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earth science
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| sediments | 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 | when mineral growth glues sediment grains together into sediments grains together into solid rock. |
| bedding | the primary feature of sedimentary rocks is horizontal layering. |
| graded bedding | bedding in which the particle sizes become progressively heavier and coarser toward the bottom layers. |
| cross-bedding | inclined layers of sediments are deposited across a horizontal surface. |
| clastic sedimentary rocks | formed from the abundant deposits of loose sediments that accumulate on earths surface. |
| clastic | rocks are further classified according to the sizes of there particles. |
| porosity | the percentage of open spaces between grains in a rock. |
| evaporates | form in arid regions and in drainage basins on continents that have low water flow. |
| foliated | heat and pressure being applied to rocks. |
| nonfoliated | composed mainly of minerals that form with blocky crystal shapes. |
| regional metamorphism | high temperature and pressure affect large regions of earths crust. |
| contact metamorphism | molten materials such as that an igneous intrusion, comes in contact with solid rocks. |
| hydrothermal metamorphism | very hot water reacts with rocks and alters its chemical and mineral composition. |
| rock cycle | the continuous changing and remaking of rocks |