Geologic Processes On Earth

Geologic Processes On Earth

 The dynamism of Earth is
attributed to its never ending
geologic processes driven by
internal and external forces.
 Geologic processes are broken
down into two categories :
exogenous
 ( external) and endogenous
(internal).
Geologic Processes on Earth
1 . Exogenous Processes
 occur on or near the surface of Earth.
 They are influenced or driven by gravity, water, wind and organisms.
 These could be destructive occurrences that leave significant changes on the landscape and
even in the ecosystem of an area.
Geologic Processes on Earth
Different types of exogenous processes:
1. Weathering
- It is the disintegration of rocks, soil, and minerals together with
other materials through contact with Earth’s subsytems.
- it happens even without movement or transportation ( as
opposed to erosion that involves movement).
- there are two important types of weathering : physical
weathering and chemical weathering.
Geologic Processes on Earth
Different types of exogenous
processes:
1. Weathering
a. Physical Weathering
- breakdown of rocks by mechanical
forces concentrated along rock fractures.
- this can occur due to changes, whether
sudden or not, in temperature, pressure, etc.
Geologic Processes on Earth
Different types of exogenous processes:
1. Weathering
b. Chemical Weathering
- the process by which rocks break down
by chemical reactions.
- in this process, new or secondary mineral
develop and sometimes replace the original
properties of minerals in the original rock or soil
Geologic Processes on Earth
Different types of exogenous processes:
1. Weathering
b. Chemical Weathering
- oxidation ( the reaction of a substance with
oxygen) and hydrolysis ( the chemical breakdown of a
substance when combined with water) are chemical
processes that contribute to chemical weathering.
- Another contributor to chemical is the acid rain
which may cause metals or stones to corrode or deteriorate
and change their properties because of the reactions of the
acids.
Geologic Processes on Earth
2. Erosion
- process by which Earth’s surface is worn away by
wind, water or ice.
- the process of erosion moves rock debris or soil
from one place to another
- takes place when there is rainfall, surface runoff,
flowing rivers, seawater, intrusion, flooding, freezing
and thawing, hurricanes, wind, etc.
- these are forces of nature, whether violent or
passive, capable of exfoliating and scraping Earth’s
surface and exposing the layers underlying it.
Geologic Processes on Earth
2. Erosion
- movement of land animals during
migration or stampede can also cause erosion.
- human activities such as deforestation,
overgrazing, and mining also cause soil
erosion.
- these activities can cause massive
deterioration and destruction of infrastructure.
Geologic Processes on Earth
3. Mass Wasting
- refers to the movement of large
masses of materials (e.g., rock debris, soil,
mud) down a slope or a steep sided hill or
mountain due to the pull of gravity.
- there are different forms of mass
wasting:
Geologic Processes on Earth
3. Mass Wasting
a. Debris Flow
- happens when large amount of
sediments usually rocks of various sizes,
falls down the slope.
- unlike a landslide, debris flow does
not need water to flow down.
Geologic Processes on Earth
3. Mass Wasting
b. Mudflow
- happens when combined soil and
water flow down a slope.
- this usually happens near rivers or
streams where soil or sand is always moist
or has been soaked in water for a long
time.
Geologic Processes on Earth
3. Mass Wasting
c. Slump
- a slow movement of soil along a
curved surface.
- in time the area look curved
because of the depression formed by
the sinking land.
Geologic Processes on Earth
4. Sedimentation
- is the accumulation of materials such
as soil, rock fragments, and soil particles
settling on the ground.
- This usually occurs in streams and sea
erosion.
Geologic Processes on Earth
2. Endogenous Processes
- the endogenous processes on Earth takes place within or in the
interior of Earth.
- the driving force is the thermal energy of the mantle. Most of the
thermal energy originates from the decay and disintegration of
radioactive elements in Earth’s core.
- this process are responsible for earthquakes, development of
continents, mountain building, volcanic activities, and other
movements related to Earth’s crust.
Geologic Processes on Earth
2. Endogenous Processes
-
Geologic Processes on Earth
2. Endogenous Processes
a. Magmatism
- magmatism happens when magma is
generated and develops into igneous
(magmatic) rocks.
- the process can take place either
under the surface or on the surface of the
Earth.
Geologic Processes on Earth
2. Endogenous Processes
b. Volcanism (Plutonism)
- process that usually happens after magma is
formed.
- magma tries to escape from the source
through openings such as volcanoes or existing
cracks on the ground.
- magma comes out with extreme heat and
pressure and may cause destructive explosions.
- as magma reaches the surface of Earth, it is
now called lava.
Geologic Processes on Earth
2. Endogenous Processes
c. Metamorphism
- the process of changing the materials that makes up a rock.
- the chemical composition and geologic characteristics of the rocks is
changed due to heat and pressure that are increasing or decreasing.
- It should be noted that rocks changing due to weathering and
sedimentation are not considered to have undergone metamorphism.