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Chapter 6 Vocabulary
Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sediment | solid particle deposited on Earth's surface that can form sedimentary rocks by processes such as weathering, erosion, deposition, and lithification. |
| Lithifiction | the physical and chemical processes that transorm sediments into sedimentary rocks. |
| Cememtation | Process of sedimentary rock formation that occurs when dissolved minerals precipitate out of groundwater and either a new mineral grows between the sediment grains or the same mineral grows between and over the grains. |
| Bedding | Horizontal layering in sedimentary rock that can range from a few millimeters to several meters thick. |
| Graded Bedding | type of bedding in which particle sizes become progressively heavier and coarser toward the bottom layers. |
| Cross-bedding | depostitional feature of sedimentary rock that forms as inclined layers of sediment are carried forward across a horizontal surface. |
| Clastic Sedimentary Rock | most common type of sedimentary rock, formed from the abundant deposits of loose sediments that accumulate on Earth's surface; classified according to the size of their particles. |
| Clastic | rock and mineral fragments produced by weathering and erosion and classified according to particle size and shape. |
| Porosity | percentage of open spaces between grains in a material. |
| Evaporite | the layers of chemical sedimentary rocks that form when concentration of dissolved minerals in a body of water reach saturation; crystal grains precipitate out of solution and settle to the bottom. |
| Foliated | metamorphic rock, such as schist or gneiss, whose minerals are squeezed under high pressure and arranged in wavy layers and bands. |
| Nonfoliated | metamorphic rocks like quartzite and marble, composed mainly of minerals that form with blocky crystal shapes. |
| Regional Metamorphism | process that affects large areas of Earth's crust, producing belts classified as low, medium, or high grade, depending on pressure on the rocks, temperature, and depth below the surface. |
| Contact Metamorphism | local effect that occurs when molten rock meets solid rock |
| Hydrothermal Metamorphism | occurs when very hot water reacts with rock, altering its mineralogy and chemistry |
| Rock Cycle | continuous, dynamic set of processes by which rocks are changed into other types of rock |