Term | Definition |
Crust | The outer most layer of the earth, which contains all of Earth's surface features. |
Bedrock | The unbroken, solid rock portion of Earth's crust. |
Outcrop | Bedrock that has become exposed at the Earth's surface. |
Soil | A mixture of small rock fragments and decayed organic material that covers much of the earth's land surface. |
Organic Matter | Materials produced by living things, such as decaying leaves and animal waste. |
Minerals | A natural occurring, solid inorganic(nonliving) substance with characteristics physical and chemical properties. |
Physical Properties | A characteristic that enables an organism to survive under a given set of conditions. |
Streak color | The color of the powder form of the mineral. |
Hardness | A minerals resistance to being scratched. |
Moh's scale of Hardness | A scale that measures a minerals resistance to scratches. |
Luster | How a mineral looks when reflecting light. |
Cleavage | A mineral's tendency to break along smooth, flat surfaces. |
Color | Not a reliable guide to a mineral's identity |
Chemical Properties | How a mineral reacts to acid. |
Igneous Rock | A rock formed by the cooling and hardening of hot, liquid material. |
Magma | Melted rock material under the earth's surface |
Lava | Melted rock material on the earth's surface. |
Sedimentary Rocks | A rock formed from layers of particles, called sediments, that are cemented together under pressure. |
Metamorphic Rocks | A rock produced when existing igneous or sedimentary rock undergoes a change in from caused by great heat, pressure, or both. |
Rock Cycle | The cycle where any rock can be transformed into a new type of rock by a natural process. |