Earth’s Processes:

Endogenic Processes
Earth Science Reviewer
B. Endogenic Processes
- the Geomorphic (Geo – Earth, Morph – change) processes that are driven by the
forces emanating from deep below the Earth’s surface are called – Endogenic
Geomorphic Processes (folding, faulting, etc.).
- processes that happen inside of the Earth
- are important parts of the Earth system for they are the ones that cause changes on
the Earth’s surface.
- includes the heating of the Earth’s interior, formation of magma and metamorphism
of rocks.
 Sources of Earth’s Internal Heat
 Magma Formation
 Diastrophism
 Metamorphism

I. Sources of Earth’s Internal Heat

a. Primordial Heat
- the amount of residual heat from the formation of the Earth.
Hadean Eon – time when the Earth was molten, lifeless and hellish.
The layers of the Geosphere were formed through the – differences
b. Frictional Heating
- caused by gravity – generated rotation of the solid inner core against the liquid
outer core.
- caused by friction – this is also generated by the; movement of molten rock materials
across Earth’s layers – Convection Current.
Friction – causes and produces he at

 Three (3) Processes of the Transfer of Heat

1. Conduction – solid to solid, liquid to liquid and gas to gas
2. Convection – different stage of matter that interact and transfer
3. Radiation

c. Radioactive Elements
- are inherently unstable, breaking down over time to more stable forms. The unstable
isotope Uranium-238, for example, will slowly decay to Lead-206. All such radioactive
decay processes release heat as a by-product of the on-going reaction.
- safe, but if there will be damage, contamination or release of radioactive element, it
will take some time for the environment to recover.
Nuclear Fission (separation of the Nuclei of the Radioactive Elements)
- produced heat as by product of process or replaces the heat that the Earth loses.
- occurs in a form of Radioactive Decay
- most common process on Earth
II. Formation of Magma
a. Magma – an extremely hot and viscous (sticky/malapot) mixture of molten and semi-
molten rocks beneath the surface of the Earth.
The primary process that is involved in Magma Formation is – Melting Process

 Different Varieties of Melting Process:

1. Decompression Melting (Primary Factor: Pressure, Secondary: Heat)
- The process of decompression melting involves the upward movement of the earth's
mantle to an area of lower pressure. The reduction in overlying pressure enables the
rock to melt, leading to magma formation.
- process in which magma forms due to decrease rock pressure
- occurs at divergent (plate) boundaries where tectonic plates separate
- also occurs at mantle plumes which are small rising columns of hot plastic mantle
rock.
Decompression – there is an involvement of lowering the pressure.
Rifting Movement – causes the buoyant magma below to rise and fill the space of lower
pressure.
Where two plates are pulled apart, the mantle beneath rises into the gap. As
the pressure is reduced, the rock begins to melt. Melting of this type
happens, then, wherever plates are stretched apart - at divergent margins
and areas of continental and back-arc extension

2. Heat Transfer (Primary Factor: Temperature, Secondary is: Pressure)

- can form magma when hot, liquid rock pushes itself to Earth’s cold crust. The liquid
turns to solid as it loses its heat to the surrounding crust.
- occurs at convergent (plate) boundaries where tectonic plates collide (moves toward
each other)
- this transfer of heat causes the melting of the surrounding rock into magma.
Intrusion
- rising body of magma, sends out heat to the colder rocks around it, especially as the
intrusion solidifies. If those rocks are already on the verge of melting, the extra heat
is all it takes.
Rising magma or rock will bring heat with it, and so can melt the surrounding mantle
or crustal rock.
Hotspots
- will be created when Intrusion happens/intrudes on the Oceanic Crust. Results to the
formation of Volcanoes.
Heat – its movement is from area of high temperature to an area of low temperature.

3. Flux Melting
- occurs when a solid rocks melts into magma through the addition of water or other
volatiles, such as carbon dioxide, causing rocks to melt at lower temperatures
- usually happens around subduction zones.
- found at Subduction Zones
- wherever water (or other volatiles like carbon dioxide or sulfur gases) can be stirred
into a body of rock, the effect on melting is dramatic. This accounts for the frequent
volcanism near subduction zones, where descending plates carry down water,
sediment, carbonaceous matter and hydrated mineral with them
- occurs at specific type of the convergent (plate) boundary – Oceanic to Continental
Convergent Plate Boundary.
 Melting caused by Volatile; Volatile materials are easy to evaporate
 Different factors affecting the Magma Formation
1. Temperature – refers to the melting point of specific minerals or elements in the rocks.
Melting Point – specific mineral and rocks requires specific temperature for the melting
process.
2. Pressure – (mentioned in the Rock Cycle)
3. Structural formation in the mantle and crust

 Magma After its Formation – 4 possibilities

1. Solidify under the ground as intrusive igneous rock – can also be called Pluton
2. Solidify outside of the earth's crust, go out as lava and become extrusive igneous rock
3. Stored temporarily in magma chamber
4. Can be released or spewed out in the form of tephra/volcanic ash outside of the Earth’s
crust.
Pluton – forms the intrusive igneous rocks
Tephra or Volcanic Ash – a volcanic rock that was formed after ejected mama solidifies in
the air

 Formation of Magma Chamber

Factors involved:
1. Temperature – can be melted
2. Pressure
3. Structural Formation in crust and mantle

III. Diastrophism
- refers to deformation of the Earth’s crust due to diastrophic movements
(deforming movements) such as folding, faulting, warping (bending or twisting
of a large area) and fracturing.
- all processes that move, elevate or build up portions of the earth’s crust
come under diastrophism.
1. Epeirogenic or Continent Forming Movements
- Epeirogenic or continent forming movements are radial movements (act along the
radius of the Earth).
- their direction may be towards (subsidence) or away (uplift) from the center.
- occurs in a long period of time
Uplift
- raised beaches, elevated wave-cut terraces, sea caves and fossiliferous beds above
sea level are evidence of upliftment.

- In India, raised beaches occur at several places along the Kathiawar, Nellore, and
Tirunelveli coasts.
- Several places which were on the sea some centuries ago are now a few miles inland
due to upliftment.
For example, Coringa near the mouth of the Godavari, Kaveripattinam in the
Kaveri delta and Korkai on the coast of Tirunelveli, were all flourishing seaports
about 1,000 to 2,000 years ago
 .
Subsidence
- submerged forests and valleys, as well as buildings, are evidence of subsidence.
- sinkhole; can be due to man made activities or natural force.
The provinces of Pangpanga and Bulacan – where Pariahan is located – have sunk between four to
six centimeters (1.5 – 2.4 inches) annually since 2001, according satellite monitoring.

2. Orogenic or The Mountain – Forming Movements

- in contrast to Epeirogenic Movement, The Orogenic Movement is a more
complicated deformation of the Earth’s crust, associated with crustal thickening
(due to the convergence – (where Orogenesis occur) of tectonic plates).
- such plate convergence forms orogenic belts that are characterized by the folding
and faulting of layers of rock, by the intrusion of magma, and by volcanism.
- Orogenic or the Mountain-Forming Movements act tangentially to the earth surface,
as in plate tectonics.
Tension produces fissures (since this type of force acts away from a point in two directions),
and;
Compression produces folds (because this type of force acts towards a point from two or
more directions).

IV. Metamorphism
- is the change in mineral composition and texture of a rock that is subjected to high
temperature and pressure within the Earth.
- the pressure involved results from the rock being deeply buried underground.
- may be triggered by the chemically active fluids that circulate around the newly
forming rock and introduce ions, which cause new and different minerals crystals to
grow.

 Involves Two (2) Processes:

1. Recrystallization
- process by which crystals are packed together creating a new crystal structure.
- requires a lot of heat and pressure to change the mineral’s shape and size without
changing its composition. example: Limestone
2. Neometamorphism
- process that results in the formation of new minerals.
- sometimes called Neocrystallization, which means “new crystals”