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Rock Cycle Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Rock | A naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals or organic matter |
| Erosion | The process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity transports soil and sediments to another location |
| Deposition | The process in which material is laid down |
| Composition | The chemical makeup of a rock; describes either the mineral or other materials in the rock |
| Texture | The quality of a rock that is based on the sizes, shapes, and positions of the rock's grains |
| Strata | Layers of rock (singular, stratum) |
| Stratification | The process in which sedimentary rocks are arranged in layers |
| Foliated | The texture of metamorphic rock in which the mineral grains are arranged in planes or bands |
| Non-foliated | The texture of metamorphic rock in which the mineral grains are not arranged in plates or bands |
| Recrystallization | The change in minerals in size or composition in metamorphism |
| Deformation | A change in the shape of a rock caused by a force placed on it |
| Intrusive Igneous | Rock formed from the cooling and solidification of magma beneath the Earth's surface |
| Extrusive Igneous | Rock that forms as a result of volcanic activity at or near the Earth's surface |
| Metamorphism | Rocks in which the structure, texture, or composition of the rock have changed. |
| Regional Metamorphism | When pressure builds up in rock that is buried deep below other rock formations or when large pieces of the Earth's crust collide with each other, regional metamorphism occurs |
| Contact Metamorphism | Contact metamorphism occurs near igneous intrusions |