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| the part of the Earth that starts beneath the surface and extends downward. It consists largely of an iron-rich metallic alloy and is thought to have a two-part structure: an outer fluid region and a solid, extremely dense inner region |
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| That part of the Earth that lies beneath the crust and above the central core; Predominant in the rock material |
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| Molten or partially molten rock from which igneous rocks form, usually consisting of silicate liquid. |
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| heat is transferred by movement of a heated fluid such as air or water |
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| Molten rock originating as magma in the Earth's mantle that pours out onto the Earth's surface through volcanic vents |
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| Outermost solid part of the Earth, essentially composed of a range of igneous and metamorphic rock types |
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| is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere |
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| A geologic process in which one edge of one crustal plate is forced below the edge of another |
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| Hypothetical protocontinent that supposedly covered about half the Earth and was completely surrounded by a world ocean called Panthalassa. |
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| Any naturally occurring homogeneous solid that has a definite (but not fixed) chemical composition and a distinctive internal crystal structure |
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| naturally occurring and coherent aggregate of minerals |
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| describes the formation, breakdown, and reformation of a rock as a result of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic processes |
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| The oldest type of all rocks; formed when magma cools and solidifies. |
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| types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water |
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| when chemical and physical agents gradually break down rock. |
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| when sedimentary or ugneous rocks are transformed under intense heat and pressure. |
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| Strategic Metals and Minerals |
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Definition
| Minerals a country cannot produce itself, yet are essentail for that country. |
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| involves washing pure nuggets from stream sediments using pans or a hose to spray the riverbed. |
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| For ore bodies that lie a considerable distance below the surface |
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| uses trucks to dig huge pits terraced with long ridges. |
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| a bank of excavated refuse or waste earth, as of shale from surface coal mining |
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| Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act |
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Definition
| calls for better restoration techniques in mining, such as filling in pit mines. |
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Definition
| Heating ore up to high temperatures to separate out pure metals. |
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Definition
| uses chemicals to extract pure metals from ore. |
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