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Earth Structures
Unit 6
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Mineral | A naturally formed, inorganic solid with a crystalline structure |
| Element | A substance that cannot be separated or broken down into simpler substances by chemical means; all atoms of an element have the same atomic number |
| Atom | The smallest unit of an element that maintains the properties of that element |
| Compound | A substance made up of atoms or ions of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds |
| Matter | Anything that has mass and takes up space |
| Crystal | Natural solid substance that has a definite geometric shape |
| Streak | The color of a mineral in powdered form |
| Luster | The way in which a mineral reflects light |
| Cleavage | the tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces |
| Weathering | the natural process by which atmospheric and environmental agents, such as wind, rain, and temperature changes, disintegrate and decompose rocks |
| Erosion | the process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity transports soil and sediment from one location to another |
| Deposition | the process in which material is laid down |
| Igneous Rock | rock that forms when magma cools and solidifies |
| Sedimentary Rock | a rock that forms from compressed or cemented layers of sediment |
| Metamorphic Rock | a rock that forms from other rocks as a result of intense heat, pressure, or chemical processes |
| Rock Cycle | the series of processes in which rock forms, changes from one type to another, is destroyed, and forms again by geologic processes |
| Uplift | the rising of regions of the Earth’s crust to higher elevations |
| Subsidence | the sinking of regions of the Earth’s crust to lower elevations |
| Rift Zone | an area of deep cracks that forms between two tectonic plates that are pulling away from each other |
| Crust | The thin and solid outermost layer of Earth above the mantle |
| Mantle | the layer of rock between the Earth’s crust and core |
| Convection | The movement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of energy as heat |
| Core | The central part of Earth below the mantle |
| Lithosphere | the solid, outer layer of Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle |
| Asthenosphere | the solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it |
| Mesosphere | 1. the strong, lower part of the mantle between the Asthenosphere and the outer core 2. the layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the Thermosphere and in which temperature decreases as altitude increases |
| Pangea | the supercontinent that formed 300 million years ago and that began to break up 200 million years ago |
| Sea-floor spreading | the process by which new oceanic lithosphere sea floor forms when magma rises to Earth’s surface at mid-ocean ridges and solidifies, as older, existing sea floor moves away from the ridge |
| Plate tectonics | |
| Tectnic plates | |
| Convergent boundary | |
| Divergent boundary | |
| Transform boundary | |
| Deformation | |
| Folding | |
| Fault | |
| Shear stress | stress that occurs when forces act in parallel but opposite directions, pushing parts of a solid in opposite directions |
| Tension | |
| Compression | |
| Earthquake | |
| Focus | |
| Epicenter | |
| Tectonic Plate Boundary | |
| Elastic Rebound | |
| Volcano | |
| Magma | the molten or partially molten rock material containing trapped gases produced under the Earth’s surface |
| Lava | magma that flows onto Earth’s surface; the rock that forms when lava cools and solidifies |
| Vent | |
| Hot Spot |