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Earth Science - Chapter 1,2,3
Geoffory Force Earth Science Class TEST 1
130
Science
Undergraduate 1
01/31/2011

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Term
Abyssal Plain
Definition
very level area of the deep-ocean floor, usually lying at the foot of the continental rise.
Term
Asthenosphere
Definition
a subdivision of the mantle situated below the listhosphere. This zone of weak material exists below a depth of about 100 kilometers and in some regions extends as deep as 700 kilometers. The rock within this zone is eaisly deformed.
Term
Astronomy
Definition
The scientific study of the universe; it includes the observation and interpretation of celestial bodies & phenomena.
Term
Biosphere
Definition
The totality of life on Earth; the parts of the solid Earth, hydrosphere, and atmosphere in which living organisms can be found.
Term
Closed System
Definition
A system that is self-contained with regards to matter - that is, no matter enters or leaves.
Term
Continental Margin
Definition
That portion of the seafloor adjacent to the continents. It may include the continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise.
Term
Continental Shelf
Definition
The gently sloping submerged portion of the continental margin, extending from the shoreline to the continental slope.
Term
Continental Slope
Definition
The steep gradient that leads to the deep-ocean floor and marks the seaward edge of the continental shelf.
Term
Core
Definition
Located beneath the mantle, it is the innermost layer of Earth. The core is divided into an outer core and an inner core.
Term
Crust
Definition
The very thin outermost layer of the Earth.
Term
Deep-Ocean Basin
Definition
The portion of seafloor that lies between the continental margin and the oceanic ridge system. This region comprises almost 30 percent of Earth's surface.
Term

Deep-Ocean Trench

(Trench)

Definition
An elongated depression in the seafloor produced by bending of oceanic crust during subduction.
Term
Earth Science
Definition
The name for all sciences that collectively seek to understand Earth. It includes geology, oceanography, meterology, and astronomy.
Term
Earth System Science
Definition
An interdisciplinary study that seeks to examine Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts or subsystems.
Term
Atmosphere
Definition
The gaseous pertion of a planet; the planet's envelope of air. One of the traditional subdivisons of Earth's physical environment.
Term
Environment
Definition
Everything that surrounds and influences an organism.
Term
Geologic Time Scale
Definition
The division of Earth histpry into blocks of time - eons, eras, periods, and epochs. Was created using relative dating priciples.
Term
Geology
Definition
The science that examines Earth, its form and composition, and the changes it has undergone and is undergoing.
Term
Geosphere
Definition
The solid Earth, the largest of Earth's four major sphere's.
Term
Hydrosphere
Definition
The water portion of our planet; one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth's physical environment.
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
A tenative explanation that is tested to determine if it is valid.
Term
Inner Core
Definition
The solid innermost layer of Earth, about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) in radius.
Term
Interface
Definition
A common boundary where different parts of a system interact.
Term
Lithosphere
Definition
The rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle.
Term
Lithospheric Plate
Definition
A coherent unit of Earth's rigid outer layer that includes the crust and upper unit.
Term
Lower Mantle
Definition
The part of the mantle that extends from the core-mantle boundary to a depth of 660 kilometers.
Term
Mantle
Definition
The 2,900 kilometer (1,800 miles) - thick layer of Earth located below the crust.
Term
Meterology
Definition
The scientific study of the atmosphere and the atmospheric phenomena; the study of weather and climate.
Term
Model
Definition
A term often used synonymously with hypothesis but is less precise because it is sometimes used to describe a theory as well.
Term
Nebular Hypothesis
Definition
The basic idea that the sun and planets formed from the same cloud of gas and dust in interstellar space.
Term
Negative Feedback Mechanism
Definition
A feedback machanism that tends to maintain a system as it is - that is, maintain the status quo.
Term
Nonrenewable Resource
Definition
Resource that forms or accumulates over such long time spans that it must be considered as fixed in total quantity.
Term
Oceanic (Mid-Ocean) Ridge
Definition
A continuous elevated zone on the floor of all the major ocean basins and varying in width from 500 to 5,000 kilometers (300 to 3,000 miles). The rifts at the crests of ridges represent divergent plate boundaries.
Term
Oceanography
Definition
The scientific study of the oceans and oceanic phenomena.
Term
Open System
Definition
One in which both matter and energy flow into and out of the system. Most natural systems are of this type.
Term
Outer Core
Definition
A layer beneath the mantle about 2,200 kilometers (1,364 miles) thick that has the properties of a liquid.
Term
Paradigm
Definition
A theory that is held with a very high degree of confidence and is comprehensive in scope.
Term
Physical Environment
Definition
The part of the environment that encompasses water, air, soil, and rock, as well as conditions such as temperature, humidity, and sunlight.
Term
Plate Tectonics
Definition
The theory that proposes that Earth's outer shell consists of individual plates that interact in various ways and thereby produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and the crust itself.
Term
Positive Feedback Mechanism
Definition
A feedback machanism that enhances or drives change.
Term
Renewable Resource
Definition
A resource that is virtually inexhausible or that can be replenished over relatively short time spans.
Term
Seamount
Definition
An isolated volcanic peak that rises at least 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) above the deep-ocean floor.
Term
Shield
Definition
A large, relatively flat expanse of ancient metamorphic rock within the stable continental interior.
Term
Stable Platform
Definition
That part of the craton that is mantled by relatively underformed sedimentary rocks and underlain by a basement complex of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Term
System
Definition
Any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole.
Term
Theory
Definition
A well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts.
Term
Atoms
Definition
The smallest particle that exists as an element.
Term
Atomic Number
Definition
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Term
Carbonates
Definition
Certain minerals that will effervesce (fizz) as carbon dioxide gas is released.
Term
Chemical Compounds
Definition
A substance formed by the CHEMICAL combination of two or more elements indefinite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its constituent elements.
Term
Cleavage
Definition
The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding.
Term
Color
Definition
Generally the most conspicuous characteristic of any mineral, it is considered a diagnostic property of only a few minerals.
Term
Compound
Definition
A substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its constituent elements.
Term
Covalent Bond
Definition
A chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons.
Term
Density
Definition
Mass per unit volume of a substance, usually expressed as grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3).
Term
Electron
Definition
A negatively changed subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside an atoms nucleus.
Term
Energy Levels
Definition
Spherically shaped, negatively charged zones that surround the nucleus of an atom.
Term
Element
Definition
A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means.
Term
Feldspar
Definition
Most plentiful group of silicate minerals, comprising over 50 percent of Earth's crust.
Term
Fracture
Definition
Any break or rupture in rock along which no appreciable movement has taken place.
Term
Habit
Definition
Refers to the common or characteristic shape of a crystal, or aggregate of crystals.
Term
Hardness
Definition
The resistance of a mineral offers to scratching.
Term
Ionic Bond
Definition
A chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of valence electrons from one atom to the other.
Term
Ions
Definition
An atom or molecule that possesses an electron change.
Term
Isotopes
Definition
Varieties of the same element that have different mass numbers; their nuclei contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Term
Luster
Definition
The appearence or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral.
Term
Mass Number
Definition
The number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Term
Mineral
Definition
A naturally occuring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical composition.
Term
Minerology
Definition
The study of minerals.
Term
Mineral Resource
Definition
All discovered and undiscovered deposits of a useful mineral that can be extracted now or at some time in the future.
Term
Mohs Hardness Scale
Definition
A series of 10 minerals used as a standard in determining hardness.
Term
Neutron
Definition
A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The ___ is electrically neutral and has a mass approximately that of a portion.
Term
Nonsilicate
Definition
Minerals often grouped together that are far less abundant in Earth's crust than the silicates.
Term
Nucleus
Definition
The small heavy core of an atom that contains all of its positive charge and most of its mass.
Term
Ore
Definition
Usually a useful metallic mineral that can be mined at a profit. The term is also applied to certain nonmetallic minerals such as flourite and sulfur.
Term
Periodic Table
Definition
The tabular arrangement of the elements according to atomic number.
Term
Principal Shell (Energy Levels)
Definition
Spherically shaped, negatively charged zones that surround the nucleus of an atom.
Term
Proton
Definition
A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
Term
Quartz
Definition
Second most abundant mineral in the continental crust, and is the only common mineral made completely of silicon and oxygen.
Term
Radioactive Decay
Definition
Process in which "unstable" isotopes disintergrate; occurs when the forces that bind the nucleus are not strong enough.
Term
Reserve
Definition
Already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably.
Term
Rock
Definition
A consolidated mixture of minerals.
Term
Rock-Forming Minerals
Definition
Collection of the few dozen abundant minerals that make up most of the rocks of Earth's crust.
Term
Silicate
Definition
Any one of numerous minerals that have the oxygen and silicon tetrahedron as their basic structure.
Term
Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron
Definition
A structure composed of four oxygen atoms surronding a silicon atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals.
Term
Specific Gravity
Definition
The ratio of a substance weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.
Term
Streak
Definition
The color of a mineral in powdered form.
Term
Tenacity
Definition
Describes a minerals toughness or its resistance to breaking or deforming.
Term
Valence Electrons
Definition
The electrons involved in the bonding process; the electrons occupying the highest - principal energy level of an atom.
Term
Andesitic (Intermediate) Compostition
Definition
The composition of igneous rocks lying between felsic and mafic.
Term
Basaltic Composition
Definition
A compositional group of igneous rocks indicating that the rock contains substantial dark silicate minerals and calcium - rich plagioclase feldspar.
Term
Bowen's Reaction Series
Definition
A conept proposed by N.L. Bowen that illustrates the relationships between magma and the minerals crystallizing from it during the formation of igneous rocks.
Term
Chemical Sedimentary Rock
Definition
Sedimentary rock consisting of material that was precipitated from water by either inorganic or organic means.
Term
Coarse-Grained Texture
Definition
An igneous rock texture in which the crystals are roughly equal in size and large enough so that individual minerals can be identified with the unaided eye.
Term
Contact (Thermal) Metamorphism
Definition
Changes in rock caused by the heat from a nearby magma body.
Term
Crystallization
Definition
The formation and growth of a crystalline solid from a liquid or gas.
Term
Crystal Settling
Definition
During the crystallization of magma, the earlier-formed minerals are denser than the liquid portion and settle to the bottom of the magma chamber.
Term
Detrital Sedimentary Rock
Definition
Rock formed from the accumulation of material that orignated and was transported in the form of solid particles derived from both mechanical and chemical weathering.
Term
Disseminated Deposit
Definition
Any economic mineral deposit in which the desired mineral occurrs as scattered particles in the rock but in sufficient quanity to make the deposit an ore.
Term
Evaporite Deposits
Definition
A sedimentary rock formed of material deposited from solution by evaporation of the water.
Term
Extrusive (Volcanic)
Definition
Igneous activity that occurs outside the crust.
Term
Felsic
Definition
The group of igneous rocks composed primarily of feldspar & quartz.
Term
Fine-Grained Texture
Definition
A texture of igneous rocks in which the crystals are too small for individual minerals to be distinguished with the unaided eye.
Term
Foliated Texture
Definition
A texture of metamorphic rocks that gives the rock a layered appearence.
Term
Fossils
Definition
The remains or traces of organisms preserved from the geologic test.
Term
Glassy Texture
Definition
A term used to describe the texture of certain igneous rocks, such as obsidian, that contain no crystals.
Term
Granitic Composition
Definition
A compositional group of igneous rocks that indicates a rock is composed almost entirely of light-colored silicates.
Term
Hydrothermal Solution
Definition
The hot, watery solution that escapes from a mass of magma during the later stages of crystallization. Such solutions may alter the surrounding country rock and are frequently the source of significant ore deposits.
Term
Igneous Rock
Definition
A rock formed by the crystallization of molten magma.
Term
Intermediate Composition
Definition
The composition of igneous rocks lying between felsic and mafic.
Term
Intrusive (Plutonic) Rock
Definition
Igneous rock that formed below the Earth's surface.
Term
Lava
Definition
Magma that reaches Earth's surface.
Term
Lithification
Definition
The process, generally cementation and / or compaction, of converting sediments to solid rock.
Term
Mafic
Definition
Igneous rocks with a low silica content and a high iron-magesium content.
Term
Magma
Definition
A body of molten rock found at depth, including any dissolved gases and crystals.
Term
Magmatic Differentiation
Definition
The process of generating more than one rock type from a single magma.
Term
Metamorphic Rock
Definition
Rocks formed by the alteration of preexisting rock deep within Earth (but still in the solid state) by heat, pressure, and / or chmically active fluids.
Term
Metamorphism
Definition
The changes in mineral composition and texture of a rock subjected to high temperature and pressure within Earth.
Term
Nonfoliated Texture
Definition
Metamorphic rocks that do not exhibit foliation.
Term
Pegmatite
Definition
A very coarse-grained igneous rock (typically granite) commonly found as a dike associated with a large mass of plutonic rock that has smaller crystals. Crystallization in a water-rich environment is believed to be responsible for the very large crystals.
Term
Porphyritic Texture
Definition
An ingneous texture consisting of large crystals embedded in a matrix of much smaller crystals.
Term
Regional Metamorphism
Definition
Metamorphism associated with large-scale mountain-building processes.
Term
Rock Cycle
Definition
A model that illustrates the origin of the three basic rock types and the interrelatedness of Earth materials & processes.
Term
Sediment
Definition
Unconsolidated particles created by the weathering and erosion of rock, by chemical precipitation from solution in water, or from the secrections of organisms and transported by water, wind, or glaciers.
Term
Sedimentary Rock
Definition
Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited, and lithified.
Term
Strata
Definition
Parallel layers of sedimentary rock.
Term
Texture
Definition
The size, shape, and distribution of the particles that collectively constitute a rock.
Term

Thermal Metamorphism

(Contact Metamorphism)

Definition
Changes in rock caused by the heat from a nearby magma body.
Term
Ultramafic Composition
Definition
Igneous rocks composed mainly of iron and magnesium-rich minerals.
Term
Vein Deposit
Definition
A mineral filling a fracture or fault in a host rock. Such deposits have a sheetlike, or tabular, form.
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