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MST Lesson5 Geologic Processes Midterm

Geological processes shape the Earth's surface over long timescales. They include plate tectonics, erosion, weathering and sedimentation. Weathering breaks down rocks through physical or chemical means. Erosion then transports the weathered material, which is eventually deposited as sediment. Endogenous processes like volcanism and earthquakes occur within the Earth, driven by the planet's internal heat. These geological forces significantly impact the landscape and environment over millions of years.

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Bien Joshua Martinez Pamintuan
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7 views

MST Lesson5 Geologic Processes Midterm

Geological processes shape the Earth's surface over long timescales. They include plate tectonics, erosion, weathering and sedimentation. Weathering breaks down rocks through physical or chemical means. Erosion then transports the weathered material, which is eventually deposited as sediment. Endogenous processes like volcanism and earthquakes occur within the Earth, driven by the planet's internal heat. These geological forces significantly impact the landscape and environment over millions of years.

Uploaded by

Bien Joshua Martinez Pamintuan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Geological

Processes
Geological Processes
• These are events that occur on geological timescale ranging
between million of centuries, hundreds of meters, and
thousands of kilometers.
• It describes the natural forces that shape the physical
makeup of a planet.
• Plate tectonics, erosion, chemical weathering and
sedimentation are all examples of forces that significantly
affect the Earth’s surface and account for its major features.
Earthquakes and Volcanism

The Rock Cycle Processes


EXOGENOUS PROCESSES
• Occur on or near the surface of Earth
• Usually influenced or driven by gravity, water,
wind and organisms
• In extreme cases, it can wipe out majority of
the organisms inhabiting that area
WEATHERING
• The disintegration of rocks, soil
and minerals together with other
materials through contact with
Earth’s subsystems.
• Happens even without movement
or transportation
Physical Weathering
• Breakdown of rocks by
mechanical forces concentrated
along rock fractures
• Can occur due to changes in
temperature and pressure
• Example : soil cracks because of
extreme heat or drought
• In some cases, water, wind or ice
may scrape rocks or soil
Chemical Weathering
• Rocks break down by chemical
reactions
• New or secondary minerals
develop and sometimes replace the
original properties of the minerals
in the original rock or soil
• Can control erosion rates in rivers
Four Types of Chemical Weathering
A. OXIDATION – reaction of a substance with oxygen
B. HYDROLYSIS – the chemical breakdown of a substance
when combined with water
C.ACID RAIN – may cause metals and stones to corrode or
deteriorate and change their properties
D. LIVING ORGANISM – organisms perform chemical
reactions, example lichens (algae + fungi) produce a weak
acid that can dissolve rock.
• Oxygen is a reactive element. It reacts with rocks through a process
called oxidation. One example of this type of weathering is rust formation, which
occurs when oxygen reacts with iron to form iron oxide (rust).

• Hydrolysis occurs, for example, when water comes in contact with granite.
Feldspar crystals inside the granite react chemically, forming clay minerals. The
clay weakens the rock, making it more likely to break.

• One common acid is carbonic acid, a weak acid that is produced when carbon
dioxide reacts with water. Carbonation is an important process in the formation of
many caves and sinkholes. Calcite in limestone dissolves under acidic conditions,
leaving open spaces.

• Living organisms such as lichens can have a profound effect on rock. Plant roots
are also an important source of chemical weathering. Animals can also effect
geochemistry. Human activities also have a major impact on rock ex. mining.
EROSION
• Process by which earth’s surface is worn away by wind,
water, or ice
• Moves rock debris or soil from one place to another
• Takes place when there is rainfall, surface runoff, flowing
rivers, seawater intrusion, flooding, freeing and thawing,
hurricanes, wind, etc.
• Movement of land animals during migration or stampede
• Human activities: deforestation, overgrazing and mining
Illinois Severe Erosion

Erosion whittled these gorgeous


spires of Vermillion Cliffs National
Monument, Arizona.
MASS WASTING
• Movement of large masses of materials (rock debris, soil,
mud) down a slope or a steep sided hill or mountain due to
the pull of gravity
• Very destructive in areas with increased water flow.
• DEBRIS FLOW
• MUDFLOW
• SLUMP
ITOGON. Police
and rescue teams
continue the
search for bodies
buried by the
landslide in Ucab,
Itogon in
Benguet, on
September 17,
2018.
Mudflow
• Happens when
combined soil and
water flow down a
slope
• Usually happens near
rivers or streams where
soil or sand is always
moist or has been
soaked in water for a
long time.
Debris flow
• Happens when a large amount
of sediments, usually rocks of
various sizes, falls down the
slope.
• Does not need water to flow
down
Slump
• Slow movement of soil along
a curved surface.
• In time, the area would look
curved because of the
depression formed by the
sinking land
SEDIMENTATION
• Accumulation of materials such as soil, rock fragments
and soil particles settling on the ground.
• Usually occurs in streams or sea erosion
• Over time, the sediment load becomes thick and
forms a new layer of ground
If geologic processes seem to bring
risk to human safety, where then is a
safe place to live?
ENDOGENOUS PROCESSES
• Takes place within or in the interior of Earth.
• The driving force is the thermal energy of the mantle.
• Responsible for earthquakes, development of continents,
mountain building, volcanic activities, etc.
MAGMATISM
• Magma is the original material
that make up igneous rocks.
• Magmatism happens when a
magma is generated and
develops into igneous
(magmatic) rocks
• The process can take place
either under the surface or on
the surface of Earth.
VOLCANISM (PLUTONISM)
• Process that usually happens after the magma is formed.
• Magma tries to escape from the source through openings such as
volcanoes or existing cracks on the ground.
• As soon as magma reaches the surface of the earth it is now called
lava.
METAMORPHISM
• Process of changing the materials that make up a rock.
• Chemical components and geologic characteristics of the
rock changed due to heat and pressure that are increasing or
decreasing.
Note:
• Rocks changing due to weathering and sedimentation are
not considered to have undergone metamorphism.
• Index minerals in
metamorphic
rocks indicate how
much the original
rock was
metamorphosed,
called the grade of
metamorphism.
• What drives the endogenous processes on
Earth?
• Where does the force come from?
• Why is it called endogenous?
Thank you so much!

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