Earth Science: Layers of the Earth, Minerals, and the Rock Cycle

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the structure and composition of Earth's layers, physical properties used in mineral identification, the rock cycle, processes forming igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, and experimental design variables.

Mineral

A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and an orderly repeating crystal structure.

Rock

A naturally occurring solid material made of one or more minerals.

Rock and Mineral Distinction

A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition, whereas a rock is composed of one or more minerals.

Metamorphic Rock

A rock that forms when existing rock is changed by heat and pressure.

Igneous Rock

A type of rock that forms from the cooling and solidification of lava or magma.

Sedimentary Rock

A rock formed by weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation that commonly contains fossils.

Crust

The thinnest, outermost layer of Earth, measuring approximately $5\text{ to }70\,\text{km}$ in thickness.

Mantle

The thickest layer of Earth, which is a solid layer made mainly of silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium.

Outer Core

The liquid layer of Earth composed of liquid iron and nickel that generates Earth's magnetic field.

Inner Core

The hottest and innermost layer of Earth, composed of solid iron and nickel kept solid by extreme pressure.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of Earth consisting of the crust and uppermost mantle.

Asthenosphere

A plastic, slowly flowing layer of Earth located beneath the lithosphere.

Mesosphere

The strong lower mantle located beneath the asthenosphere.

Intrusive Igneous Rock

A type of igneous rock that forms underground from slowly cooling magma.

Extrusive Igneous Rock

A type of igneous rock that forms at the Earth's surface from rapidly cooling lava.

Parent Rock

The original rock before metamorphism occurs.

Metamorphism

The process that changes an existing rock into a metamorphic rock using heat and pressure.

Crystallisation

The process that forms igneous rock from magma as it cools.

Weathering and Erosion

Geological processes that break rocks down into sediment.

Compaction and Cementation

The geological processes that turn loose sediment into solid sedimentary rock.

Mohs Hardness Scale

A scale used for measuring and comparing mineral hardness, where the highest rating is $10$.

Hardness

The property that measures a mineral's resistance to scratching.

Lustre

The physical property describing the way a mineral reflects light.

Streak

The colour of a mineral in powdered form.

Cleavage

A mineral property used for identification based on how a mineral breaks along smooth, flat planes.

Fracture

A mineral property used for identification based on how a mineral breaks unevenly or irregularly.

Density

A physical property used to identify minerals and rocks, defined as mass per unit volume.

Magnetism

A physical property used in mineral identification that describes a mineral's attraction to a magnetic field.

Granite

An example of an intrusive igneous rock.

Basalt

An example of an extrusive igneous rock.

Sandstone

An example of a sedimentary rock.

Limestone

An example of a sedimentary rock.

Marble

An example of a metamorphic rock.

Slate

An example of a metamorphic rock.

Rock Cycle

The geological cycle that allows one rock type to change into another over time.

Magma

Molten rock located underground from which intrusive igneous rock forms.

Lava

Molten rock at Earth's surface that cools to form extrusive igneous rock.

Thinnest Layer of Earth

The crust.

Thickest Layer of Earth

The mantle.

Hottest Layer of Earth

The inner core.

Crust Thickness

Approximately $5\text{ to }70\,\text{km}$.

Oceanic Crust

The portion of Earth's crust located under the ocean, which is thinner than crust under land.

Continental Crust

The portion of Earth's crust located under land, which is thicker than crust under the ocean.

Mantle State of Matter

Solid.

Outer Core State of Matter

Liquid.

Inner Core State of Matter

Solid.

Extreme Pressure in the Inner Core

The force that keeps the inner core solid despite extremely high temperatures.

Core Elemental Composition

The elements iron and nickel, which mainly comprise Earth's inner and outer cores.

Mantle Composition

Silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium.

Outer Core Composition

Liquid iron and nickel.

Inner Core Composition

Solid iron and nickel.

Earth's Magnetic Field Generation

A planetary force generated by movements within the liquid outer core.

Order of Earth Layers (Outermost to Innermost)

Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core.

Four Main Layers of Earth

The primary compositional divisions of Earth: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

Position of the Lithosphere

Located directly above the asthenosphere.

Asthenosphere Flow

The slow, plastic flowing movement characteristic of the layer beneath the lithosphere.

Mesosphere Strength

The mechanical strength characteristic of the strong lower mantle located beneath the asthenosphere.

Crystal Size and Cooling Rate

The geological relationship where slow cooling forms large crystals and rapid cooling forms small crystals.

Slow Cooling Effect

The cooling process that creates large crystals in igneous rocks.

Rapid Cooling Effect

The cooling process that creates small crystals in igneous rocks.

Crystal Size in Intrusive Rocks

Intrusive igneous rocks develop large crystals because they cool slowly underground, giving crystals time to grow.

Crystal Size in Extrusive Rocks

Extrusive igneous rocks develop small crystals because they cool rapidly at the surface.

Fossils in Rock Types

Preserved organic remains that commonly occur in sedimentary rocks.

Highest Number on Mohs Hardness Scale

$10$.

Sedimentary Rock Formation Processes

The five processes that form sedimentary rock: weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation.

Mineral Identification Properties

Observable and testable traits including hardness, streak, lustre, cleavage, fracture, density, and magnetism.

Three Main Rock Types

Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Dependent Variable (Rock Density Experiment)

The density of the rock being measured.

Control Variables (Rock Density Experiment)

The equipment used and the method used to determine volume.

Inorganic Solid

A fundamental characteristic of minerals indicating that they are non-living and not made from living matter.