CEFR C2 Vocabulary - Geology

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

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

a narrow break or division that does not completely separate or divide something

the geological process where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another at convergent boundaries, leading to the recycling of oceanic crust, formation of deep ocean trenches, volcanic arcs, and seismic activity

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

the rigid outer layer of Earth, composed of the crust and upper mantle, divided into tectonic plates, and integral to plate tectonics and geological processes

a semi-fluid layer beneath the Earth's rigid lithosphere in the upper mantle, characterized by partial molten and ductile properties, influencing the movement of tectonic plates and contributing to geological processes

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

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

a complete change in the form and structure of a rock as a result of heat and pressure

the process by which particles settle out of a liquid or gas due to gravity, forming a sediment layer

the movement or displacement along a fracture in the Earth's crust, resulting from tectonic forces, which can lead to earthquakes

a layer of rock or sediment that stores and transmits groundwater

a hard lump or mass formed in sedimentary rock by natural cementing processes

a large igneous intrusion formed from magma that solidified underground, typically found in the Earth's crust

a fast-moving mixture of volcanic ash, debris, and water

(geology) the bending or deformation of rock layers due to compressional forces

the process during which a building or piece of land sinks to a lower level or to the ground

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

(geology) the fine-grained material surrounding larger rock fragments or grains within a sedimentary rock

(of rock) formed from cooled magma or lava