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The planet we live on: The beginnings of the Earth Sciences

The planet we live on: The beginnings of the Earth Sciences

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Crustal shortening This results <strong>of</strong> folding and/or faulting under compressi<strong>on</strong>al forces;as a result, <strong>the</strong> surface rocks occupy less spaceCuesta An asymmetrical ridge in <strong>the</strong> landscape that typically forms where a tough rockwith a shallow dip (<strong>of</strong> usually less than 10°) overlies a <str<strong>on</strong>g>we</str<strong>on</strong>g>aker rock; also called anescarpmentCurrent ripple marks N<strong>on</strong>-symmetrical ripple marks formed by flowing water or wind;<strong>the</strong> steeper slope is in <strong>the</strong> down-current directi<strong>on</strong>Cuttings Wide, deep trenches excavated through hills or ridges for transportati<strong>on</strong> routesDebris flow <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> downhill flow <strong>of</strong> debris from a landslide; debris flows c<strong>on</strong>tain coarsermaterial than mudflowsDeep focus earthquake An earthquake that originates bet<str<strong>on</strong>g>we</str<strong>on</strong>g>en 300 and 700 km below<strong>the</strong> surface; <strong>the</strong>se occur <strong>on</strong>ly at destructive c<strong>on</strong>vergent plate margins, where platesare subductedDeep mine (mine) An underground excavati<strong>on</strong>, usually for metal ores, o<strong>the</strong>r mineralsor coal; mine excavati<strong>on</strong>s usually have vertical shafts and horiz<strong>on</strong>tal aditsDeep time Geological timeDesiccati<strong>on</strong> cracks Polyg<strong>on</strong>al cracks left by drying mud - can be preserved in mudst<strong>on</strong>es;also called mudcracksDestructive margin <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> margin <strong>of</strong> a tect<strong>on</strong>ic plate where plate material is ‘destroyed’as plates c<strong>on</strong>verge, ei<strong>the</strong>r by partially melting and rising as magma or by beingabsorbed in <strong>the</strong> mantle; also called a c<strong>on</strong>vergent marginDiagenesis <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> change <strong>of</strong> sediments to sedimentary rocks, through compressi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>overlying sediments and cementati<strong>on</strong> (cement being deposited in pore spaces); alsocalled lithificati<strong>on</strong>Diam<strong>on</strong>d A mineral formed <strong>of</strong> carb<strong>on</strong> (C), usually colourless, forms good crystals, extremelyhard, rare“Dilute and disperse” landfill method <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> old landfill disposal method <strong>of</strong> allowingrainwater to disperse toxic elements <strong>of</strong> landfill in <strong>the</strong> rocks beneathDinosaur A type <strong>of</strong> reptile, now extinctDip <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount <strong>of</strong> downward slope <strong>of</strong> rock layers or structures, measured from <strong>the</strong>horiz<strong>on</strong>talDiscordant (drainage) A river system cutting across underlying geology and not affectedby it; <strong>of</strong>ten caused by a system that developed <strong>on</strong> overlying rocks, which havesince been cut through and eroded away154

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