minerals A naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a definite chemical composition and crystal shape

inorganic Not formed from living things or the remains of living things

physical properties Can be observed or measured in order to describe or identify a substance

rock Hard substance made of one or more minerals

metamorphic rock Rock formed from heat, and pressure

igneous rock Rock formed when magma or lava cools and hardens

extrusive rock An igneous rock formed from a volcanic eruption

intrusive rock Formed from magma that has cooled and hardened inside the Earth

sedimentary rock Rock formed from the compacting and cementing of sediment

weathering The breaking down of rocks into sediment

sediment Fragmented material formed from rocks broken down by weathering

erosion Movement of sediment from one place to another

deposition Sediment is deposited, or laid down, in new places

compaction Sediment is squeezed together

cementation Sediment begins to stick together

rock cycle The continuous change of rocks from one type to another

uplift The process that moves large bodies of Earth’s material to higher elevations

Physical weathering The process that breaks down rocks and minerals without changing their compositions

Chemical weathering The process that changes the compostion of rocks and minerals due to exposure to the environment

Mass wasting The downhill movement of a large mass of rocks or soil due to gravity

glacier A large mass of ice that moves slowly across Earth’s surface

Thermal expansion/contraction The heating and cooling of rocks causing them to break