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Year 10 Geology Terms and Definitions Geology Terms Tectonic plates Definitions Large pieces of the earth’s crust that are moving at different speeds and in different directions. Oceanic crust The thin part of the earth's crust which lies underneath the oceans. Continental crust The thicker part of the earth's crust which forms the large land masses. Convection currents Circular movements of molten rock in the mantle caused by magma, that has been heated by the core, rising and the cooler magma sinking. Magma Molten (liquid) rock beneath the crust. Lava Molten (liquid) rock above the crust. Fault A crack in the earth’s crust. Strike slip fault Where one side of the crust moves sideways past another piece of crust. Earthquake The sudden movement of tectonic plates caused by the build-up of pressure along the edge of the plates. Focus The place in the crust where the pressure is released in an earthquake. Epicentre The area of land directly above the focus. Richter scale The scale used to measure the magnitude (size) of an earthquake. Subduction When one plate is forced downwards underneath another plate. Volcano Where liquid rock rises up through a crack in the crust. Igneous rock Rock formed from cooled molten rock eg basalt. Sedimentary rock Rock formed from grains of eroded rock, plant and animal material, that has been pressed together eg limestone. Metamorphic rock Rock formed when sedimentary rock is buried deep in the earth’s crust where the temperature and pressure is very high eg slate and marble. Erosion The movement of soil, small stones and other material from one place to another by wind, water etc Weathering The breaking down or wearing down of rocks by natural processes such as ice, plant roots, chemicals, rain etc.