Rocks and Minerals - Introductory

This list is a real gem! If you dig geology, be sure to learn these essential terms related to rocks and minerals. Just review this list and the differences between igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock will be crystal clear.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. cleavage
    the act of splitting
  2. coarse-grained
    not having a fine texture
  3. compaction
    an increase in the density of something
  4. composition
    the way in which someone or something is put together
  5. conglomerate
    a composite rock made up of particles of varying size
  6. coral reef
    a reef consisting of coral consolidated into limestone
  7. crystal
    a solid having a highly regular atomic structure
  8. crystalline
    consisting of or containing or of the nature of crystals
  9. decay
    the organic phenomenon of rotting
  10. deformation
    alteration in the shape or dimensions of an object as a result of the application of stress to it
  11. density
    the amount per unit size
  12. deposit
    the phenomenon of sediment or gravel accumulating
  13. deposition
    the natural process of laying something down
  14. erosion
    the process of wearing or grinding something down
  15. extrusive
    forced while molten through cracks in the earth's surface
  16. fine-grained
    consisting of fine particles
  17. fissure
    a long narrow opening
  18. fluorescence
    light emitted during absorption of radiation of some other (invisible) wavelength
  19. foliated
    having thin leaflike layers or strata
  20. foliation
    (geology) the arrangement of leaflike layers in a rock
  21. fossil
    the remains of a plant or animal from a past geological age
  22. fracture
    a crack in the earth's crust
  23. gemstone
    a crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry
  24. geode
    a hollow rock with an interior cavity lined with crystals
  25. geologist
    a specialist in the history of the Earth recorded in rocks
  26. geology
    science of the history of the earth as recorded in rocks
  27. grain
    the physical composition of something
  28. hardness
    the property of being rigid and resistant to pressure
  29. igneous
    produced by the action of fire or intense heat
  30. inorganic
    relating or belonging to the class of compounds not having a carbon basis
  31. intrusive
    forced while molten into cracks between layers of other rock
  32. lava
    rock that in its molten form issues from volcanos
  33. loam
    a rich soil consisting of sand, clay and organic materials
  34. loess
    a fine accumulation of clay and silt deposited by the wind
  35. luster
    the property of something that shines with reflected light
  36. magma
    molten rock in the earth's crust
  37. metamorphic
    having undergone transformation by pressure, heat, etc.
  38. mineral
    a solid inorganic substance occurring in nature
  39. Mohs scale
    a scale of hardness of solids
  40. molten
    reduced to liquid form by heating
  41. opaque
    not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy
  42. ore
    a mineral that contains metal valuable enough to be mined
  43. organic
    relating to chemical compounds having a carbon basis
  44. pebble
    a small smooth rounded rock
  45. rock
    material consisting of the aggregate of minerals
  46. sediment
    matter that has been deposited by some natural process
  47. sedimentary
    formed by or containing the accumulation of deposited matter
  48. semiprecious
    used of gemstones having less commercial value than precious stones
  49. silica
    a white or colorless vitreous insoluble solid
  50. silt
    mud or clay or small rocks deposited by a river or lake
  51. stalactite
    a cylinder of calcium carbonate hanging from a cave roof
  52. stalagmite
    a cylinder of calcium carbonate projecting from a cave floor
  53. stratum
    one of several parallel layers of material
  54. texture
    the physical composition of something
  55. translucent
    allowing light to pass through diffusely
  56. transparency
    the quality of being clear
  57. transparent
    able to be seen through with clarity
  58. vein
    a layer of ore between layers of rock
  59. volcanic glass
    a kind of natural glass produced when molten lava cools very rapidly
  60. volcano
    a fissure in the earth's crust through which gases erupt
  61. weather
    change under the action or influence of the climate
Created on Thu Feb 16 17:03:23 EST 2017 (updated Wed Apr 12 15:46:34 EDT 2017)

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