lithosphere
the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle
MAGAMA
hot fluid or semi-fluid material below or within the earth’s crust from which lava and other igneous rock is formed on cooling.
LAVA
hot molten or semi-fluid rock erupted from a volcano or fissure, or solid rock resulting from cooling of this.
NATIVE ELEMENT
minerals are those elements that occur in nature in uncombined form with a distinct mineral structure. The elemental class includes metals and intermetallic elements, naturally occurring alloys, semi-metals and non-metals.
CRYSTAL
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions
MOHS SCALE
of mineral hardness is a qualitative ordinal scale characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material.
IGNEOUS ROCK
magmatic rock, is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
EXTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCK
form when magma reaches the Earth’s surface a volcano and cools quickly. Most extrusive (volcanic) rocks have small crystals.
INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCK
form when magma cools slowly below the Earth’s surface. Most intrusive rocks have large, well-formed crystals.
BATHOLITH
a very large igneous intrusion extending to an unknown depth in the earth’s crust.
EROSION
the process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.
SEDIMENT
matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid dregs.
FLOODPLAIN
is an area of land adjacent to a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge.
SEDIMENTARY ROCK
are types of rock that are formed by the deposition and subsequent cementation of that material at the Earth’s surface and within bodies of water.
COAL
is a flammable black hard rock used as a solid fossil fuel.
LIMESTONE
Limestone is a sedimentary rock, composed mainly of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, forams and molluscs.
CONGLOMERATE ROCK
rock that is composed of a substantial fraction of rounded to subangular gravel-size clasts, e.g., granules, pebbles, cobbles, and boulders
METAMORPHIC ROCK
is a result of a transformation of a pre-existing rock
ROCK CYCLE
is a group of changes. Igneous rock can change into sedimentary rock or into metamorphic rock.
MINERAL ORE
is a type of rock that contains sufficient minerals with important elements including metals that can be economically extracted from the rock
OPEN-CUT MINING
is a type of rock that contains sufficient minerals with important elements including metals that can be economically extracted from the rock.
UNDERGROUND MINING
techniques used to excavate hard minerals, mainly those containing metals such as ore containing gold, silver, iron, copper, zinc, nickel, tin and lead
PALAEONTOLOGIST
The study of fossils to determine the structure and evolution of extinct animals and plants and the age and conditions of deposition of the rock strata in which they are found
Fossil
the remains or impression of a prehistoric plant or animal embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form.
