Term | Definition |
Catastrophism | the view that most of the earth's geological features are the result of large-scale catastrophes such as floods, volcanic eruptions, etc. |
Uniformitarianism | the view that most of the earth's geological features are the result of slow, gradual processes that have been at work for millions or even billions of years |
Humus | the decayed remains of once-living creatures |
minerals | inorganic crystalline substances found naturally in the earth |
weathering | the process by which rocks are broken down b the forces of nature |
erosion | the process by which sediments and rock fragments are carried away by wind or rain |
unconformity | a surface of erosion that separates one layer of rock from another |
Three Basic types of rock | Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary |
Igneous Rock | Result of molten rock which cools and solidifies |
Sedimentary Rock | formed when sediments fuse together |
Metamorphic Rock | formed when either sedimentary or igneous rocks are exposed to extreme pressure |
How is Sedimentary Rock laid down typically? | by water |
Which type of weathering is this...small chips of rock broken off are just miniature versions of the original rock? | Example of Physical Weathering |
Which type of weathering is this....limestone forming a gas and changing the composition of a rock | Example of Chemical Weathering |
Would you expect more erosion from a quickly moving river or a slower river? | Quicker moving river |
Which would experience more erosion, a barren hillside or a thick, grassy valley? | Barren hillside |
Delta | fan shaped body of water where rivers deposit sediments |
What are underground caverns formed by erosion caused by? | Groundwater |
Stalactites | underground water sediments that form on the ceiling of a cavern |
Stalagmites | underground water sediments that form on the floor of a cavern |
angular unconformity | when rocks are slanted or tilted relative to rocks above it |
Example of the Great Unconformity | The Grand Canyon |
Column | When stalactite and stalagmite meet and form a single structure |
Nonconformity | when stratified layer rest on top of stratifies layers |
disconformities | where there are parallel, stratified rock layers above and below the unconformity, there is a clear surface of erosion between them |
parconformities | layer of rock that geologists believe contains an unconformity, but it cannot be identified |
intrusion | forms when magma from underneath the sedimentary rock gets injected in the cracks and fissures of the sedimentary rock |
sills | veins of igneous rock that run in the same direction of the strata |
dikes | veins of igneous rock that run perpendicular to the direction of the strata |