SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS: ANSWERS

1. Describe the rock cycle.

Magma or Lava hardens into rock. Weathering and erosion breaks it up and carries it out to sea. The sediment builds up and is compacted and heats up. This causes metamorphism. Finally it melts completely completing the cycle.

2. What is the basic principle behind Bowen’s reaction series?

Minerals crystallize at different temps.

Mafic mineras crystalize at hotter temps. Felsic at cooler. So the mafic minerals crystallize and settle to the bottom of the magma chamber, leaving the rest of the magma more felsic. This is called Differentiation.

3. Igneous rocks are classified according to two factors.

    What are they? Texture and composition.

4. What is pillow lava? Lava that cooled underwater.

5. What is columnar basalt? 6 to 8 sided pillars of basalt.

6. List and describe the three main types of volcanoes based 

    on their lava type and shape.

Cinder Cones: Results from a thick, viscous lava. Explosive volcano with lots of Pyroclastics. Small base, steep sides

Composite Volcanoes: Large, tall, symmetrical. Layers of runny lava & pyroclastics

Shield Volcanoes: Large, flat, broad volcanoes. Basalt lava flows. Gentle, runny lava eruptions.

7. List two ways to distinguish Pyrite from Gold.

Gold is heavy and soft. You can scratch it with your fingernail. Pyrite is hard and not as heavy.

8. What is the difference between crystal faces and cleavage faces?

Crystal faces is the way the mineral grew. Cleavage is the way a mineral breaks in plains.

9. What causes the difference in color between Biotite and Muscovite:

Biotite has Magnesium and iron which makes it black.

10. What is the difference between:

Calcite and Halite and Gypsum.

Bubbles with acid, Taste like salt, soft.

Quartz and Fluorite:

Quartz is harder.

Pyrite and Chalcopyrite:

Chalcopyrite looks like real gold because it contains copper.