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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 mass and takes up space. |
| Crystal | Natural solid substances that has a definite geometric shape. |
| Streak | The color of a mineral in a powered 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,disingerate and decompose rock. |
| Erosion | The process of 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 solidifies. |
| Sedimentary Rock | A rock that forms from compressed or cemented layers of sediment. |
| Metamorphic Rock | A rock that forms from other rock 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 Earths crust to higher elevations |
| Subsidence | The sinking of regions of the Earths 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 Earths crust and core |
| Convection | The movement of matter due to differences in density; the transfer of energy due 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 rigid upper part of the mantle |
| Asthenosphere | the soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move |
| Mesosphere | The layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere and in which temperature decreases as altitude increases |
| Pangaea | The supercontinent that formed 300 million years ago and that begun to break up 200 million years ago |
| Sea-floor spreading | the process by which new oceanic lithosphere (sea floor) forms when magma rises to earths surface at mid-ocean ridges and soildifies,as older,existing sea floor moves away from the ridge. |
| Plate tectonics | the theory that explains how large pieces of the lithospshere,called plates,move and change shape. |
| 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 Earths 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 move s 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 Earths surface directly above an earthquakes 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 Earths surface through which magma and gases are expelled |
| Magma | The molten or partially molten rock material containing trapped gases produced under the Earths surface |
| Lava | Magma that flows onto Earths surface; the rock that forms when lava cools and solidifies |
| Vent | an opening at the surface of Earth through which volcanic material passes |
| Hot spot | a volcanically active area of Earths surface,common far from tectonic plate boundary |