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the brittle, rocky, least dense, outer layer of Earth
Crust
a naturally occurring solid composed of minerals, rock fragments, and sometimes other materials such as organic matter
Rock
material that forms when rocks are broken down into smaller pieces or dissolved in water.
Sediment
the process that moves large bodies of Earth materials to higher elevations
uplift
all the parts of Earth where there is life
biosphere
the thick middle layer in the solid part of Earth
Mantle
the individual particles in a rock
Grains
the process through which sediment turns into rock
Lithification
the layer of gases surrounding Earth
atmosphere
Earth's solid and molten rocks, soil and sediment
Geosphere
the rigid outermost layer of Earth that includes the uppermost mantle and crust
Lithosphere
molten or liquid rock underground
Magma
a characteristic of metamorphic rock that results when pressure causes flat minerals to line up, giving the rock a layered appearance
foliation
the dense metallic center of Earth
Core
a vent in Earth’s crust through which molten rock flows
Volcano
the solid layer of Earth’s mantle below the lithosphere that is so hot it behaves like a plastic material
Asthenosphere
molten rock that erupts on Earth's surface
Lava
the series of processes that change one type of rock into another type of rock
rock cycle
when transported sediment accumulates into layers, such as at the bottom of lakes, the ocean, along beaches, or in river valleys
deposition
system containing all the solid and liquid water on Earth
Hydrosphere
grain size and how the grains are arranged, for rocks
Texture
igneous rock that forms when lava cools and crystallizes on Earth's surface
Extrusive Rock
igneous rock that forms as magma cools underground
intrusive rock