please read this rock cycle essay make sure im staying correct and on topic Prom

Question

please read this rock cycle essay make sure im staying correct and on topic

Prompt:

Imagine that a specimen has gone through the following transitions along the timeline given:

5 million years ago: a sandy beach

3 million years ago: a piece of sandstone

1.5 million years ago: a piece of quartzite

Today: a piece of granite

Describe the processes that would have occurred to create each of the different specimens above. How would they have transitioned from one type to the next? What might become of this sample in the future? What function could each of these types of sediment or rocks have for humans? Be sure to use the information you have learned about plate tectonics, the rock cycle, use of minerals and rocks as resources, and the formation of minerals and the three major rock types.

my essay:

            To begin, lets assess the process from which a sandy beach is made when the most common component of the sand is quartz. When studying Earth’s landmasses, you see that the presence of quartz is actually very common. So, one would wonder how this quartz, located as far away as in the mountains, ends up as sand on Earth’s non-volcanic/coral beaches. This happens through the process of weathering. Weathering is known as the process which rock is broken down either through disintegration or decomposition (Tarbuck, Edward J., P. 199.) In this case, the weathering process begins with disintegration, or mechanical weathering. Once the disintegration processes break down rock enough, quartz particles then enter the transportation cycle and decomposition cycle; travelling through streams and rivers down towards the seashore if not being transported by wind. During this decomposition cycle, or chemical weathering cycle, the process of dissolution aids by stripping more soluble minerals away from the quartz (Tarbuck, Edward J., P. 205, P. 234.) The quartz continues to travel downslope towards the ocean by gravity to accumulate, being untouched due to the major property from being insoluble in water (Castro, J.) When thinking of different uses of quartz sand, some of the major uses include: glass making, abrasive sand papers, as foundry sand, and even in the petroleum industry with aiding in hydraulic fracturing with the creation of sand slurries (Quartz, n.d.) In the future, the quartz sand eventually settles due to deposition on the ocean floor. As the quartz sand becomes buried, it also becomes compact and is eventually lithified by cementation; creating the detrital sedimentary rock known as quartz sandstone. This change can be referred to as diagenesis (Tarbuck, Edward J., P. 235.) Some functions that quartz sandstones provide for human can include: construction material, raw material for manufacturing, groundwater aquifers or oil and natural gas reservoirs (Sandstone, n.d.)

            Continuing on from this, lets think about the process from which this sedimentary rock (quartz sandstone) is transformed into a piece of quartzite when on an ocean floor on a subducting plate boundary. First off, the process of which this is taking place is known as Metamorphism. In order for quartz sandstone to metamorphose into quartzite, it must be in an area where moderate- to high-grade (mid to high pressures and temperatures) metamorphism occurs in order for the quartz grains to fuse together; also known as recrystallization (Tarbuck, Edward J., P. 283.) In order to reach these high pressures and temperatures, the quartz sandstone travels down the subducting plate guided by the geothermal gradient rule: the rate of increase in temperature with depth (Tarbuck, Edward J., P. 273.) Once the quartz sandstone recrystallizes, the non-foliated, metamorphic rock is formed: Quartzite. Some functions that quartzite provide for humans can include: house decoration such as floor tiles and countertops, use in manufacturing, and in special circumstances for construction tools due to its high durability (Quartzite, n.d.)

            Continuing on from this stage, the quartzite will actually keep travelling down due to the subduction plate entering even higher pressure and temperature zones. Upon reaching the high temperature zone host to igneous activity (700*C – 1200*C), complete melting occurs where the quartzite is no longer identifiable and is thrown into the melted mix of rock known as magma (Tarbuck, Edward J., P. 272.) Through the process of convection, the magma then rises within the earth slowly making its way towards the surface. Usually, this igneous pluton will slowly be cooled and crystalize beneath the earths surface over a long period of time; producing the igneous rock known as granite (Granite, n.d.) Once the overlying sedimentary rocks are eroded away on the surface such as mountains, the granite is then exposed on the surface. Then, overtime due to weathering, this granite will breakdown and soon become the quartz silica sand found on beaches; contributing to both the end and the start of geologic rock cycle. Some of the functions and uses of granite by humans include: exterior projects such as bridges and monuments, and interior projects such as slab countertops, tile floors, and many other decorative features due to the polish property (Granite, n.d.)

AM I LOOKING GOOD PEOPLE!!!??

Explanation / Answer

Comments :

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse P
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.