Sediments, Sedimentary Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks and Earthquakes

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about sediments, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, and earthquakes.

Sediments

Loose rock/mineral fragments or shell/crystal materials formed by weathering.

Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed from consolidated sediments.

Metamorphic Rock

Rock that has been changed by heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.

Earthquake

Vibration of the Earth produced by the rapid release of energy.

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks and minerals at the Earth’s surface.

Physical Weathering

Physical disintegration of rocks into smaller pieces.

Chemical Weathering

Chemical alteration of rocks and minerals.

Differential Weathering

Weathering that occurs at different rates on different parts of a rock.

Soil Formation

The process of soil formation.

Erosion

Transportation of weathered materials.

Lithification

The process of sediments becoming solid rock.

Breccia

Sedimentary rock composed of angular fragments.

Conglomerate

Sedimentary rock composed of rounded gravel-sized fragments.

Arkose

A type of sandstone with abundant feldspar.

Shale

Fine-grained sedimentary rock formed from mud.

Metamorphism

Solid-state change in composition or texture of a rock due to heat, pressure, or fluids.

Protolith

The original, unmetamorphosed rock.

Neocrystallization

A metamorphic process involving the growth of new minerals.

Foliated Rock

A type of metamorphic rock with a layered or banded appearance.

Slate

A low-grade foliated metamorphic rock.

Schist

A medium-grade foliated metamorphic rock with visible mica.

Gneiss

A high-grade foliated metamorphic rock with compositional banding.

Migmatite

A very high-grade metamorphic rock that is partially melted.

Nonfoliated Rock

Metamorphic rocks that lack a layered or banded appearance.

Quartzite

A nonfoliated metamorphic rock formed from sandstone.

Hypocenter

The point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.

Epicenter

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

Fault

A fracture in the Earth's crust where movement has occurred.

Normal Fault

A fault where the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall.

P-waves

Seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior.