Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
34 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Geology |
The study of Earth's physical features, processes, and history |
|
|
Core |
The center of the inside of the earth consisting mostly of iron. Solid in the inner core and molten in the outer core
|
|
|
Mantle |
Thick layer of dense elastic rock surrounding the core
|
|
|
Lithosphere |
Hard rock above the asthenosphere that includes both the uppermost mantle and the entirety of earths third major layer
|
|
|
Plate Tectonics |
15 sections of earths crust that cause earthquakes and influence landscape
|
|
|
Divergent Plate Boundries |
Area where tectonic plates push apart from one another as magma rises up to the surface creating new little sphere as it cools and spreads
|
|
|
Magma |
Rock heated to a molten liquid state |
|
|
Transform Plate Boundary |
Two plates sliding alongside each other creating a friction that may lead to an earthquake |
|
|
Convergent Plate Boundary |
One plate is subjected beneath another leading to volacanoism or colliding plates may result to mountains |
|
|
Subduction |
The process where one tectonic plate slides beneath another |
|
|
Rock Cycle |
The alternation of rocks going through transformations of heating, cooling, cooled, broken down, and reassembled over time |
|
|
Rock |
Any solid aggregation of minerals |
|
|
Mineral |
any naturally occurring solid element or inorganic compound with a crystal structure, a specific chemical composition, and distinct physical properties. |
|
|
Lava |
Magma released through the lithosphere from a volcanic eruption that flows across earths surface |
|
|
igneous rock |
Rock that forms when lava cools |
|
|
Sediments |
Particles of rock blown by wind or was he away by water coming to rest downhill, downstream, or downwind from their sources |
|
|
Sedimentary rock |
formed as sediments that are physically pressed together and as dissolved minerals seep through sediments and act as a kind of glue, binding sediment particles |
|
|
metamorphic rock |
when rock is subjected to heat or pressure and altering its form |
|
|
Volcano |
Where molten rock, hot gas, or ash erupts through Earth's surface |
|
|
Tsunami |
An immense swell or wave of water that can travel thousands of mikes across oceans |
|
|
mining |
Systematic removal of rock, soil, or other material for the purpose of extracting minerals of economic interest |
|
|
metal |
type of chemical element that is typically lustrous, opaque, malleable, and can conduct heat and electricity |
|
|
Ore |
a mineral or grouping of minerals from which we extract metals |
|
|
Smelting |
heating ore beyond its melting point and combining it with other metals or chemicals |
|
|
tailings |
portions of ore left over after metals have been extracted in mining |
|
|
surface impoundments |
a disposal method for hazardous waste or mining waste in which waste in liquid or slurry form is placed into a shallow depression lined with impervious material such as clay |
|
|
Strip mining |
Where layers of surface soil and rock are removed from large areas to expose the resource |
|
|
Subsurface mining |
shafts are excavated deep into the ground and networks of tunnels are dug or blasted out to follow deposits of mineral |
|
|
acid drainage |
when sulfide minerals in a newly exposed rock surfaces react with oxygen and rainwater to produce sulfuric acid |
|
|
open pit mining |
involves digging a gigantic hole and removing the desired ore along with waste rock that surrounds the ore |
|
|
Placer mining |
Sifting through material in modern or ancient riverbed deposits using running water to separate lightweight mud and gravel from heavier minerals of value |
|
|
mountaintop removal mining |
Where several hundred vertical feet of mountaintop may be removed to allow recovery of entire seams of the resource |
|
|
reclamation |
to restore the site to its condition before mining |
|
|
General Mining Act of 1872 |
Encourages people and companies to prospect for minerals on federally owned land by allowing any US citizen or any company with permission to do business in the United States to stake a claim on any plot of public land open to mining
|
