Unit 2 Geology Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering Part 1: The Rock Cycle from the Unit 2 Geology worksheet.

Magma

Molten rock found beneath Earth's surface.

Lava

Molten rock that reaches Earth's surface.

Igneous Rock

Rock formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies.

Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed when sediments are compacted and cemented together.

Metamorphic Rock

Rock that has been changed by heat and pressure without completely melting.

Weathering

The breaking down of rock into smaller pieces.

Erosion

The movement of weathered rock and sediment from one location to another.

Deposition

The process in which sediment is dropped or settles in a new location.

Sediment

Small pieces of rock, minerals, or organic material.

Compaction

The squeezing together of layers of sediment due to pressure.

Cementation

The process in which dissolved minerals act like glue to bind sediments together.

Melting

The process that changes solid rock into magma.

Crystallization

The formation of mineral crystals as magma or lava cools.

Lithification

When particles are stacked on each other, the pressure increases and compacts them together.