*s Largent* Environmental Science Ch 11 Terms

Front 1

Core

Back 1

interior of the earth; composed of a dense; hot mass of metal (mostly iron); it is divided into an inner & outer core - the inner core is a solid ball of iron with tremendous heat & pressure while the outer core is liquid/plasma with some heat & pressure; this immense area generates the magnetic field that envelops the earth; makes up 16% of the Earth’s volume and 31% of the Earth’s total mass.

Front 2

Mantle

Back 2

surrounding the core; a hot; pliable layer of rock; much less dense due to presence of oxygen; silicon; and magnesium; makes up 82% of the Earth’s volume and 68% of the Earth’s total mass.

Front 3

Crust

Back 3

outermost layer; that is cool; lightweight; brittle rock; thinnest of the Earth’s zones - 2% of the Earth’s volume and 1% of the Earth’s total mass; this is where all life is found; thickness varies from 6 - 40 miles; two categories of crust: oceanic (71% of the Earth) and continental (29% of the Earth).

Front 4

Tectonic plates

Back 4

huge blocks of the Earth’s crust that slide around slowly; pulling apart to open new ocean basins or crashing into each other to create new; larger landmasses.

Front 5

Mineral

Back 5

a naturally occurring; inorganic; crystalline solid with definite chemical composition; a specific internal crystal structure; and characteristic physical properties.

Front 6

Rock

Back 6

a solid; cohesive; aggregate of one or more crystalline minerals (i.e.; rocks are composed of one or more minerals).

Front 7

Rock cycle

Back 7

the process whereby rocks are broken down by chemical and physical forces; sediments are moved by wind; water; and gravity; sedimented and reformed into rock; and then crushed; folded; melted; and recrystallized into new forms. This is a method of natural recycling.

Front 8

Magma

Back 8

molten rock from deep in the Earth’s interior; it is called lava when it spews from volcanic vents.

Front 9

Igneous Rock

Back 9

crystalline minerals solidified from molten magma from deep in the Earth’s interior; these are formed under conditions with little/no water and high temperature and pressure; these are hard; non porous and have low reactivity; examples include granite; quartz; and feldspar.

Front 10

Sedimentary Rock

Back 10

composed of accumulated; compacted mineral fragments; such as sand and clay; these are soft; porous and chemically reactive; sedimentary rocks can also form from the compacted shells; skeletons; and other remains of dead organisms; examples include shale; limestone and sandstone.

Front 11

Metamorphic Rock

Back 11

igneous and sedimentary rocks modified by heat; pressure; and chemical reactions; examples include slate; marble and quartzite.

Front 12

Resource

Back 12

anything obtained from the living and nonliving environment to meet human needs and wants.

Front 13

Metals

Back 13

malleable substances that are useful and valuable because they are strong; relatively light; and can be reshaped for many purposes.

Front 14

Strategic Metals & Minerals

Back 14

materials a country cannot produce itself but that it - uses for essential materials or processes.

Front 15

Recycling

Back 15

reprocessing of discarded materials into new; useful products.