The Lithosphere

a solid, naturally occurring inorganic substance, with a definite physical and chemical structure

a stock or supply of materials

rock that has formed through the deposition and solidification of sediment

rock that is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava

starts as one type of rock, over time due to heat and pressure changes into a new type of rock

sandstone limestone chalk clay

basalt granite obsidian

marble slate soapstone

weathering and erosion deposition

melt subduction

heat and pressure

iron ions present in oceans iron ions react with O2 to form iron oxides iron oxides form deposits on ocean floor

rivers with high energy and velocity carry lots of sediment as energy and velocity decrease, sediments drop out of solution and are deposited based on mass and density

metal ore (e.g. copper) exposed to oxygen and water at surface metal oxidises and goes into solution water percolates downwards until it reaches water table metal reduces and precipitates out of solution copper is concentrated just below water table

water contains salts water evaporates salt precipitates on land

over time, remains of living organisms lithify

terrestrial vegetation

microscopic marine organisms

remains of shells of marine organisms

large volume of magma moves up through the earth’s crust cools and solidifies to form granite

hot magma rises through lithosphere water in surrounding rocks is heater metals and minerals go into solution hot water moves away from magma, fracturing the rock water cools metals and minerals precipitate out of solution

shale undergoes heat and pressure

limestone undergoes heat and pressure

deposits of natural resources that can be extracted and exploited profitably with current technology