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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

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

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Fold <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> ductile bending and flow <strong>of</strong> rock under pressure resulting in bent layers; foldscan be gentle and open, or tightFold axis <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> place where a rock is most bent by foldingFold limb <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> sloping layers ei<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>of</strong> a fold axisFoliati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> ‘layered’ texture <strong>of</strong> regi<strong>on</strong>ally metamorphosed rocks, caused by <strong>the</strong> metamorphicminerals being aligned with <strong>on</strong>e ano<strong>the</strong>r; includes metamorphic cleavage inslates, foliati<strong>on</strong> in schists, and banding in gneissesForeshock A minor earthquake that takes place before a more major earthquakeFossil Traces <strong>of</strong> an organism preserved in rock (usually regarded as more than 10,000years old)Freeze-thaw <str<strong>on</strong>g>we</str<strong>on</strong>g>a<strong>the</strong>ring Wea<strong>the</strong>ring caused by many cycles <strong>of</strong> freezing and thawingGabbro A coarse-grained mafic (magnesium/ir<strong>on</strong>-rich) rock, with predominantly darkmineralsGabi<strong>on</strong>s (gabi<strong>on</strong> baskets) Galvanised wire mesh cubic or rectangular c<strong>on</strong>tainers arounda metre or so across filled with pebbles or larger rock; used to stabilise slopes suchas cuttings, river banks and coastal cliffsGaia Hypo<strong>the</strong>sis <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> idea that life <strong>on</strong> <strong>Earth</strong> causes negative feedback which regulatesmany <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Earth</strong>’s systems; proposed by James LovelockGalena A lead-c<strong>on</strong>taining mineral (PbS), silvery grey, metallic lustre, cube-shaped crystals,good cleavage, feels very dense, grey streak, low hardness (s<strong>of</strong>t), found mainlyin mineral veinsGangue mineral Unec<strong>on</strong>omic mineral, like quartz and calcite, that may be thrown awaywhen metal ores are minedGarnet A silicate mineral, usually red or pink, <strong>of</strong>ten forms ball-shaped crystals, nocleavage, hard, found mainly in medium and high grade metamorphic rocksGeochemical survey Using chemical methods to explore and understand <strong>the</strong> <strong>Earth</strong>; <strong>the</strong>chemical testing is usually d<strong>on</strong>e in laboratories nowadays, using high tech methodsGeohazard A geological process that causes risk to humans and human c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>sGeological time <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> time from <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Earth</strong> (around 4,560 milli<strong>on</strong> years ago)to <strong>the</strong> present dayGeopark An area <strong>of</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al importance for its geological interest, designated byUNESCO (<strong>the</strong> United Nati<strong>on</strong>al Educati<strong>on</strong>al, Scientific and Cultural Organisati<strong>on</strong>)157

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