1. Physical Geography
Key Terms (pt 1)

2. Plate Tectonics
Theory which states that the earth’s outer shell consists of plates that move causing earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains and the formation of new crust.

3. Erosion
Wearing away of earth’s surface followed by the movement to other locations of materials that have worn away.

4. Fossils
Imprint in rock of the remains of a plant or animal that lived millions of years ago

5. Geologic time
History of the earth from its formation to the present. The earth’s history may be divided into several major time periods, called eras.

6. Eras
Major division of geologic time (for example, the Paleozoic era)

7. Canadian Shield
Large area of Precambrian rock that forms the core of Canada.

8. Folding
Bending of rock layers

9. Faulting
Movement along a crack (fault) or cracks in the earth’s crust

10. Igneous Rock
Rock formed from cooling molten rock (magma or lava)

11. Metamorphic Rock
Type of rock formed when sedimentary and igneous rocks are subjected to great heat and pressure

12. Sedimentary Rock
Rock usually formed in layers from the compression of sediments over millions of years.

13. Ice Age
Period or time when freezing temperatures created ice sheets across continents. Glaciers covered most of Canada and northern U.S. The last Ice Age ended between 6000 and years ago.

14. Glaciers
Slow moving mass of ice.