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Geology related definitions
aa: a lava flow with a rubbly surface.
ablation: the removal of ice at the toe of a glacier by melting, sublimation and/or calving.
absolute plate velocity: the movement of a plate relative to a fixed point in the mantle.
abyssal plan: a broad, relatively flat region of the ocean that lies at least 4.5 km below sea level.
adiabatic cooling /heating: cooling or heating of a body of matter without the addition or subtraction of thermal energy (heat).
allochem: ooids, peloids, oncolites, pellets, fossil or pre-existing carbonate fragments found in carbonate rocks.
alluvium: unconsolidated geological materials accumulated as a result of streams and rivers pouring out to sea, larger water deposit or land.
anticline: a fold with an arch-like shape in which the limbs dip away from the hinge.
aquiclude: asediment or rock that do not transmit water.
aquifer: sediment or rock that transmit water.
aquitard: sediment or rock that transmit water slowly therefore retards the motion of the water.
bar: (1) sheet or elongate lens or mound of alluvium; (2) unit of air pressure equals to 1 atm.
contact metamorphism: around intrusive igneous rocks as a result of the temperature increase caused by the intrusion of magma into cooler country rock causing the country rock surrounding the magma to under go metamorphism.
Darcy's law: mathematical equation where volume of water passing through a specified area of material at a given time, depends on the material's permeability and hydraulic gradient.
decompression melting: melting of rocks that occurs when hot mantel rock rises to shallower depths in the Earth causing pressure to decrease while temperature do not change.
dike: a tabular aka wall-shaped intrusion of rock that cuts across the layering of country rock.
dip-slip fault: a fault in which sliding occurs up or down the slope (dip) of the fault.
Doppler effect: phenomenon which the frequency of wave energy appears to change when a moving source of wave energy passes an observer.
electron affinity: the energy released when an electron added to an atom or molecule. also readGeochemistry
eolian (transport): a type of transport where sediment particles are transported by wind.
eon: larget subdivision of geologic time.
erosion: : grinding away and removal of Earth's surface materials by moving water, air, or ice.
floodplain: the flat land on either side of a stream that becomes covered with water during a flood.
fluvial deposit: sediment deposited in a stream channel, along a stream a stream bank, or on a floodplain.
foliation: layering formed as a result of the alignment of mineral grains, or of compositional banding in a metamorphic rock.
geology: study of the Earth (sometimes other planets), its history and nature of materials. (I am NOT sure about this one!)
hydraulic conductivity: K in Darcy's law, where permeability of the rocks and fluid's viscosity is used to calculate it.
igneous rock: hot molten rock of magma or lava solidify as a result of cooling to form a rock.
lava: hot molten rock on the Earth's surface.
magma: hot molten rock under the Earth's surface.
metamorphic rock: forms due to increase in pressure and temperature on preexisting rocks.
mineral: "a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic defined chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties." (according to the professional standards)
oceanic crust: composed of gabbro and basalt, an overlain by sediment beneath the oceans.
ore: rocks containing native metals or ore minerals.
ore deposit: an area with a significant accumulation of ore.
oxbow lake: a mender that has been cut off yet remains filled with water.
peat: compacted partially decayed vegetation accumulating beneath a swamp.
PPL: plane polarized light; used in mineralogy and other areas where microscopes are used to identify minerals. Most minerals behaves differently in XPL compared to PPL. also readXPL
REE: rare earth elements; 17 elements found on Earth which includes, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. also readREE
rock: a stupid rock? I have no idea what's a rock and what is not? I will update this soon. Stupid f**king rocks.
sedimentary rock: forms due to cementation of preexisting rock fragments and/or by precipitation of minerals out of solutions at or near the Earth's surface.
state function: depends only on the current state of a system and is independent of the path which the state was achieved. Ex. internal energy, enthalpy, entropy.
structure: from the Latin word Stracere which means to build. It is defined as a fundamental, tangible or intangible notion referring to the recognition, observation, nature, and permanence of patterns and relationships of entities.
structural geology: the study of deformation of lithospheric structures in three demention (3D) by scientific means to underrstand the geometry, distribution and formation.
syncline: a trough-shaped fold whose limbs dip toward the hinge.
tectonics: the structures within the lithosphere of the Earth, which has several 'broken' pieces of crust.
TOT: tetraheral - octahedral - tetrahedral. Related to silicate structure.
XPL: cross-polarized light; used in mineralogy and other areas where microscopes are used to identify minerals. Most minerals behaves differently in XPL compared to PPL. also readPPL
Like many other parts of this site, this list is still under development. Please check back for updates.
Secure Science