Comprehensive Glossary of Earth Resources and Geoscience Processes

Science Vocab Notes

aquifer

a layer of underground rock that contains groundwater.

fossil fuel

fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) formed in the Earth from plant or animal remains 

geologic

of, or relating to, or based on a science that deals with the history of the Earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks

geoscience process

a natural process that forms and shapes the Earth's surface 

groundwater

the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock

irrigation

the process of humans artifically watering land to help plant growth

nonrenewable

unable to be restored, replaced, or made new again once used 

ore

a mineral-bearing rock that generally contains metal but can contain other valuable minerals, like gems

organic matter

material made of carbon that comes from plants, animals, and their waste products

permeability

the capability of a substance to allow fluids to flow through it 

plate boundary

the edge where two tectonic plates meet

renewable

unlikely to run out, capable of being replaced or restored as quickly as it is used 

resource

a usable stock or supply

sediment

small solid materials, like sand, that are carried by air or water and settle at the bottom of bodies of water, such as on riverbeds or the ocean floor 

water table

the level at which the ground becomes saturated