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Earth Structures
unit 6
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Mineral | A natural, usually inorganic solid that has a characteristic chemical composition and an orderly internal 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 mas 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 form 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 | A 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; the transfer or energy due to the movement of matter |
| 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 soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move |
| Mesosphere | The strong, lower part of the mantle between the atmosphere and the outer core |
| Pangaea | The super continent 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 | The theory that explains how large pieces of the lithosphere, called plates, moves and change shape |
| Tectonic Plate | 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 |
| Convection | The movement of matter due to differences in density; the transfer of energy due to the movement of matter |
| 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 | A opening at the surface of the Earth through which volcanic material passes |
| Tectonic Plate | A block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle |
| Hot Spot | A volcanically active area of Earth's surface, commonly far from a tectonic plate boundary |
Created by:
Joanna Omopariola