Term
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Definition
| very level area of the deep-ocean floor, usually lying at the foot of the continental rise. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| The scientific study of the universe; it includes the observation and interpretation of celestial bodies & phenomena. |
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Term
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Definition
| The totality of life on Earth; the parts of the solid Earth, hydrosphere, and atmosphere in which living organisms can be found. |
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Term
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Definition
| A system that is self-contained with regards to matter - that is, no matter enters or leaves. |
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Term
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Definition
| That portion of the seafloor adjacent to the continents. It may include the continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise. |
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Term
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Definition
| The gently sloping submerged portion of the continental margin, extending from the shoreline to the continental slope. |
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Term
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Definition
| The steep gradient that leads to the deep-ocean floor and marks the seaward edge of the continental shelf. |
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Term
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Definition
| Located beneath the mantle, it is the innermost layer of Earth. The core is divided into an outer core and an inner core. |
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Term
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Definition
| The very thin outermost layer of the Earth. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
Deep-Ocean Trench
(Trench) |
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Definition
| An elongated depression in the seafloor produced by bending of oceanic crust during subduction. |
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Term
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Definition
| The name for all sciences that collectively seek to understand Earth. It includes geology, oceanography, meterology, and astronomy. |
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Term
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Definition
| An interdisciplinary study that seeks to examine Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts or subsystems. |
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Term
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Definition
| The gaseous pertion of a planet; the planet's envelope of air. One of the traditional subdivisons of Earth's physical environment. |
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Term
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Definition
| Everything that surrounds and influences an organism. |
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Term
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Definition
| The division of Earth histpry into blocks of time - eons, eras, periods, and epochs. Was created using relative dating priciples. |
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Term
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Definition
| The science that examines Earth, its form and composition, and the changes it has undergone and is undergoing. |
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Term
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Definition
| The solid Earth, the largest of Earth's four major sphere's. |
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Term
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Definition
| The water portion of our planet; one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth's physical environment. |
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Term
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Definition
| A tenative explanation that is tested to determine if it is valid. |
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Term
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Definition
| The solid innermost layer of Earth, about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) in radius. |
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Term
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Definition
| A common boundary where different parts of a system interact. |
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Term
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Definition
| The rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and upper mantle. |
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Term
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Definition
| A coherent unit of Earth's rigid outer layer that includes the crust and upper unit. |
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Term
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Definition
| The part of the mantle that extends from the core-mantle boundary to a depth of 660 kilometers. |
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Term
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Definition
| The 2,900 kilometer (1,800 miles) - thick layer of Earth located below the crust. |
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Term
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Definition
| The scientific study of the atmosphere and the atmospheric phenomena; the study of weather and climate. |
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Term
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Definition
| A term often used synonymously with hypothesis but is less precise because it is sometimes used to describe a theory as well. |
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Term
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Definition
| The basic idea that the sun and planets formed from the same cloud of gas and dust in interstellar space. |
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Term
| Negative Feedback Mechanism |
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Definition
| A feedback machanism that tends to maintain a system as it is - that is, maintain the status quo. |
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Term
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Definition
| Resource that forms or accumulates over such long time spans that it must be considered as fixed in total quantity. |
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Term
| Oceanic (Mid-Ocean) Ridge |
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| The scientific study of the oceans and oceanic phenomena. |
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Term
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Definition
| One in which both matter and energy flow into and out of the system. Most natural systems are of this type. |
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Term
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Definition
| A layer beneath the mantle about 2,200 kilometers (1,364 miles) thick that has the properties of a liquid. |
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Term
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Definition
| A theory that is held with a very high degree of confidence and is comprehensive in scope. |
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Term
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Definition
| The part of the environment that encompasses water, air, soil, and rock, as well as conditions such as temperature, humidity, and sunlight. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
| Positive Feedback Mechanism |
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Definition
| A feedback machanism that enhances or drives change. |
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Term
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Definition
| A resource that is virtually inexhausible or that can be replenished over relatively short time spans. |
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Term
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Definition
| An isolated volcanic peak that rises at least 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) above the deep-ocean floor. |
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Term
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Definition
| A large, relatively flat expanse of ancient metamorphic rock within the stable continental interior. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any size group of interacting parts that form a complex whole. |
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Term
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Definition
| A well-tested and widely accepted view that explains certain observable facts. |
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Term
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Definition
| The smallest particle that exists as an element. |
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Term
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Definition
| The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| Certain minerals that will effervesce (fizz) as carbon dioxide gas is released. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding. |
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Term
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Definition
| Generally the most conspicuous characteristic of any mineral, it is considered a diagnostic property of only a few minerals. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons. |
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Term
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Definition
| Mass per unit volume of a substance, usually expressed as grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). |
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Term
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Definition
| A negatively changed subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside an atoms nucleus. |
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Term
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Definition
| Spherically shaped, negatively charged zones that surround the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means. |
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Term
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Definition
| Most plentiful group of silicate minerals, comprising over 50 percent of Earth's crust. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any break or rupture in rock along which no appreciable movement has taken place. |
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Term
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Definition
| Refers to the common or characteristic shape of a crystal, or aggregate of crystals. |
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Term
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Definition
| The resistance of a mineral offers to scratching. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of valence electrons from one atom to the other. |
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Term
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Definition
| An atom or molecule that possesses an electron change. |
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Term
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Definition
| Varieties of the same element that have different mass numbers; their nuclei contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. |
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Term
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Definition
| The appearence or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral. |
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Term
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Definition
| The number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| A naturally occuring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical composition. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| All discovered and undiscovered deposits of a useful mineral that can be extracted now or at some time in the future. |
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Term
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Definition
| A series of 10 minerals used as a standard in determining hardness. |
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Term
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Definition
| A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The ___ is electrically neutral and has a mass approximately that of a portion. |
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Term
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Definition
| Minerals often grouped together that are far less abundant in Earth's crust than the silicates. |
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Term
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Definition
| The small heavy core of an atom that contains all of its positive charge and most of its mass. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| The tabular arrangement of the elements according to atomic number. |
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Term
| Principal Shell (Energy Levels) |
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Definition
| Spherically shaped, negatively charged zones that surround the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| Second most abundant mineral in the continental crust, and is the only common mineral made completely of silicon and oxygen. |
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Term
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Definition
| Process in which "unstable" isotopes disintergrate; occurs when the forces that bind the nucleus are not strong enough. |
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Term
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Definition
| Already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably. |
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Term
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Definition
| A consolidated mixture of minerals. |
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Term
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Definition
| Collection of the few dozen abundant minerals that make up most of the rocks of Earth's crust. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any one of numerous minerals that have the oxygen and silicon tetrahedron as their basic structure. |
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Term
| Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron |
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Definition
| A structure composed of four oxygen atoms surronding a silicon atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ratio of a substance weight to the weight of an equal volume of water. |
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Term
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Definition
| The color of a mineral in powdered form. |
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Term
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Definition
| Describes a minerals toughness or its resistance to breaking or deforming. |
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Term
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Definition
| The electrons involved in the bonding process; the electrons occupying the highest - principal energy level of an atom. |
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Term
| Andesitic (Intermediate) Compostition |
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Definition
| The composition of igneous rocks lying between felsic and mafic. |
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Term
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Definition
| A compositional group of igneous rocks indicating that the rock contains substantial dark silicate minerals and calcium - rich plagioclase feldspar. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
| Chemical Sedimentary Rock |
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Definition
| Sedimentary rock consisting of material that was precipitated from water by either inorganic or organic means. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
| Contact (Thermal) Metamorphism |
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Definition
| Changes in rock caused by the heat from a nearby magma body. |
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Term
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Definition
| The formation and growth of a crystalline solid from a liquid or gas. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
| Detrital Sedimentary Rock |
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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. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| A sedimentary rock formed of material deposited from solution by evaporation of the water. |
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Term
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Definition
| Igneous activity that occurs outside the crust. |
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Term
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Definition
| The group of igneous rocks composed primarily of feldspar & quartz. |
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Term
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Definition
| A texture of igneous rocks in which the crystals are too small for individual minerals to be distinguished with the unaided eye. |
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Term
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Definition
| A texture of metamorphic rocks that gives the rock a layered appearence. |
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Term
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Definition
| The remains or traces of organisms preserved from the geologic test. |
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Term
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Definition
| A term used to describe the texture of certain igneous rocks, such as obsidian, that contain no crystals. |
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Term
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Definition
| A compositional group of igneous rocks that indicates a rock is composed almost entirely of light-colored silicates. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| A rock formed by the crystallization of molten magma. |
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Term
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Definition
| The composition of igneous rocks lying between felsic and mafic. |
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Term
| Intrusive (Plutonic) Rock |
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Definition
| Igneous rock that formed below the Earth's surface. |
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Term
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Definition
| Magma that reaches Earth's surface. |
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Term
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Definition
| The process, generally cementation and / or compaction, of converting sediments to solid rock. |
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Term
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Definition
| Igneous rocks with a low silica content and a high iron-magesium content. |
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Term
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Definition
| A body of molten rock found at depth, including any dissolved gases and crystals. |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of generating more than one rock type from a single magma. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| The changes in mineral composition and texture of a rock subjected to high temperature and pressure within Earth. |
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Term
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Definition
| Metamorphic rocks that do not exhibit foliation. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| An ingneous texture consisting of large crystals embedded in a matrix of much smaller crystals. |
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Term
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Definition
| Metamorphism associated with large-scale mountain-building processes. |
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Term
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Definition
| A model that illustrates the origin of the three basic rock types and the interrelatedness of Earth materials & processes. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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Definition
| Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited, and lithified. |
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Term
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Definition
| Parallel layers of sedimentary rock. |
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Term
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Definition
| The size, shape, and distribution of the particles that collectively constitute a rock. |
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Term
Thermal Metamorphism
(Contact Metamorphism) |
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Definition
| Changes in rock caused by the heat from a nearby magma body. |
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Term
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Definition
| Igneous rocks composed mainly of iron and magnesium-rich minerals. |
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Term
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Definition
| A mineral filling a fracture or fault in a host rock. Such deposits have a sheetlike, or tabular, form. |
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