Presentation for kids and adults interested in

geology

What is Geology?
Collected by Georgi Il. Georgiev
Created for educational, non-commercial use

Geology describes the

rocky parts of the Earth's
crust (or lithosphere) and
its historic development..
What is the structure of the Earth
like?

Geophysical studies have revealed that the

Earth has several distinct layers. Each of
these layers has its own properties.

The outermost layer of the Earth is the crust.

It has a variable thickness, being 35-70 km thick
in the continents and 5-10 km thick in the ocean
basins. The crust divided into many plates. The
crust is composed mainly of alumino-silicates.
What is the structure of the Earth
like?

The next layer is the mantle,which is composed mainly of ferro-

magnesium silicates. It is about 2900 km thick.
The last layer is the core, which is separated into the 2300 km thick
liquid nickel and iron outer core and the 1200 km thick solid iron inner
core. Earth's magnetic field is believed to be controlled by the liquid
outer core.
 Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics is a
part of geology
which deals with the
study of the motion
and deformation of
the Earth's crust.

Large convective
cells in the mantle
circulate heat and
may drive plate
tectonic processes.
The Earth's plates
essentially floats
atop a semi-liquid
layer known as the
asthenosphere.
 Mineralogy

Mineralogy is the part of geology. Mineralogy is the

study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical
properties of minerals.
 Mineral

A mineral is a naturally-
occurring, inorganic,
solid substance, with
distinctive physical
properties, a definite
chemical composition,
and a characteristic
geometric or crystal
structure.
 Crystal structure

Crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms or

molecules in a mineral.
 The physical properties
of the minerals
The physical properties help us to identify the mineral.
They are:
Luster - the way a mineral reflects ligh. The three major types of
luster are metallic, glassy (vitreous) and dull.

Olivine Psilomelane
Gold

Metallic luster Glassy (vitreous) luster Dull luster

 Colour

Ruby Sapphire

One mineral can have two or most colours

 Hardness
Hardness is defined by how well a
substance will resist scratching by
another substance. Geologist use the
Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This
scale characterizes the scratch
resistance of various minerals through
the ability of a harder material to
scratch a softer material. It contains
10 minerals. The hardest mineral in
the World is diamond (hardness - 10).

Mohs scale of mineral hardness

 Streak
The streak (also called
"powder colour") of a
mineral is the colour of
the powder produced
when it is dragged across
an unweathered surface.
Unlike the apparent color
of a mineral, which for
most minerals can vary
considerably, the trail of
finely ground powder
generally has a more
consistent characteristic
Cinnabar (top) and hematite color, and is thus an
(bottom) have distinctive important diagnostic tool
streaks, even though the in mineral identification.
minerals may have drab or
black colors.
 Crystal Form

Pyrite Pyrite

Crystals are commonly recognized by their shape, consisting of flat

faces with sharp angles. One mineral can have different crystal form
 Crystal Form

Diamond octahedron Fluorite octahedron

Some different type of minerals have the same crystal form

 Polymorphism
Diamond and
graphite are
two minerals
composite whit
carbon. They
have a different
structure.

Polymorphism is the ability of a solid material to exist in

more than one form or crystal structure
 Crystal twinning

Twinned gypsum crystals

Cross-shape staurolite twinning

Crystal twinning occurs when two separate crystals share some of the
same crystal lattice points in a symmetrical manner. The result is an
intergrowth of two separate crystals in a variety of specific configurations.
 Cleavage

Mica Feldspar Calcite

Cleavage is the way a mineral breaks. Many minerals break along

flat planes, or cleavages—some in only one direction (like mica),
others in two directions (like feldspar), and some in three directions
(like calcite).
 What are Rocks?

A rock is a naturally occurring substance, composed of

one or more minerals. Rocks are classified into three
categories – igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
 Igneous Rocks

Igneous rocks are formed by the melting of pre-existing rocks into molten rock or
magma. The subsequent cooling of magma forms new rock. The magma is either
forced into older surrounding rocks (intrusive) or is discharged onto the Earth’s surface
by volcanic eruption (extrusive).
 Intrusive and extrusive rocks

Granite Basalt

Granite (intrusive) and basalt (extrusive) are examples of igneous rocks.

 Sedimentary Rocks
Sandstone
Limestone

Sedimentary rocks are formed from eroded pieces of rock

that have been deposited in layers by wind or water. The
sediments are then lithified (compacted and cemented) to
form rock. The sediments may be derived from any rock
type (igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary). Sandstone,
limestone, dolomite, coal and conglomerate are examples
of sedimentary rocks.
 Organogenic sedimentary
rocks

Limestone-fossiliferous-rock Chert-fossiliferous

The term "organogenic" refers to rock which is composed mainly of the

fossilized remains of once living organisms, usually marine creatures
which inhabited reefs in long lost oceans.
 Fossil

In some sedimentary rocks we can observe fossils. Fossils are

the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other
organisms from the remote past.
 Metamorphic Rocks

Marble-with-graphite

Gneiss

Metamorphic rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks by extreme

heat and pressure that cause changes in the rock’s mineralogical,
chemical and structural properties. Marble and gneiss are the most
common metamorphic rocks.
 Rock Cycle

The rock cycle graphically displays the processes involved in the formation of
the three types of rocks: igneous rocks form from melting and cooling,
metamorphic rocks by heat and pressure, and sedimentary rocks by weathering,
transportation, deposition and lithification. Each type may be formed from either
one of the other two rock types or from the same rock type.
 Economic minerals
Galena - PbS

Chalcopyrite - CuFeS2

Hematite Fe2O3

Economic minerals are classified as metallic (such as galena, chalcopyrite

and hematite), nonmetallic (such as barite, limestone, fireclay, granite and
sandstone), or fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas).
 Economic minerals
Coal

Natural gas

Petroleum
Thank you very
much for your
attention!