The Nature of the geologic record

Part 1 Elements, Minerals, Rocks, Strata, and Geologic processes

Element a substance composed of only one kind of

atom. The basic stuff that composes the earth.

Examples: gold, silver, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, iron

Gold

Carbon

Silicon

Element abundance in the earths crust

Mineral - a naturally occurring crystalline substance

composed of two or more elements.

Examples of common minerals: quartz, feldspar, mica, clay, ferromagnesians (hornblende & augite), calcite, gypsum, salt (NaCl)

(SiO2)

Quartz Variety: Agate

Feldspar
(K, Na, Ca + AlSiO)

Feldspar
(K, Na, Ca + AlSiO)

The ferromagnesian mineral: Hornblende

(Fe,Mg, Ca + AlSiO)

Mica
(AlSiO +)

Clay
(AlSiO+)

Calcite
(CaCO3)

Gypsum
(CaSO4)

Gypsum

Variety: Selenite

Rock a combination of two or more minerals,

crystallized or cemented together

Examples: granite, lava, sandstone, shale, limestone, marble

Types of Rock
Igneous rock that has cooled and crystallized from a molten mass. Intrusive cools slowly underground and forms large crystals (granite)

Extrusive extruded on the surface and cools quickly, forming small crystals (lava, obsidian)

Types of Rock
Sedimentary rock deposited as fragments and later hardened by cementation or compaction. Conglomerate large rock fragments cemented together Sandstone sand sized particles cemented together Shale clay sized particles cemented or compacted together Limestone composed of calcium carbonate Evaporite materials deposited by the evaporation of water (gypsum, salt)

Sedimentary rock - conglomerate

Sedimentary rock: Conglomerate

Sedimentary rock - sandstone

Sedimentary rock: Shale

Limestone

Sedimentary rock: Evaporite (Gypsum)

Salt deposited in Lake Bonneville

Salt crystals (NaCl) in Lake Bonneville

Types of Rock
Metamorphic rock altered by heat, pressure and movement. Gneiss & schist metamorphosed igneous rocks

Marble metamorphosed limestone

Quartzite metamorphose sandstone Slate Metamorphosed shale

Gneiss

Metamorphic rock: Schist

Metamorphic rock: Schist

Marble

Quartzite

Slate

Strata layered or bedded masses of rocks deposited

sequentially by various geologic processes.

Geologic Processes
Uplift (Folding, faulting and earthquakes) Weathering Erosion (wind, water & glaciers)

Deposition (sedimentary rocks)

Evaporation Igneous intrusion (intrusive rocks) Volcanism (extrusive rocks) Metamorphism

Uplift - faulting

Deep weathering of crystalline rocks

Erosion and deposition by ice

Glacial till

Wind erosion and deposition

Metamorphism

End