Earth Science Review: Earth Systems, Minerals, and Rock Processes

Vocabulary flashcards covering key Earth science terms related to Earth's systems, minerals, rocks, and surface processes.

Presence of water

Earth's abundant liquid water enabling life.

Earth's uniqueness

Only planet that has life.

Moderate temperature on Earth

Achieved by the combination of Earth's atmosphere and its distance from the Sun.

Oxygen provision by Earth

Earth's atmosphere and photosynthesis provide oxygen for living beings.

Carbon

An essential element for all organic molecules and life.

Sun

Not a sub-system of Earth.

Lithosphere and Biosphere

The soil/rock region (lithosphere) and the living world (biosphere) that interact, including where plants grow.

Volcanic eruption effects on atmosphere

Releases large amounts of gases and ash into the atmosphere.

Hydrosphere and Lithosphere

Sub-systems involved when humans collect and manage water for agriculture.

Oceans, rivers, and lakes

Bodies of liquid water that are part of the hydrosphere.

Mineral identification properties

Color, luster, hardness, and streak used to identify minerals.

Luster

Property of a mineral that reflects light.

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces by physical or chemical processes (often aided by organisms like tree roots).

Mohs scale

A scale used to rank minerals by hardness.

Talc

A mineral with Mohs hardness of 1; the softest mineral on the scale.

Sedimentary rock

Rock formed from the accumulation and cementation of sediments.

Metamorphic rock

Rock formed from existing rocks transformed by heat and pressure.

Metamorphic rocks

Rocks that have undergone metamorphism due to heat and pressure.

Igneous rocks

Rocks formed from cooled molten rock (magma or lava).

Wind erosion

Erosion caused by wind moving over soil and rocks.

Weathering

Rocks broken down into smaller pieces by weathering processes.

Erosion

Movement and transport of weathered rock materials away from their source.

Deposition

Process of sediments being dropped off or settled in a new location.

Sedimentation

The accumulation of sediments as they settle out of suspension.

Post-erosion sediment fate

Deposition and sedimentation follow erosion, forming new sediment layers.