rocks Flashcards
any of the inorganic elements that are essential to the functioning of the human body and are obtained from foods.
minerals
the outermost layer of the Earth.
lithosphere
a very hot mixture of molten rock and gases, just below the Earth’s surface.
magma
material broken down by weathering and erosion that is moved by wind or water.
sediments
elements found uncombined in the Earth’s crust
native elements
substance made up of atoms and molecules
crystals
appearance of a mineral caused by the way it reflects light.
lustre
colour of a mineral as a fine powder, found by rubbing it onto an unglazed white ceramic tile
streak
a measure of how difficult it is to scratch the surface of a solid material.
hardness
the gradual destruction or diminution of something
erosion
denoting rocks composed of broken pieces of older rocks.
clastic
a distinct compound or substance
chemical
relating to or derived from living matter.
organic
the remains or impression of a prehistoric plant or animal embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form.
fossils
the process that changes rocks by extreme pressure or heat (or both)
metamorphism
rock formed from another rock that has been under great heat or pressure (or both)
metamorphic rocks
a fine-grained metamorphic rock formed as a result of moderate heat and pressure on shale
slate
a metamorphic rock formed as a result of great pressure on limestone
marble
a coarse-grained metamorphic rock formed mainly as a result of great pressure on granite
gneiss
a metamorphic rock formed as a result of great pressure on limestone
marble
any remains, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of a former geological age; evidence of life in the past
fossil
a scientist who studies fossils
palaeontologists
the age of a rock compared with the age of another rock
relative age
cavity in a rock that shows the shape of the hard parts of an organism; types of fungi found growing on the surface of foods
mould
fossils that provide evidence, such as footprints, that an organism was present when the rock was formed
trace fossils
describes volcanoes that are no longer active. Extinct volcanoes have not erupted for thousands of years and show no sign of future eruption.
extinct
rocks mined to obtain a metal or other chemical within them
mineral ores
extraction of natural resources from the Earth
mining
study of the possible effects of a planned project on the environment
environmental impact statement (EIS)
estored to its previous condition
rehabilitated
waste rock removed from below the topsoil. This rock is replaced when the area is restored.
overburden
waste rock removed from below the topsoil. This rock is replaced when the area is restored.
overburden
mining that uses shafts and tunnels to remove rock from deep below the surface
underground mining
rocks formed from sediments deposited by water, wind or ice. The sediments are cemented together in layers, under pressure.
sedimentary rocks
flat, open land beside a river where sediments are deposited during floods
floodplains
large bodies of ice that move down slopes and push boulders, rocks and gravel in front of them
glaciers
deposit left by movement of a glacier
moraines
a sedimentary rock with medium-sized grains. The sand grains are cemented together by silica, lime or other salts.
sandstone
a fine-grained, sedimentary rock without layering
mudstone
a fine-grained sedimentary rock formed in layers by the consolidation of clay
shale
a sedimentary rock with a particle size between that of sandstone and mudstone
siltstone
sedimentary rock containing large particles of various sizes cemented together
conglomerate
a sedimentary rock formed from the remains of sea organisms. It consists mainly of calcium carbonate.
limestone
a sedimentary rock formed from dead plants and animals that were buried before rotting completely
coal
a sedimentary deposit formed when a salt lake or seabed dried up. Its main chemical is sodium chloride.
rock salt
