Topic & Major Objective

Subject Content

Knowledge expected

The Lithosphere

Introducing Earth

The Earth’s place in Space: the Earth as one of 9 planets orbiting the Sun, the Sun as a star in a galaxy, the galaxies forming the Universe.

Earth’s internal structure - Inner and outer core; the mantle and convective currents in it; the lithosphere as a thin and shifting crust floating over the asthenosphere.

Converging, diverging and conservative plate boundaries, and the evidence for sea-floor spreading. Knowledge about palaeomagnetism is not required.

Plate tectonics and continental drift, sea-floor spreading and subduction.

Earthquakes and earthquake belts in relation to plate boundaries. Candidates should be familiar with the following terms: epicentre, focus, magnitude and intensity of earthquakes.

Rocks and minerals

The difference between rocks and minerals. Classification of rocks as igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.

The rock cycle.

An understanding of the rock cycle in terms of weathering, erosion, transport and sedimentation.

Biogenic sedimentation.

Biogenic sedimentation exemplified by the formation of Maltese limestones.

Soil - its formation, composition and soil type classification based on particle size.

Soil horizons (A, B, C) in relation to stratification, water percolation, mineral content and root penetration.

The carbon cycle

Treatment should include fossil fuels as an integral component of the carbon cycle.

The nitrogen cycle

Treatment should include the anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen compounds to the soil.