Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9) - Geology

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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