| Term | Definition |
| Mineral | A substance that forms in nature, is a solid, has a definite chemical make up and a crystal structure. |
| Cleavage | the tendency of a mineral to break along smooth flat planes parallel to zones of weak bonding |
| Fracture | the tendency of a mineral to crumble or break in no particular pattern |
| Luster | The way in which a mineral reflects light. |
| Streak | the color of a mineral’s powder |
| Igneous Rock | Forms when molten rock cools and becomes solid. |
| Metamorphic Rock | Forms when heat or pressure causes older rocks, to change into new types of rocks. |
| Sedimentary Rock | Forms when pieces of older rocks, plants and other loose material get pressed or cemented together. |
| Weathering | a process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earth’s surface |
| Erosion | the movement of rock particles by water or wind |
| Deposition | the process in which transported sediment is laid down |
| Delta | a land form created by deposition of sediment from a river flowing into the ocean. It forms at the mouth of the river. |
| Nonrenewable resource | a resource that exists in a fixed amount or is used up faster than it can be replaced. |
| Renewable resource | A natural resource that can be replaced in nature at about the same rate that it is used up. |
| Conservation | The process of protecting or saving a natural resource. |
| Soil Horizon | A soil layer with physical and chemical properties that differ from those of soil layers above and below it. |
| Soil Profile | All of the soil horizons in a particular location |
| Permeability | Soil's ability to let water and air pass through it. |
