Physical Geography .

Running head: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
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Physical geography
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PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 2
Question one
When comparing schist (metamorphic rock), granite (igneous rock), and shale
(sedimentary rock), one can comprehend that through the rock cycles, each one of these rocks
can connect to the other through geological processes such as melting, erosion and Solifluction.
Similarly, the evidence of this variation can be established in the rocks by evaluating the
chemical composition, or in some cases, even pre-existing aspects in the rock that have been
preserved (Hu, Liu & Dong, 2014).
First, granite can change to shale (igneous to sedimentary); granite to schist (igneous to
metamorphic); granite to granite (igneous to igneous). Secondly, schist can change to shale
through the metamorphic to sedimentary process; schist to granite (metamorphic to igneous);
schist to schist (metamorphic to metamorphic). Finally, shale can change to schist through
(sedimentary to metamorphic); shale to shale (sedimentary to sedimentary); shale to granite
(sedimentary to igneous) (Hu, Liu & Dong, 2014). It is worth noting that shale to granite and
granite to granite, two situations are impossible or rare. Igneous rocks create in two diverse
surroundings. Entirely, igneous rocks begin as lava and then crystalize. Metamorphic rocks
build igneous, sedimentary or other metamorphic rocks when exposed to pressure and heat from
contact or burial with extrusive or intrusive igneous rock. Sedimentary rocks are those built from
other pieces of rocks. The rocks changes over hundreds of centuries through six stages of the
rock phase. Firstly, weathering; sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks on the superficial
of the ground are continuously split by wind or water (Bolt, Horn, MacDonald, & Scott, 2014).
Secondly, transportation processes whereby the rock elements are transported away by wind,
rivers and oceans. Thirdly, the deposition where the streams get deeper into the sea, their current
reduces and the rocks fragments sink and become a sediment layer. Fourthly, the compact and

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 3
cementation; it happens where the layers of sediment stack up, the pressure and weight compact
the bottoms layers. Metamorphism is another step of rock cycle; the igneous or sedimentary rock
end up being submerged deep under the underground because of the tectonic plate movement.
Lastly, rock melting action whereby the metamorphic rock underground melt to become magma.
As the magma cool down, it toughens and develops to an igneous rock. As soon as a novel
igneous rock is created, the courses of weathering and erosion initiate, and the complete cycles
start once more (Hu, Liu & Dong, 2014).
Figure 1: rock cycles (Hu, Liu & Dong, 2014)

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 4
Question 2
To form a convergent boundary between the plate A and B, then, the plate A must be
from the west and the plate B from the east.
A volcanic arc is positioned on plate D. Therefore, the boundary 3 comprises ocean-
continent convergent boundary. At a convergent plate boundary, when one plate is oceanic, large
volcanoes exist (Hickey & Gottsmann, 2014). These volcanoes are found in lines that outline the
subduction areas and also earthquakes occur in these parts. An oceanic crust may collide with a
continent. The ocean plate is denser, and therefore, it undergoes subduction; meaning that the
oceanic plate sink beneath the continents. As one would expect, where plates collide there are a
lot of intense earthquakes and eruptions of volcanoes (Bolt et al., 2014). The subduction oceanic
plate melts as it reenters the mantle. The magma upsurges and erupts. This generates a volcanic
mountain rage near the coast of the continents. This is range is called continental arc or volcanic
arc (Hickey & Gottsmann, 2014).
The boundary 2 is ocean-ocean convergent boundary which is formed as two ocean plates
collides (plate B moves from west and plate C moves from the east). In this case, the older plate
is denser and therefore, subducts beneath the younger plate. As the subduction plate is pushed