Geology

Geology

The science that comprises the study of the solid Earth and the processes by which it is shaped and changed.

Industry: Earth science

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Geology

Magnetic reversals

Earth science; Geology

Earth's magnetic field occassionally "flips" or reverses polarity. This means that, if a polarity reversal happened today, your compass would point south instead of north!

A hill-like pile of rock rubble located on or deposited by a glacier. An end moraine forms at the terminus of a glacier. A terminal moraine is an end moraine at the farthest advance of the glacier. A ...

Magma chamber

Earth science; Geology

A body of molten rock and solid crystal mush beneath the Earth's surface. When this chamber cools and solidifies, it is called a pluton.

Magma

Earth science; Geology

Molten rock. Magma may be completely liquid or a mixture of liquid rock, dissolved gases and crystals. Molten rock that flows out onto the Earth's surface is called lava.

Mafic

Earth science; Geology

Referring to a generally dark-colored igneous rock with significant amounts of one or more ferromagnesian minerals, or to a magma with significant amounts of iron and magnesium.

Mantle

Earth science; Geology

That portion of the Earth below the crust and reaching to about 2,780 km, where a transition zone of about 100 km thickness separates it from the core.

Actinolite

Earth science; Geology

A bright to gray-green member of the amphibole mineral family. In addition to silica, it contains calcium, magnesium, and iron. Actinolite is a non-hazardous relative of asbestos and is a common ...