APES Chapter 8 Vocab
Ores
concentrated accumulations of minerals from which economically valuable materials can be extracted
Mantle
contains molten rock known as magma
metamorphic rock
existing are subjected to high temps and pressure
earthquakes
occur when the rocks of the lithosphere rupture unexpectedly along a fault
surface mining
removing minerals that are close to Earth's surface
mountain top removal
removing the entire top of a mountain with explosives
igneous rocks
rocks that form directly from magma
Deposition
the accumulation or depositing of eroded material such as sediment, rock fragments, or soil
Epicenter
The exact point on the surface of Earth directly above the location where rock ruptures during an earthquake.
subsurface mining
The extraction of mineral and energy resources from deep underground deposits (100 meters below the surface)
Lithosphere
upper mantle
C horizon
(parent material) the least weathered horizon and is similar to the parent material
B horizon
(subsoil) composed primarily of mineral material with very little organic matter
divergent boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.
transform boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions
convergent boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other.
Theory of Plate Tectonics
A theory stating that Earth's lithosphere is broken into huge plates that move and change in size over time.
E horizon
A zone of leaching, or eluviation, found in some acidic soils under the O horizon or, less often, the A horizon
crust
Earth's outermost layer.
Metals
Elements that are good conductors of electric current and heat.
extrusive igneous rock
Rock that forms when magma cools above the surface of Earth
O horizon
The organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition
Faults
a fracture in rock across which there is movement
Ritcher scale
a measure of the largest ground movement that occurs during an earthquake
open pit mining
a mining technique that uses a large visible pit or hole in the ground
Asthenosphere
bottom of the mantle semi molten rock
sedimentary rocks
form when sediments such as muds, sands, or gravels are compressed and cemented together by overlying sediments
intrusive igneous rock
form within Earth as magma rises up and cools in place underground
soil porosity
how quickly soil drains, depends on texture
placer mining
looking for metals and stones in river sediments
soil
mixture of dirt and organic components
Hotspots
places where molten material from the mantle reach the lithosphere
chemical weathering
the breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions
rock cycle
the constant formation and destruction of rock
core
the innermost zone of Earth's interior, composed mostly of iron and nickel. It includes a liquid outer layer and a solid inner layer.
physical weathering
the mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals
Texture
the percentage of sand, silt, and clay the soil contains
Erosion
the physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape or ecosystem
strip mining
the removal of strips of soil and rock to expose ore
A horizon
the topsoil layer that is a zone of overlying organic material and underlying mineral material
Weathering
when rocks are exposed to air, water, certain chemicals or biological agents that degrade the rock
