Advanced Academic IELTS Words for "Geology"

plate

noun

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l

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eɪ

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a large, rigid section of the Earth's lithosphere that moves, leading to geological activity like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

Example

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The Pacific Plate and the North American Plate interact along the "Ring of Fire," resulting in seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.

The African Plate and the South American Plate have a convergent boundary, contributing to the formation of the Andes Mountains.

tectonics

noun

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the scientific study of the Earth's lithosphere and the processes that shape its structure, including the movement of tectonic plates, earthquakes, and volcanic activity

fissure

noun

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(in geology) a narrow break or crack that partially divides a rock or surface without completely separating it

subduction

noun

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n

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

isostasy

noun

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the gravitational balance between Earth's rigid lithosphere and the underlying, semi-fluid asthenosphere, influencing variations in surface elevation

lithosphere

noun

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the Earth's rigid outer layer, made up of the crust and upper mantle, and divided into tectonic plates

asthenosphere

noun

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a layer of semi-fluid rock beneath the Earth's crust that allows tectonic plates to move

karst

noun

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a landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks, characterized by sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage systems

orogeny

noun

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the geological process of mountain building, usually occurring due to the collision or convergence of tectonic plates

geode

noun

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a hollow rock with a cavity inside, lined with crystals or mineral material, formed through natural processes and often valued for its aesthetic qualities

kimberlite

noun

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a volcanic rock that often contains diamonds, formed during explosive eruptions from the Earth's mantle, and is of particular interest in diamond exploration and mining

glaciation

noun

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eɪ

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ieɪ

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n

the geological process involving the expansion and movement of glaciers, shaping landscapes through erosion, deposition, and the formation of distinctive glacial landforms

moraine

noun

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a deposit of rocks, sediment, and glacial material left by a moving glacier, forming distinctive landforms along its edges or terminus

drumlin

noun

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n

a streamlined, elongated hill formed by glacial action, with a teardrop shape and the steeper end facing the direction of ice movement

seismology

noun

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the scientific study of earthquakes and seismic waves, providing insights into Earth's interior, tectonic plate movement, and earthquake hazards

caldera

noun

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

diagenesis

noun

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the physical and chemical changes occurring in sediments between their deposition and their consolidation into sedimentary rock

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