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Chapter 6 Vocabulary
Vocabulary Earth Science
Term | Definition |
---|---|
sediment | small pieces of rock that are moved and deposited by water, wind, glaciers, and gravity |
lithification | the physical and chemical processes that transform sediments into sedimentary rocks |
cementation | mineral growth glues sediment grains together into solid rock |
bedding | horizontal layering in sedimentary rock that can range from a few millimeters to several meters thick |
graded bedding | bedding in which the particle sizes become progressively heavier and coarser toward the bottom layers |
cross-bedding | formed as inclined layers of sediment are deposited across a horizontal surface |
clastic sedimentary rock | formed from the abundant deposits of loose sediments that accumulate on Earth's surface |
clastic | means broken |
porosity | percentage of open spaces between grains in a rock |
evaporites | layers of chemical sedimentary rocks form |
foliated | metamorphic rock, such as schist or gneiss, whose minerals are squeezed under high pressure and arranged in wavy layers and bands |
nonfoliated | do not have distinct layers or bands |
regional metamorphism | a type of metamorphism in which the mineralogy and texture of rocks are changed over a wide area by deep burial and heating associated with the large-scale forces of plate tectonics |
contact metamorphism | localized metamorphism resulting from the heat of an igneous intrusion |
hydrothermal metamorphism | occurs due to interaction of country rocks with a high temperature fluid generating compositional and mineralogical changes |
rock cycle | a continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again |