Geology

epicenter

noun

/ɛ.pə.sɛn.tɜr/ or /e.pē.sen.tēr/

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

volcanology

noun

/vɑ:l.ka.nɑ:.lə.ʤi/ or /vaal.ka.naa.lē.ji/

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

caldera

noun

/kæl.dɛ.rə/ or /kāl.de.rē/

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

geothermal

Adjective

/ʤioʊ.θɜr.məl/ or /jiooo.thēr.mēl/

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connected with or produced by the heat inside the earth

basin

noun

/beɪ.sən/ or /bei.sēn/

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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

subduction

noun

/sʌb.dʌk.ʃən/ or /sab.dak.shēn/

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

mantle

noun

/mæn.təl/ or /mān.tēl/

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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

quarry

noun

/kwɔ.ri/ or /kvaw.ri/

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

fault

noun

/fɔlt/ or /fawlt/

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

bedrock

noun

/bɛd.rɑk/ or /bed.raak/

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

shale

noun

/ʃeɪl/ or /sheil/

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

basalt

noun

/bə.sɔlt/ or /bē.sawlt/

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

index fossil

noun

/ˈɪndɛks fˈɑːsəl/

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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

intrusion

noun

/ɪnt.ru.ʒən/ or /int.roo.zhēn/

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

igneous

Adjective

/ɪg.niəs/ or /ig.niēs/

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(of rock) formed from cooled magma or lava

metamorphic

Adjective

/mɛ.tə.mɔr.fɪk/ or /me.tē.mawr.fik/

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

tectonic

Adjective

/tɛk.tɑ:.nɪk/ or /tek.taa.nik/

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

to smelt

Verb

/smɛlt/ or /smelt/

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

slag

noun

/slæg/ or /slāg/

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

mesozoic

noun

/mɛ.sə.zoʊɪk/ or /me.sē.zoooik/

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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

quartzite

noun

/kwɔ:rt.saɪt/ or /kvawrt.sait/

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

argillite

noun

/ɑ:r.ʤɪl.laɪt/ or /aar.jil.lait/

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

olivine

noun

/ɑ.lə.vin/ or /aa.lē.vin/

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

pyroxene

noun

/paɪ.rɑk.sin/ or /pai.raak.sin/

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

kaolinite

noun

/keɪə.lɪ.naɪt/ or /keiē.li.nait/

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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

feldspar

noun

/fɛld.spɑr/ or /feld.spaar/

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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