Edexcel Geography A GCSE Topic 1 – UK
Physical Landscapes – Geology and rivers
Geology
Sedimentary rocks
Sedimentary rocks are rocks that are formed in layers. These include chalk
and sandstone. They are commonly found around river beds and
shorelines, where river and coastal deposition occur. Sedimentary rocks
often contain fossils, as the sediment compacts around them, preserving
them. Sedimentary rocks tend to have a great variation in colour.
Sedimentary rocks tend to be the softest rocks.
Igneous rocks
Igneous rocks are formed from molten rock, called magma. When it cools,
hard rock forms. These can be intrusive, where the magma calls inside the
Earth, or extrusive, where the magma cools on the surface of the Earth.
They are made from randomly arranged crystals, meaning they are hard
and resistant. Examples include granite and basalt
Metamorphic rocks
Metamorphic rocks are formed when either igneous or sedimentary rocks
come in contact with heat or high pressure. The rocks do not melt (as this
would form igneous rocks) but are under conditions where they chemically
change into a new rock.
UK Landscape
Igneous and metamorphic rocks formed the majority of the upland areas
of the UK. These were formed when the UK had tectonic activity. This
composition means the upland areas are craggy, with large peaks. The
lowland areas are flatter (but still contain hills), as they are formed from
less resistant sedimentary rocks.
Rivers
Weathering
Weathering forms three categories: Mechanical (also known as physical),
chemical and biological.
Mechanical weathering is mainly caused by freeze-thaw. This is when
water gets into crevasses and freezes, causing it to expand. This
expansion pushes the rock apart. Over time, this repeats many times,
before finally breaking the rock
Physical Landscapes – Geology and rivers
Geology
Sedimentary rocks
Sedimentary rocks are rocks that are formed in layers. These include chalk
and sandstone. They are commonly found around river beds and
shorelines, where river and coastal deposition occur. Sedimentary rocks
often contain fossils, as the sediment compacts around them, preserving
them. Sedimentary rocks tend to have a great variation in colour.
Sedimentary rocks tend to be the softest rocks.
Igneous rocks
Igneous rocks are formed from molten rock, called magma. When it cools,
hard rock forms. These can be intrusive, where the magma calls inside the
Earth, or extrusive, where the magma cools on the surface of the Earth.
They are made from randomly arranged crystals, meaning they are hard
and resistant. Examples include granite and basalt
Metamorphic rocks
Metamorphic rocks are formed when either igneous or sedimentary rocks
come in contact with heat or high pressure. The rocks do not melt (as this
would form igneous rocks) but are under conditions where they chemically
change into a new rock.
UK Landscape
Igneous and metamorphic rocks formed the majority of the upland areas
of the UK. These were formed when the UK had tectonic activity. This
composition means the upland areas are craggy, with large peaks. The
lowland areas are flatter (but still contain hills), as they are formed from
less resistant sedimentary rocks.
Rivers
Weathering
Weathering forms three categories: Mechanical (also known as physical),
chemical and biological.
Mechanical weathering is mainly caused by freeze-thaw. This is when
water gets into crevasses and freezes, causing it to expand. This
expansion pushes the rock apart. Over time, this repeats many times,
before finally breaking the rock
