Untitled Flashcard Set

Asthenosphere

The layer of the Earth located beneath the lithosphere, composed of semi-fluid rock that allows for tectonic plate movement.

Atmosphere

The blanket of gases surrounding the Earth, essential for life, consisting mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

Crust

The outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of solid rocks and minerals; it is relatively thin compared to other layers.

Earth System

A complex system encompassing all components of the Earth, including the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.

Galaxies

Massive systems of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth made up of the crust and the upper mantle.

Magnetic Field

The area around a magnet where magnetic forces can be detected; Earth has a magnetic field that protects it from solar wind.

Moho

The boundary between the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle, named after the Croatian seismologist Andrija Mohorovičić.

Solar System

The gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the objects that orbit it, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.

Stellar Wind

A stream of charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of a star, including the Sun.

Van Allen Belt

Regions of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field, located in the upper atmosphere.

Cleavage

The tendency of minerals to break along flat planes of weakness.

Facet

A flat surface on a crystal or gemstone, often created during cutting or polishing.

Luster

The way light interacts with the surface of a mineral; it can be described as metallic, glassy, dull, etc.

Mohs Hardness Scale

A scale from 1 to 10 used to rank the relative hardness of minerals.

Silicates

Minerals composed primarily of silicon and oxygen, which make up a vast majority of the Earth's crust.

Streak

The color of a mineral powder when scraped against an unglazed porcelain plate.

Foliation

The alignment of mineral grains in a metamorphic rock, which can create distinct layers.

Gneiss

A highly metamorphosed rock that is characterized by its banded appearance due to foliation.

Metamorphic Facies

A set of metamorphic mineral assemblages formed under specific pressures and temperatures.

Metamorphic Grade

The degree of metamorphism a rock has undergone, ranging from low to high grade.

Metamorphism

The process by which rocks change in mineralogy or texture due to heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.

Slaty Cleavage

A type of foliation in metamorphic rocks, where the minerals have a tendency to break into thin sheets.

Protolith

The original rock from which a metamorphic rock forms.

Thermal Metamorphism

A type of metamorphism that occurs due to heat from nearby molten magma.

Weathering

The process that breaks down rocks and minerals at the Earth's surface through physical or chemical means.

Erosion

The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural forces such as wind or water.

Physical Weathering

The mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Chemical Weathering

The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions that alter their mineral composition.

Hydrolysis

A chemical weathering process where minerals react with water, resulting in the formation of new minerals.

Oxidation

A chemical reaction in which minerals react with oxygen, often leading to rust formation in iron-rich minerals.

Lithification

The process by which sediments are compacted and cemented into sedimentary rock.

Biochemical Sedimentary Rock

A type of sedimentary rock formed from the accumulation of biological material, such as shells or plant debris.

Strata

Layers of sedimentary rock that are distinct from one another, often differing in composition or texture.

Soil Horizon

Distinct layers within the soil profile that vary in composition and characteristics.

Sorting

The process of separating sediment grains by size, which can impact the characteristics of sedimentary rocks.

Accretionary Prism

A wedge-shaped accumulation of sediments formed at a convergent plate boundary, where one tectonic plate is forced under another.

Continental Drift

The movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other, theory proposed by Alfred Wegener.

Convergent Plate Boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates collide, often leading to mountain building or subduction.

Divergent Plate Boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates move apart, often resulting in the formation of new crust.

Hot-Spot Volcanoes

Volcanoes that form over a mantle plume, leading to volcanic activity in the middle of tectonic plates.

Mid-Ocean Ridge

An underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics, representing divergent boundaries.

Pangaea

A supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, when all landmasses were joined together.

Sea-Floor Spreading

The process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates pull apart.

Subduction

The process by which one tectonic plate moves under another plate and sinks into the mantle.

Transform Plate Boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates slide past one another.

Triple Junction

A point where three tectonic plates meet.

Granite

A common type of intrusive igneous rock composed mainly of quartz, feldspar, and mica.

Basalt

A common type of extrusive igneous rock formed from the solidification of lava.

Sedimentary Rock

Rocks formed by the accumulation and compaction of sediment.

Igneous Rock

Rocks formed from the cooling and solidification of molten magma.

Plutonic Rock

Another term for intrusive igneous rock, which cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface.

Volcanic Rock

Another term for extrusive igneous rock, which cools quickly at the Earth's surface.