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

Absolute age

Earth science; Geology

The approximate age of a geologic event, feature, fossil, or rock in years. 'Absolute' ages are determined by using natural radioactive 'clocks'. The preferred term is radiometric age.

Accretion

Earth science; Geology

The process by which the terrestrial planets grew, increasing their mass by gradually accumulating smaller bodies, called planetesimals.

Active volcano

Earth science; Geology

A volcano that has erupted within historical time and is likely to do so again in the future.

Ablation

Earth science; Geology

As applied to glacier ice, the process by which ice below the snow line is wasted by evaporation and melting.

Sedimentary rock composed of minerals that were precipitated from water. This process begins when water travelling through rock dissolves some of the minerals, carrying them away from their source. ...

Chlorite

Earth science; Geology

Family of platy silicate minerals containing various amounts of magnesium, iron, aluminum, water, and small amounts of other elements. Some mineralogists include chorites in the mica family because ...

Chemical weathering

Earth science; Geology

The process that changes the chemical makeup of a rock or mineral at or near the Earth's surface. Chemical weathering alters the internal structure of minerals by the removing and/or adding elements. ...