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Unit 6
Earth structures
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Mineral | A natural, Usually inorganic solid that has a characteristic chemical composition and an orderly internal structure. |
| Element | A substance that can not 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 or 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 a mineral reflects light. |
| cleavage | In geology, the tendency of a mineral to split a long 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. (Earth Science) The change of state from a gas directly to a solid. (Physical Science) |
| 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 regions of Earth's crust to higher elevations. |
| Subsidence | The sinking regions of the Earth's crust 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; the transfer of 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 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 the 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 |
| 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 |
Created by:
Isaac Degeffe