| A | B |
|---|
| mineral | a naturally occuring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition |
| inorganic | not formed from living things or the remains of living things |
| crystal | a solid in which the atoms are arranged in a pattern that repeats again and again |
| element | a substance composed of a single kind of atom |
| compound | a substance in which two or more elements are chemically joined |
| mixture | two or more substances that are mixed together but not chemically combined |
| Mohs hardness scale | a scale ranking ten minerals from softest to hardest; used in testing the hardness of minerals |
| streak | the color of a mineral's powder |
| luster | the way a mineral reflects light from its surface |
| density | the amount of mass in a given space; mass per unit volume |
| cleavage | a mineral's ability to split easily along flat surfaces |
| fracture | the way a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way |
| fluorescence | the property of a mineral in which the mineral glows under ultraviolet light |
| magma | the molten mixture of rock-forming substances, gases, and water that makes up part of Earth's mantle |
| lava | magma that reaches the surface; also the rock formed when liquid lava hardens |
| solution | A mixture that forms when one substance dissolves another. |
| vein | a narrow slab of a mineral that is sharply different from the surrounding rock |
| gemstone | a hard, colorful mineral that has a brilliant or glossy luster |
| ore | rock that contains a metal or economically useful mineral |
| smelting | the process by which ore is melted to separate the useful metal from the other elements |
| alloy | a solid mixture of two or more metals |
| texture | The look and feel of a surface determined by the size, shape, and pattern of a rock's grains. |
| grain | a particle of mineral or other rock that gives a rock its texture |
| igneous rock | a type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface |
| sedimentary rock | a type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together |
| metamorphic rock | a type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions |
| extrusive rock | igneous rock that forms from lava on Earth's surface |
| basalt | a dark, dense igneous rock with a fine texture, found in oceanic crust |
| intrusive rock | igneous rock that forms when magma hardens beneath Earth's surface |
| granite | a usually light-colored rock that is found in continental crust |
| porphyritic texture | an igneous rock texture in which large crystals are scattered on a background of much smaller crystals |
| silica | a material that is formed from the elements oxygen and silicon; silica is found in magma |
| sediment | small, solid particles of material from rocks or organisms which are moved by water or wind, resulting in erosion and deposition |
| erosion | the process by which water, ice, wind or gravity moves fragments of rock and soil |
| deposition | the process by which sediment settles out of the water or wind that is carrying it, and is deposited in a new location |
| compaction | the process by which sediments are pressed together under their own weight |
| cementation | the process by which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue particles of sediment together into one mass |
| clastic rock | a sedimentary rock that forms when rock fragments are squeezed together under high pressure |
| organic rock | sedimentary rock that forms where remains of organisms are deposited in thick layers |
| chemical rock | sedimentary rock that forms when minerals crystallize from a solution |
| coral reef | a structure of calcite skeletons built up by coral animals in warm, shallow ocean water |
| atoll | a ring-shaped coral island found far from land |
| foliated | term used to describe metamorphic rocks whose grains are arranged in parallel layers or bands |
| rock cycle | a series of processes on the surface and inside Earth that slowly changes rock from one kind to another |
| texture | the look and feel of a rock's surface |
| grain | particles of other minerals or rocks |
| igneous rock | forms from the cooling of molten rock-either magma below the surface or lava at the surface |
| sedimentary rock | forms when particles of other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together |
| metamorphic rock | formed when an existing rock is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions |
| sediment | small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or other living things |
| erosion | occurs when running water or wind loosen and carry away the fragments of rock |
| deposition | the process by which sediment settles out of the water or wind carrying it |
| compaction | the process that presses sediment together |
| cementation | the process in which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue particles of sediment together |
| clastic rock | a sedimentary rock that forms when rock fragments are squeezed together |
| rock cycle | a series of processes on the surface and inside Earth that slowly change rocks from one kind to another |
| Asthenosphere | The soft layer of the mantle on which the lithosphere floats. |
| Basalt | A dark, dense, igneous rock with a fine texture that is found in Oceanic Crust. |
| Continent | A great landmass surrounded by oceans. |
| Core | The center of the Earth made up from the Outer Core and the Inner Core. |
| Crust | The layer of rock that forms the Earth's outer covering. |
| Geologist | One who studies rocks, the Earth, and the forces that shape the Earth. |
| Geology | The study of rocks, the Earth, and the forces that shape the Earth. |
| Granite | A usually light colored rock that is found in continental crust. |
| Inner Core | A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel in the center of the Earth. |
| Lithosphere | A rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and the crust. |
| Mantle | The layer of hot, solid* material between the Earth's crust and the core. |
| Outer Core | A layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth. |
| -ate / -ic / -tic / -ive | a condition of being _______, to be ________ |
| geo | Earth, rock |
| ology | the study of |
| con / com | together, with |
| -tion / ision / -sys / -sis | the act of |
| Sphere | a ball |
| pan | all |
| sub | under, below |
| duc | to lead |
| verge | to bend or turn |
| asthenes | weak |
| gaea | land |
| radia | a ray |
| bio | life |
| vect | carried |
| di / bi | separate / two |
| lithos | stone, |
| seism | shaking |
| trans | across |
| Pressure | The amount of force pushing on a surface or area, pressure = Force X Area |
| Rock | The material that forms Earth's hard surface. |
| Seismic Wave | A vibration that travels through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake. |
| Solvent | A substance that dissolves another substance, forming a substance. |
| foli | leaf |
| ign | fire |
| meta | change |
| morph | form |
| satur | filled |
| Solute | A substance that dissolves in another substance to make a solution. |
| Fossil | A trace of an ancient organism that has been preserved in rock. |
| fossil | dug up |
| foss | a trench or ditch |
| Organic | From a living thing |
