SAT Sciences Naturelles - Geology

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

géologue

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

sismologue

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

épicentre

an earthquake caused by underground movement or volcanic activity

tremblement de terre

a small or slight earthquake

tremblement

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

volcanologie

the sudden outburst of lava and steam from a volcanic mountain

éruption

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

volcan en bouclier

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

caldera

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

sédiment

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

affleurement

connected with or produced by the heat inside the earth

géothermique

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

bassin

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

croûte continentale

a landmass that existed in the geological past

paléocontinent

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

subduction

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

manteau

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

carrière

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

faille

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

roche de base

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

schiste

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

basalte

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

fossile repère

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

intrusion granitique

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

datation radiométrique

(of rock) formed from cooled magma or lava

igné

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

métamorphique

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

tectonique

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

fondre

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

scorie

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

mésozoïque

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

granite

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

quartzite

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

argilite

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

olivine

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

calcaire

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

pyroxène

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

kaolinite

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

feldspath