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Earth Structures
| 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 | 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 | 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 | the strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core |
| Pangaea | 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 | 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 objec |
| 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 |
Created by:
Angelica Penaranda