Ciencias Naturales SAT - Geology

a scientist who studies the Earth's structure, composition, processes, and history, including rocks, minerals, fossils, and geological phenomena

geólogo

a scientist who specializes in the study of earthquakes and seismic waves, investigating their causes, effects, and patterns

sismólogo

the point on the surface of the earth vertically above the focus of an earthquake where its effects are felt most strongly

epicentro

an earthquake caused by underground movement or volcanic activity

temblor, terremoto

a small or slight earthquake

temblor

a branch of geology that focuses on the study of volcanoes, volcanic activity, and related phenomena

volcanología

the sudden outburst of lava and steam from a volcanic mountain

erupción

a type of broad, gently sloping volcano formed by the eruption of low-viscosity basaltic lava

volcán en escudo, volcán de escudo

a large, basin-shaped volcanic crater formed by the collapse of a volcano after a massive eruption

caldera, caldeira

liquid or semi-liquid rock that exists under the earth's surface with an extremely hot temperature

magma

particles of rock, minerals, or organic materials that have been transported by wind, water, or ice, and deposited in layers on the Earth's surface

sedimento, depósito

a visible exposure of rock or geological strata at the Earth's surface, often occurring on hillsides, cliffs, or other elevated areas, providing insight into the underlying geological structure

afloramiento, exposición de rocas

connected with or produced by the heat inside the earth

geotérmico

a large, bowl-shaped depression or low-lying area on the Earth's surface, typically surrounded by higher landforms and often filled with sedimentary deposits

cuenca, bajo

the thick, buoyant part of the Earth's crust that forms the continents, composed mainly of granitic rocks and less dense than oceanic crust

corteza continental, corteza terrestre continental

a landmass that existed in the geological past

paleocontinente, continente antiguo

a geological process where one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the Earth's mantle

subducción, subducción tectónica

the region of the Earth's interior, lying beneath the crust and extending to the outer core, composed of solid rock that can deform and flow over geological time scales

manto

a site where large quantities of rock, stone, or minerals are extracted from the Earth's crust for industrial use or construction purposes

cantera, mina

a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, along which there has been significant displacement due to tectonic forces

falla, zona de fallo

solid rock beneath surface materials, forming the Earth's crust foundation

roca madre, base sólida

a type of fine-grained sedimentary rock made from compacted clay or mud particles, known for its ability to split into thin layers

pizarra

a type of dark, fine-grained igneous rock formed from cooled lava, characterized by its dense composition and typically dark gray to black color

basalto

a fossilized organism that is useful for dating and correlating the strata in which it is found, typically indicative of a particular time period in Earth's geological history

fósil índice, fósil guía

(geology) the injection of magma into existing rock formations underground

intrusión, inyección de magma

a method used to determine the age of rocks and minerals by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes present in them

datación radiométrica, método de datación radiométrica

(of rock) formed from cooled magma or lava

ígneo, magmático

related to rocks transformed by intense heat, pressure, or chemical processes, altering their mineral composition and texture

metamórfico, relacionado con la metamorfosis

relating to the movement and arrangement of the Earth's crust

tectónico

to extract metal from its ore by heating and melting it in a furnace

fundir

the byproduct of smelting ore that forms a glass-like material, often found as a residue in mining and metalworking activities

escoria, slag

the period of time from about 252 to 66 million years ago, characterized by the dominance of dinosaurs and the gradual breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea

mesozoico

a durable and visually appealing natural rock used for countertops, flooring, and other architectural applications

granito, piedra de granito

a tough type of rock that starts as sandstone but changes under intense heat and pressure underground, becoming very hard and durable

cuarcita

a type of rock formed from clay minerals that have been compressed and hardened over time, creating a dense and often smooth-textured material

argilita

a mineral with a greenish hue, commonly found in igneous rocks like basalt and peridotite, known for its high magnesium and iron content

olivino, mineral olivino

a hard gray or white rock that contains calcium and is used for making cement or as a building material

caliza, piedra caliza

a group of minerals found in igneous and metamorphic rocks, typically dark in color and composed of silica, magnesium, and iron

piroxeno

a soft, white clay mineral formed from the weathering of aluminum-rich rocks, used widely in ceramics, paper production, and as a filler in some medications

caolin

a group of minerals that are the most abundant components in the Earth's crust, known for their hardness and varied colors, often used in ceramics and glassmaking

feldespato