The Lithosphere

Ooooh! Exciting

The Four Spheres

Strahler, A. andStrahler, A., 2005.

Physical Geography.Wiley, NY.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/animations/hellscrust/index.html

The earth is composed of 3 parts1. The core2. The mantle3. The crust

The Lithosphere is the hard shell of the earth consisting of the crust and the top most part of the mantle

The Lithosphere

The Lithosphere

Parts of the earth

Similarities with an Apple

The Lithosphere contains minerals and rocks that we use for buildings, metals and jewellery.

The Lithosphere

Minerals are inorganic ( they do not originate from neither plants nor animals)

Minerals must exist naturally on earth; they cannot be manufactured

Minerals have a clearly ordered structure Minerals are distinct in their chemical

composition Some minerals are made up of one element ex:

gold (Au), copper (Cu) Some minerals are made up of 2 or more elements

bonded together ex: Quartz (Si O2)

Minerals

Classification – Color and Transparency Idiochromatic minerals are minerals that

have a characteristic colour. The element that gives them their colour is part of their chemical composition

Minerals that vary in color are allochromatic

Minerals can allow light to pass through, some straight through= transparent.

Some let some light through= translucent Allowing no rays of light through= opaque

Hardness Hardness depends on the strength of the

atomic bonds in the minerals Mohs scale assigns a value from 1-10 to

indicate its hardness

Streak When rubbed minerals leave a trace of

powder

The color may be different from that of the mineral

Idiochromatic leave bright colored powder

Allochromatic leave a white/pale powder

There are three main types of rocks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqy-p41VpKU&feature=related

1. Igneous - formed when molten rock cools.

2. Sedimentary – formed by the “cementing together” of small grains of sediment.

3. Metamorphic – rocks changed by the effect of heat and pressure.

Types of Rocks

These are rocks formed by the cooling of molten rock (magma.)

magma

volcanoMagma cools and solidifies forming igneous rocks

Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks There are 2 types of Igneous rock

1) Extrusive Igneous Rocks: Rock forming from Magma upon contact with air

2) Intrusive Igneous Rocks: Rock forming from Magma before reaching the surface of the earth

Sedimentary Rocks Sedimentary Rocks are rocks

formed when particles of sediment build up and are “cemented together” by the effect of pressure and minerals.

sea

Fragments washed to the sea

Sedimentary rocks

Rocks are brokenup by the actionof weather

Gettin

g o

lder

Metamorphic Rocks Metamorphic rocks are formed by the

effect of heat and pressure on existing rocks.

This can greatly affect the hardness, texture or layer patterns of the rocks.

Magma

metamorphicrock

forminghere

heat

Pressure from surface rocks

Uses of Rocks

Rock Type Possible Uses

Granite Intrusive Igneous Ornamental Stone (Kitchen)

Diorite Intrusive Igneous Ornamental Stone

Pumice Extrusive Igneous Light building materials, cosmetic industry

Basalt Extrusive Igneous Insulation, floor tiles

Sandstone Sedimentary Building materials

Limestone Sedimentary Cement, building materials

Gneiss Metamorphic Building materials

Marble Metamorphic Interior design

How Granite is made?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z66fR9p4Lgc

How curling stones are made http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxrt3fjp4t0

Soil

Soil Soil is from parent rock

It takes 200 years to form a layer of soil...1cm thick!

Soil forms distinct layers over time.

Layers can be distinguished by color, texture and composition

The layers are called HORIZONS

O horizon – Organic Matter Topmost layer High % of dead organic matter.

Ie: leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, pine needles Formed from decomposition

of organic matter. (humus)

A horizon - Topsoil Seeds germinate and plant roots grow in this

dark-colored layer. It is made up of humus (decomposed organic

matter) mixed with mineral particles. Mixture of soil from below

and the humus above.

B horizon - Subsoil Trees with deep roots draw nutrients from

this layer It is made up mostly of sand and silt,

having lost most of its minerals and clay as water drips through the soil.

Leached from layers above Clay and many minerals

Iron Aluminum Calcium

C horizon – Fragmented Parent Rock Can be saturated in groundwater Formed through the disintegration of the

underlying parent rock. It consists of slightly broken-up bedrock.

R Horizon – Unaltered Parent Rock Plant roots do not penetrate into this layer.

Starting point for soil formation

Soil Conditions Three conditions must be met for soil to be

suitable for plant life to form: Water soluble nutrients Adequate moisture Appropriate soil pH

Soil to acidic or alkaline jeopardizes the transfer of mineral nutrients

Permafrost Ground whose temperature has been 0o or

lower for at least two years.

Permafrost The upper layer thaws in the summer and

some growing occurs, this layer is the active layer

Permafrost makes construction difficult and agriculture nearly impossible

Inuit people build their homes on piles that pass through the active layer and sit directly on the permafrost

Texture and pH

Soil Texture

Soil texture is the single most

important physical property of the

soil. Knowing the soil texture alone

will provide information about: 1) water flow potential,

2) water holding capacity,

3) fertility potential,

4) suitability for many urban

uses like bearing capacity

To determine texture The Percent of sand,

silt, clay in a soil sample

Critical for understanding soil behavior and management

Soil texture is not subject to change in the field but can be changed in potting mixes.

Buffering Capacity pH is measured on a scale of 0 (very acidic)-

14(very alkaline) Soil should ideally be between 6-7 to allow for

maximum nutrient absorption Soil has the ability to resist pH changes, when

acidic or alkaline compounds are added this is it`s BUFFERING CAPACITY

Energy Resources in the Lithosphere

Energy Resources in The Lithosphere The lithosphere contains energy resources

Oil Natural Gas Coal

Thanks to these resources, we can heat buildings, power factories and car engines

Fossil Fuels

2/3 of the world’s energy is is produced from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal)

http://www.brainpop.com/science/ourfragileenvironment/fossilfuels/

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/6187-energy-what-are-fossil-fuels-video.htm

Formation of Oil & Natural Gas

•Oil comes from Small Marine Mammals and algae

•Organisms sink to the bottom where they are covered in sand, rocks and minerals

•Due to the pressure the sediment is turned into oil

Formation of Coal

•Oil comes from plants and trees that once grew in swamps•Over time these swamps were buried under sand and rock•The organic residue was compressed and it turned into coal•Coal is a solid

Fossil Fuels When fossil fuels burn they give off by-

products like carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas

behind global warming Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are also by-

products of the combustion of fossil fuels and cause acid rain

Energy Resources: Uranium Uranium is a radioactive element that is found

naturally in the earth’s crust By splitting the nucleus of the Uranium atom

energy is produced called NUCLEAR ENERGY

Pros to Nuclear Energy Little waste produced A lot of energy can be produced with very

little uranium

Cons to Nuclear Energy No where to store it It’s radioactive (waste)... That it can alter DNA

Energy Resources: Geothermic• Molten Rock is found beneath the Earth’s crust

which contains lots of energy• Geothermal Energy is the energy that comes from

the internal heat of the earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ajqiPe_9Ko&feature=related

How does it work? Series of pipes under

house Heat absorbing liquid

in pipes When it’s cold in the

air, heat will be transported to house from pipes (underground)

When it’s hot in the house, heat will be transported to the pipes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ajqiPe_9Ko&feature=related

Geothermal Pros and Cons Pros

Reduce heating costs Reduce CO 2 emissions Renewable energy

source

Cons Expensive