Earths Outer Shell
lithosphere
the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
sedimentary rock
rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have been transported, deposited, compacted and cemented.
erosion
the transportation of material by a mobile agent, such as wind, water, or ice
epicenter
the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
divergent boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.
asthenosphere
The soft upper layer of the mantle just below the lithosphere. Lithospheric plates float on top of it.
metamorphic rock
rock formed by the alteration of preexisting, solid rock deep within the Earth by heat, pressure, and/or chemically active fluids
loose particles created by weathering and erosion of rock
fault
a fracture in Earth along which movement has occurred
convergent boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other.
mineral
a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition
magma
A body of molten rock found at depth, including any dissolved gases and crystals.
renewable resource
A natural resource that can be replaced at the same or below rate at which the resource is consumed
seismic wave
vibrations that travel through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
transform boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions
rock
A naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals or organic matter
lava
magma that reaches Earth's surface
nonrenewable resource
A natural resource that is consumed faster or above the rate in which it is replaced.
seismograph
A device that records ground movements caused by seismic waves as they move through Earth
hot spot
a concentration of heat in the mantle capable of producing magma, which rises to Earth's surface
igneous rock
a rock formed by the crystallization of molten magma
viscosity
A liquid's resistance to flowing -or- the thickness of a liquid
focus
The point beneath Earth's surface where rock breaks under stress and causes an earthquake
seafloor spreading
the process by which plate tectonics produces new oceanic lithosphere at ocean ridges
mechanical weathering
The process in which rock is physically broken into smaller pieces; no change in rock composition.