Plate tectonics
Large pieces of Earth’s lithosphere that move
What are tectonic plates
A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a crystal structure
What is a mineral
Movement of sediment from one place to another
What is erosion
Preserved remains or traces of organisms
What is a fossil
Sudden shaking of Earth’s surface
What is an earthquake
Plates move apart at this boundary
What is a divergent boundary
Rock formed from cooled magma or lava
What is an igneous rock
Breakdown of rock into smaller pieces
What is weathering
Dating rocks based on their position/layers
What is relative dating
Eruption of magma onto Earth’s surface
What is a volcano
Plates collide at this boundary
What is a convergent boundary
Rock formed from compacted sediments
What is a sedimentary rock
Dropping of sediments
What is deposition
Dating rocks using radioactive decay
What is absolute dating
Large ocean wave caused by underwater disturbance
What is a tsunami
Plates slide past each other here
What is a transform boundary
Rock changed by heat and pressure
What is a metamorphic rock
Water stored underground in pores and cracks
What is groundwater
Continuous process rocks go through changing types
What is the rock cycle
Rapid movement of rock or soil downhill
What is a landslide
This force drives plate movement
What is mantle convection
Scale used to measure mineral hardness
What is the Mohs hardness scale
The upper surface of groundwater
What is the water table
Timeline of Earth’s history divided into eras
What is the geologic time scale
Sudden release of energy along a fault
What causes earthquakes