Geology 10 – Lecture Two: Rocks and Minerals

Practice flashcards on vocabulary related to rocks and minerals, including definitions of key terms related to geology.

Element

A fundamental substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances, consisting of atoms with a specific number of protons.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that maintains the properties of that element. It consists of a nucleus with protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons.

Isotope

Variants of a given atom that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more different elements bond together in fixed proportions.

Molecule

The smallest single, countable unit of a compound that consists of a specific bonded cluster of atoms.

Mineral

A naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance with a precise, non-varying composition.

Silicate

A major group of minerals that contain silica (a compound of silicon and oxygen) and are abundant in the Earth's crust.

Rock

A mixture of minerals classified by mineral content and texture, with major groups including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Igneous rock

Rock formed from the solidification of molten material, typically at high temperatures.

Sedimentary rock

Rock formed from the accumulation of sediment at or near Earth's surface.

Metamorphic rock

Rock that has changed from one type to another due to pressure, temperature, or chemical activity without melting.

Rock cycle

The continuous process of transformation of rocks from one type to another.

Inorganic compound

Compounds that do not contain carbon-carbon (C-C) or carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds.

Organic compound

Compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen and usually other elements, typically characterized by C-H bonds.

Geosphere

The solid part of the Earth that includes rocks, minerals, and sediments.