1. Chapter 5 “Earth’s Resources”
Science Vocabulary
Chapter 5 “Earth’s Resources”

2. mineral
a solid, natural material made from nonliving substances in the ground

3. luster
the way a mineral reflects light from its surface

4. hardness
a measure of how well a mineral resists scratching

5. Sedimentary rock
a rock that forms from sediments

6. Igneous rock
a rock that forms as the lava cools and hardens

7. Metamorphic Rock
a rock that forms when sedimentary and igneous rocks change under heat and pressure without melting

8. Rock cycle
the changing of rocks over time from one type to another

9. soil
a mixture of bits of rock and once living parts of plants and animals

10. Soil horizon
each layer of soil

11. humus
the part of the soil that is made of decayed organic materials

12. topsoil
the dark, top layer of soil, rich in humus and minerals, in which organisms live and most plants grow

13. pollution
the addition of harmful materials to soil, air, or water

14. conservation
the preservation or protection of natural resources

15. Fossil fuel
a fuel formed from the remains of ancient forms of life

16. Nonrenewable resource
a resource that cannot be replaced within a short period of time or at all

17. Renewable resource
a resource that can be replaced in a short period of time

18. reservoir
an artificial lake that is built to store water

19. smog
a type of air pollution formed by particles produced by burning fossil fuels

20. ozone
a form of oxygen that makes a layer in the atmosphere that screens out much of the Sun’s dangerous radiation

21. Alternative energy source
a source of energy other than the burning of a fossil fuel

22. recycle
to make new objects or materials from old objects or materials