Definitions

Carat- a measurement used by jewlers to weigh gem stones

Cleavage- the tendency of certain minerals to break in certain set planes related to their mineral structure

Crystals- solid substances with molecules arranged in regular repeating patterns

Dormant- not active

Extrusive igneous rock- igneous rock that cools on the outside of the crust

Facats- smooth polished surfaces of a gem created by jewelers to increase a stone's ability to reflect light and enhance its value

Fossils- traces of past life recorded in rocks

Geologist- a person who studies earth science

Igneous- a rock originating from hot molten rock

Inorganic- not alive

Intrusive igneous rock- igneous rock that cools beneath the crust

Kimberlite- igneous rock found in dormant volcano pipes containing minerals such as diamonds

Magma- hot molten rock

Metamorphic rocks- formed from both sedimentary and igneous rocks caused by pressure and heat from the earth, water action and the effect of hot magma on old rocks

Micropaleontology- the study of very tiny fossils called microfossils

Mineral- formed from earth's chemicals, solid and inorganic

Moh's scale- a scale for determining a mineral's hardness developed by Friedrich Mohs. The scale is from 1 to 10, with talc as the softest at 1 and diamonds the hardest at 10.

Molten- hot liquid rock

Ore- a mineral or rock that contains a metal in a high enough concentration to make mining it worthwhile

Paleontology- the study of fossils

Petrology- the study fo rocks

Plate Tectonics- the concept of the movement of major land masses due to internal earth forces

Pyroclastics- particles of hot debris produced by a volcano during an eruption

Rock- a mineral or mixture of minerals

Sedimentary- rocks formed from the weathering of both igneous and metamorphic rocks

Specific Gravity- a test used to identify a mineral by determining the weight of a rock in relation to its size

Strata- layers of different rock

Streak- a test used to identify a mineral by scraping it across an unglazed white tile and checking the color that is left on the tile

Vent- in a volcano, the opening to the crust through which lava flows

Weathering- the process of breaking down rocks due to the natural forces of heat, water, wind and internal earth forces and chemicals

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