Earth's Materials Flashcards
Definitions from the N5 unit
What is weathering?
The exposure and breaking down of rocks in situ at the Earth’s surface over geological time due to interaction with the atmosphere.
What is transportation in geology?
The movement of rock fragments by water, wind, ice or gravity from the place where they were originally weathered.
What is erosion?
The breaking down of rock fragments into smaller pieces and sediments due to collision with other rock fragments during transportation.
What is deposition?
The settling out of rock fragments and sediments after transportation by water, wind, ice or gravity.
What is an igneous rock?
Rock that forms through the cooling of molten rock (magma) to a solid form in the upper crust or on the surface of the Earth.
What is sedimentary rock?
Rock that is formed from weathered rock fragments and sediments that have been eroded, transported, deposited, compacted and cemented.
What is metamorphic rock?
Rock that has been subjected to heat and/or pressure, permanently altering the minerals or internal structure.
What is a rock?
A solid mass made of one or more minerals.
What is a mineral?
An element or chemical compound formed as a result of rock cycle processes.
What is an ore?
A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted profitably.
What is porosity?
A measure of a rock’s ability to hold fluid.
What is permeability?
A measure of the amount of water allowed to pass through a rock.
What is evaporation?
The process of turning from liquid into vapour or gas.
What is condensation?
The process of a vapour or gas turning into a liquid.
What is precipitation?
Moisture that falls from the air to the ground (rain, snow, sleet, hail, drizzle, fog, mist).
What is transpiration?
The evaporation of water from plants’ leaves, stems or flowers.
What is run-off?
The precipitation that flows across the surface of the ground.
What is infiltration?
The physical movement of water through soil (relative to the soil’s porosity and permeability).
What is percolation?
The movement of water through soil by gravity and capillary forces.
What is throughflow?
The horizontal flow of water within soil.
What is groundwater?
Water that occupies pore spaces in soil and bedrock.
What is groundwater flow?
The movement of groundwater horizontally.
What is biomass?
The mass of living or recently living plants or animals.
What are biofuels?
Combustible biomass or fuels derived from biomass.
What is the Natural Greenhouse Effect?
The process by which radiation reflected from the Earth’s surface is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere and prevented from escaping into space, thus keeping the Earth warmer than it would otherwise be.
