GEO 303 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Planetary Differentiation, Calcite, Topaz
14 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Planetary differentiation is the process of separating out different constitutents of a planetary body as a consequence of their physical (e. g. density) or chemical properties. Layers (in to out): inner core, outer core, mantle, upper mantle, crust. Everything that is as dense as the average planetary density sinks to the center bc gravity, everything else that is not as dense rises / evaporates into the atmosphere. Pressure & gravity impact the formation of the layers. Rock: can be an aggregate of minerals and non-minerals, does not have a specific chemical composition. Igneous rocks: crystalize from melts: sedimentary rocks: form from sediments, metamorphic rocks: form by recrystallization of igneous or sedimentary rocks - mineral recrystallizes. Mineral: a naturally occurring substance that is solid and inorganic representable by a definite (not fixed) chemical formula, and an ordered atomic structure (all the atoms are lined up the same way) Coal: not a mineral, is a rock!
