
3 basic types of rock - ANSWER: 1) Igneous (formed from molten material)
2)Sedimentary (formed from compaction or chemical processes).
3) Metamorphic (altered by heat and pressure)
Igneous Processes - ANSWER: • Igneous rocks form from magma, which is molten
rock beneath Earth's surface.
• When magma emerges at the surface, it is lava, although it retains its molten
characteristics.
• Igneous rocks make up about 90% of Earth's crust, although sedimentary rocks,
soil, or oceans frequently cover them.
, Sedimentary Processes - ANSWER: Sedimentary rocks are formed from the
compaction and cementation of small particles deposited by the wind or water
• The small particles are known as clasts (grains or fragments)
• The particles may come from:The weathering and erosion of existing rock (e.g.
sandstone), the accumulation of shells on the ocean floor (e.g. limestone), the
accumulation of organic
matter from ancient plants (e.g.
coal), or the precipitation of minerals
from solution (e.g. limestone)
• 2 classes of sedimentary rocks are:
1) Clastic
2) Chemical and Organic
The Rock Cycle - ANSWER: The rock cycle refers to the continuous change of
Earth materials from one rock type to another.
• Igneous rock formed from magma may break
down into sediment by weathering and erosion.
• It will then lithify into sedimentary rock.
• This rock may become buried and exposed to
pressure and heat deep within Earth, forming
metamorphic rock.
Isostatic Rebound - ANSWER: The rise of land masses that were depressed by the
huge weight of ice sheets during the last ice age.
Endogenic Processes - ANSWER: Operate from Earth's interior, driven by heat and
radioactive decay. (internal)
Exogenic Processes - ANSWER: Operate at Earth's surface, driven by solar energy and
the movement of air, water, and ice. (External)
Pangaea - ANSWER: Name given to supercontinent by Alfred Wegener. Means "All
Earth"
Originator of the theory of Continental Drift - ANSWER: Alfred Wegener in 1912
Convergent Boundaries - ANSWER: Occur in areas of crustal collision and subduction.
Plates move toward each other, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
Divergent Boundaries - ANSWER: Formed when magma from the asthenosphere
wells up in the opening between plates. Plates move away from each other,
earthquakes, and volcanic eruption.
Transform Boundaries - ANSWER: Occur when horizontal slippage occurs between
plates. There is no subduction, no crustal material creation or destruction at these
boundaries. Plates move past one another, earthquakes only.
Geomorphology - ANSWER: The study of Earth's surface landforms - their origin,
evolution, form, and spatial distribution
Layers of Earth's Interior - ANSWER: Earth's Core (inner and outer)--> Earth's mantle
(lower and upper)--> Earth's crust--> Asthenosphere and Lithosphere
Earth's Core - ANSWER: The core is differentiated into an
inner core and outer core.
• Earth's outer core is separated from
the mantle by a transition zone
known as the Gutenberg
discontinuity.
Earth's Crust - ANSWER: Outer layer, thickness varies. Made up of 8 natural
resources. Continental and Oceanic: continental made out of granite, oceanic made
out of basalt
Asthenosphere and Lithosphere - ANSWER: The interior layers of core, mantle,
and crust are differentiated by chemical composition.
• The outer part is divided into the
lithosphere (rigid layer) and the
asthenosphere (plastic layer).
Mineral - ANSWER: An inorganic, natural, solid compound with a specific chemical
formula, and often a crystalline structure. Earth's most common mineral is quartz
SiO2.
Common mineral groups - ANSWER: Silicates, Oxides, Sulfides & Sulfates,
Carbonates, Halides.
Rock - ANSWER: A collection of minerals or a single mineral that forms a mass.
Examples include granite, obsidian, coal.
3 basic types of rock - ANSWER: 1) Igneous (formed from molten material)
2)Sedimentary (formed from compaction or chemical processes).
3) Metamorphic (altered by heat and pressure)
Igneous Processes - ANSWER: • Igneous rocks form from magma, which is molten
rock beneath Earth's surface.
• When magma emerges at the surface, it is lava, although it retains its molten
characteristics.
• Igneous rocks make up about 90% of Earth's crust, although sedimentary rocks,
soil, or oceans frequently cover them.
, Sedimentary Processes - ANSWER: Sedimentary rocks are formed from the
compaction and cementation of small particles deposited by the wind or water
• The small particles are known as clasts (grains or fragments)
• The particles may come from:The weathering and erosion of existing rock (e.g.
sandstone), the accumulation of shells on the ocean floor (e.g. limestone), the
accumulation of organic
matter from ancient plants (e.g.
coal), or the precipitation of minerals
from solution (e.g. limestone)
• 2 classes of sedimentary rocks are:
1) Clastic
2) Chemical and Organic
The Rock Cycle - ANSWER: The rock cycle refers to the continuous change of
Earth materials from one rock type to another.
• Igneous rock formed from magma may break
down into sediment by weathering and erosion.
• It will then lithify into sedimentary rock.
• This rock may become buried and exposed to
pressure and heat deep within Earth, forming
metamorphic rock.
Isostatic Rebound - ANSWER: The rise of land masses that were depressed by the
huge weight of ice sheets during the last ice age.
Endogenic Processes - ANSWER: Operate from Earth's interior, driven by heat and
radioactive decay. (internal)
Exogenic Processes - ANSWER: Operate at Earth's surface, driven by solar energy and
the movement of air, water, and ice. (External)
Pangaea - ANSWER: Name given to supercontinent by Alfred Wegener. Means "All
Earth"
Originator of the theory of Continental Drift - ANSWER: Alfred Wegener in 1912
Convergent Boundaries - ANSWER: Occur in areas of crustal collision and subduction.
Plates move toward each other, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
Divergent Boundaries - ANSWER: Formed when magma from the asthenosphere
wells up in the opening between plates. Plates move away from each other,
earthquakes, and volcanic eruption.
Transform Boundaries - ANSWER: Occur when horizontal slippage occurs between
plates. There is no subduction, no crustal material creation or destruction at these
boundaries. Plates move past one another, earthquakes only.
