Esci

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks into smaller particles through physical or chemical means.

Physical Weathering

The mechanical breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition.

Exfoliation

A process where outer layers of rock peel away due to temperature changes.

Frost Wedging

The physical disintegration of rocks caused by the expansion of freezing water.

Mineral Crystallization

A process where minerals form crystals that exert pressure on surrounding rock, leading to disintegration.

Slaking

The alternate wetting and drying of rocks that can lead to weathering.

Chemical Weathering

The breakdown of rocks through chemical changes in their composition, often involving water.

Carbonation

A chemical weathering process involving carbonic acid reacting with minerals such as calcium carbonate.

Solution

A process of chemical weathering where minerals are dissolved in water.

Hydrolysis

A chemical weathering process where water chemically alters minerals, leading to their breakdown.

Hydration

The process of water being absorbed by minerals, leading to their breakdown.

Oxidation

A chemical process in which oxygen combines with minerals, weakening their structure.

Reduction

The process of removing oxygen, often changing soil color and mineral composition.

Complexation

The formation of stable complexes between organic components and metals from minerals.

Earth’s Interior

The inner parts of the Earth, including the core and mantle, where temperatures exceed those of the Earth's surface.

Magma

A molten rock mixture found beneath the Earth's surface, which can turn into lava when expelled.

Decompression Melting

The melting of solid mantle material as it rises to lower pressure areas.

Transfer of Heat

The process by which heat from liquid rock causes surrounding rocks to melt.

Flux Melting

The melting of rock due to the addition of water or carbon dioxide.

Magma Chamber

A pool of magma beneath the Earth's crust, often leading to volcanic eruptions.

Mafic Magma

Magma with low silica content, high in iron and magnesium, and low viscosity.

Intermediate Magma

Magma with moderate silica content, resulting in higher viscosity and gas content.

Felsic Magma

Magma with high silica content, high viscosity, and the potential for explosive eruptions.

Metamorphism

The process where rocks undergo changes in mineral composition and texture due to heat and pressure.

Protolith

The original rock from which a metamorphic rock forms.

Geothermal Gradient

The rate at which temperature increases with depth in the Earth's crust.

Differential Stress

Stress applied unevenly on an object, which can transform the rock's texture.

Confining Stress

Uniform stress applied equally from all directions.

Compression

A stress that squeezes rocks together, leading to folding or fracturing.

Tension

Stress that pulls rocks apart, causing lengthening or breaking.

Shear Stress

Stress causing lateral displacement of rocks in opposite directions.

Seafloor Spreading

The process by which new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and moves away from them.

Incipient Spreading

The initial stage of seafloor spreading that begins with continental rifting.

Continental Shelf

The submerged edges of continents that gradually slope into the ocean.

Transform Boundary

A type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other.

Divergent Boundary

A type of plate boundary where two plates move apart, creating new crust.

Convergent Boundary

A type of plate boundary where two plates move towards each other, leading to subduction or collision.

Stratification

The layering of sedimentary rocks formed by deposition over time.

Absolute Dating

A method of determining the actual age of a rock or fossil through numerical dating techniques.

Radiometric Dating

A technique for dating rocks by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.

Relative Dating

A method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another.

Index Fossils

Fossils used to define and identify specific time periods in the geological time scale.