missorigan.com - Volcanoes

Quizlet Flashcards - Tectonic Activity and the Irish Landscape

Revise These Videos On Volcanoes

Examining How Tectonic Activity Influenced the Development of the Irish Landscape

Tectonic activity has significantly shaped the Irish landscape, resulting in key geological features such as batholiths, plateaus, and volcanic landforms through processes like folding, subduction, and volcanic activity.

1. Formation of Granite and the Leinster Batholith

(S) Granite forms when magma cools slowly beneath the Earth’s surface.
(D) In Ireland, the Leinster Batholith is a large granite formation in the Wicklow Mountains, formed during the Caledonian orogeny.
(SE) This batholith is a key feature of the Irish landscape.

2. Subduction and Granite Formation

(S) Subduction occurs when one plate sinks beneath another at a convergent boundary.
(D) The Leinster Batholith formed as magma rose and cooled during the Caledonian orogeny.
(SE) Subduction helped create this important geological structure.

3. Folding and Metamorphic Rock Formation

(S) Folding of rock layers happened during tectonic collisions in the Caledonian orogeny.
(D) Intense pressure transformed these rocks into structures like the Leinster Batholith.
(SE) Erosion exposed the granite, shaping the rugged Wicklow Mountains.

4. Formation of the Antrim-Derry Plateau (Basalt)

(S) The Antrim-Derry Plateau is composed of basalt, a volcanic rock formed on the Earth’s surface.
(D) Around 65 million years ago, volcanic activity associated with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge caused lava to flow, forming features like the Giant’s Causeway.
(SE) The hexagonal columns at the Giant’s Causeway are a result of this basaltic activity.

5. Seafloor Spreading and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

(S) The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent boundary where plates move apart, causing volcanic activity.
(D) This movement contributed to volcanic formations like the Antrim-Derry Plateau.
(SE) Seafloor spreading produced the Giant’s Causeway.

6. Volcanic Activity and the Formation of Basalt

(S) Lava from volcanic eruptions cools into basalt.
(D) This volcanic activity created the Antrim-Derry Plateau.
(SE) The basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway are a result of this.

7. Intrusive Landforms in Ireland

(S) Intrusive landforms form when magma cools and solidifies inside the Earth’s crust.
(D) Over time, erosion exposed the Leinster Batholith.
(SE) This batholith extends under the Wicklow, Blackstairs, and Dublin mountains.

8. Tectonic Activity and Landscape Formation

(S) Tectonic activity shaped volcanic and intrusive landforms in Ireland.
(D) Processes like folding, subduction, and rifting formed much of Ireland’s current landscape.
(SE) Many modern landforms resulted from these tectonic forces.

9. Impact of Volcanism on the Irish Landscape

(S) Volcanism created extrusive landforms such as basalt plateaus.
(D) The Antrim-Derry Plateau and Giant’s Causeway were formed by volcanic activity linked to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
(SE) These landforms are key features in the Irish landscape.

10. Subduction and Batholiths

(S) Subduction led to the formation of large batholiths.
(D) The Leinster Batholith was formed during the collision of tectonic plates around 400 million years ago.
(SE) This granite structure remains an important feature of Ireland.

11. Influence of Tectonic Activity on Weathering

(S) Tectonic activity exposed rocks like granite to weathering and erosion.
(D) Over time, sedimentary rock eroded, exposing the Leinster Batholith.
(SE) This process continues to shape the Wicklow Mountains.

12. Fold Mountains and the Leinster Batholith

(S) The formation of fold mountains during the Caledonian orogeny played a major role in shaping Ireland.
(D) The Leinster Batholith formed as a result of this tectonic activity.
(SE) These features shaped the landscape of Wicklow and Carlow.

13. Named Examples

(S) Examples include the Leinster Batholith and Giant's Causeway.
(D) The batholith formed through intrusive tectonic processes, while the Giant's Causeway resulted from volcanic activity.
(SE) These features highlight the impact of tectonic forces on Ireland.

14. Giant’s Causeway – Basalt Formation

(S) The Giant’s Causeway formed when volcanic lava cooled and contracted.
(D) Tectonic activity along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge caused the lava to erupt and form hexagonal columns.
(SE) The Giant’s Causeway is a key feature of the Irish coastline today.

15. Diagram

A labelled diagram of the Leinster Batholith, for example, can show how it formed beneath the surface and was later exposed by erosion. It can also depict the processes of folding and subduction that contributed to its formation.

Condensed Exam-Style Answers: Tectonic Activity and the Irish Landscape for Timed Exam

1. Formation of Granite and the Leinster Batholith: Granite forms when magma cools slowly beneath the Earth’s surface; in Ireland, the Leinster Batholith was created during the Caledonian orogeny and is a key feature of the landscape.

1. Subduction and Granite Formation: Subduction occurs when one tectonic plate sinks beneath another, resulting in the formation of the Leinster Batholith as magma rose and cooled, contributing to its geological significance.

1. Folding and Metamorphic Rock Formation: Folding of rock layers during tectonic collisions in the Caledonian orogeny transformed rocks into structures like the Leinster Batholith, which erosion later exposed, shaping the Wicklow Mountains.

1. Formation of the Antrim-Derry Plateau: The Antrim-Derry Plateau, composed of basalt, formed from volcanic activity associated with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge about 65 million years ago, creating features like the Giant’s Causeway.

1. Seafloor Spreading and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a divergent boundary, caused volcanic activity that contributed to the formation of the Antrim-Derry Plateau and the Giant’s Causeway.

1. Volcanic Activity and Basalt Formation: Basalt forms when lava from volcanic eruptions cools, creating the Antrim-Derry Plateau, with the Giant’s Causeway's basalt columns being a significant result of this volcanic activity.

1. Intrusive Landforms in Ireland: Intrusive landforms like the Leinster Batholith form when magma solidifies inside the Earth’s crust; erosion later exposed this batholith, which extends under multiple mountain ranges.

1. Tectonic Activity and Landscape Formation: Tectonic activity shaped Ireland’s volcanic and intrusive landforms through folding, subduction, and rifting, significantly influencing the current landscape.

1. Impact of Volcanism on the Landscape: Volcanism created extrusive landforms, including basalt plateaus like the Antrim-Derry Plateau and the Giant’s Causeway, key features of the Irish landscape.

1. Subduction and Batholiths: Subduction led to the formation of batholiths like the Leinster Batholith, created during tectonic plate collisions approximately 400 million years ago.

1. Tectonic Activity and Weathering: Tectonic activity exposed rocks like granite to weathering and erosion, continuously shaping features like the Wicklow Mountains.

1. Fold Mountains and the Leinster Batholith: The formation of fold mountains during the Caledonian orogeny played a significant role in shaping Ireland, with the Leinster Batholith being a direct result.

1. Named Examples: The Leinster Batholith and Giant’s Causeway highlight the impact of tectonic forces on Ireland, with the batholith resulting from intrusive processes and the Giant’s Causeway from volcanic activity.

1. Giant’s Causeway – Basalt Formation: The Giant’s Causeway formed from volcanic lava that cooled and contracted due to tectonic activity along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, creating its iconic hexagonal columns.

1. Diagram: A labelled diagram of the Leinster Batholith should illustrate its formation beneath the surface and subsequent exposure through erosion, depicting folding and subduction processes involved in its creation.