click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
6
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 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 | in geology, 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 | a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, moon, or other celestial body |
| mesosphere | the strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core |
| Pangea | the supercontinent that formed 300 million years ago and that began to break up 200 million years ago |
| seafloor 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 | the theory that explains how large pieces of the lithosphere, called plates, move and change shape |
| tectonic plates | a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle |
| convergent boundary | the boundary between tectonic plates that are colliding |
| divergent boundary | the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other |
| transform boundary | the boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally |
| deformation | the bending, tilting, and breaking of Earth’s crust; the change in the shape of rock in response to stress |
| folding | the bending of rock layers due to stress |
| fault | a break in a body of rock along which one block moves relative to another |
| shear stress | stress that occurs when forces act in parallel but opposite directions, pushing parts of a solid in opposite directions |
| tension | stress that occurs when forces act to stretch an object |
| compression | stress that occurs when forces act to squeeze an object |
| earthquake | a movement or trembling of the ground that is caused by a sudden release of energy when rocks along a fault move |
| focus | the location within Earth along a fault at which the first motion of an earthquake occurs |
| epicenter | the point on Earth’s surface directly above an earthquake’s starting point, or focus |
| tectonic plate boundary | the edge between two or more plates classified as divergent, convergent, or transform by the movement taking place between the plates |
| elastic rebound | the sudden return of elastically deformed rock to its undeformed shape |
| volcano | a vent or fissure in Earth’s surface through which magma and gases are expelled |
| 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 | an opening at the surface of the Earth through which volcanic material passes |
| hot spot | a volcanically active area of Earth’s surface, commonly far from a tectonic plate boundary |