Targeted Vocabulary

Weathering

The process by which rocks and other surfaces are broken down

Erosion

The process by which rock soil and other weathered earth materials are moved from one place to another

Characteristic

A future quality property or tree of an object or organism

Hardness

A property of a mineral that describes how easily it can be scratched

Luster

A property of a mineral that describes how it appears when it reflects light

cleavage

A property used to describe how a mineral breaks apart along smooth surfaces

igneous rock

A type of rock that forms from cool magma or lava

Igneous rock

A type of rock that forms from cooled magma or lava.

Metamorphic rock

A type of rock that is formed over time from existing rock due to extreme pressure and/or heat.

Mineral

A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a distinct chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Sedimentary rock

A type of rock formed from layers of sediment

Soil

The loose top layer of Earth’s surface are made of weathered rock and organic matter

Streak

The color of the powder of a mineral when it is rubbed on a streak plate.

Climate

The average pattern of weather that occurs in a certain location over many years.

Weather

The condition of the atmosphere at a given time and place.

Water vapor

The gas state of water.

Condensation

The process by which water is changed from a gas (water vapor) to a liquid; a stage of the water cycle.

Precipitation

A form of water (e.g, hail,rain,sleet,snow) that condenses in the atmosphere and falls to earth’s surface.

Evaporation

The process by which water is changed from a liquid to a gas (water vapor); a stage of the water cycle.

Humidity

A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.

Pistil

The female reproductive structure of a flowering plant.

Stamen

The male reproductive structure of a flowering plant.