Using the order of crystallization on the Bowen's reaction Series, rate the resistance of silicate minerals to chemical weathering. In other words, which mineral(s) weather first and why? And last?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Olivine, which forms at high temperature and high-pressure conditions, is less stable in surface conditions and will therefore weather first. Quartz, forming at low temperature and low pressure conditions similar to those at the surface, is more resistant to weathering and will weather last.
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The potassium-argon dating method is applied to dating potassium feldspar in rocks. But it is important to keep in mind just exactly what the resulting numbers mean. For each example, indicate which geologic process or event is being dated:
• A potassium-argon date of 2.3 million years on potassium feldspar in a volcanic rock • A potassium-argon date of 535 million years on potassium feldspar in a metamorphosed volcanic rock • A potassium-argon date of 164 million years on potassium feldspar in a clastic sedimentary rock What will be an ideal response?
Most of the organisms that have ever existed are now extinct
a. True b. False
Two countries share the area of a large tropical island. Flying along the border of the two nations, you notice that to the left of the border, one nation is heavily deforested and eroded, while in the nation on the right the area is richly vegetated
. Compared to the country on the left, the country on the right is more likely to have A) higher rates of human population growth. B) higher rates of poverty. C) greater political and economic stability. D) greater reliance upon natural ecosystems for trade.
The presence of talus slopes indicates the occurrence of
A) mudflow. B) rockfall. C) creep. D) slump. E) planar slides.