Rocks, resources and scenery - Geography Key terms

The period of geological time since life became abundant 542 million years ago, which geologists have divided into eras and periods. 

The outer layer of the earth 

Rocks which are formed from the accumulation of seditment on the sea floor. 

Most commonly, rocks formed from the accumlation of sediment on the sea floor. 

Rocks that have undergone a change in their chemisty and texture as a result of heating and/ or pressure. 

Connections between the three rock types.

The breakup or decay of rocks in their original place a or close to the earth's surface 

Weathering that does not involve chemical change.

Deposits of angular rock fragments found at the foot of rock outcrops

Weathering that involves a chemical change taking place 

Weathering that involves a chemical change taking place 

Weatheirng caused by living organisms such as tree roots or burrowing animals 

Weathering involving repeated cycles of freezing and thawing. 

Holes in rock

Flaking of the outer surface of rocks manily caused by repeated cycle of hot and cold. 

Dissolving of rocks or minerals by rainwater. 

Weathering of limestone and chalk by acidic rainwater. 

A huge irregular- shaped mass of intrustive igneous rock that only reaches the ground surface when the overlying rocks are removed. 

Cracks that may run vertically or horizontally through rock. 

A rock that does not allow water to pass through it. 

An isolated outcrop of rock on a hilltop, typically found in granitie landscapes. 

The downhill movement of materials under the influnce of gravity. 

A steep or vertical face of rock at the coast. 

A rock that allows water to pass through it 

The uppper suface of underground water. 

Water re-emerging from the rock onto the ground surface. Springs often occur as a line of springs (springline) at the base of a scrap slope.

In the landscape, a flat plain typically formed on clay. 

An outcrop of chalk comprising a steep scrap slope and a more gental dip slope. 

A valley formed by a river during a weather period in the past but now without a river. 

Steep- sided deep valley that may be formed by cavern collapse. 

A bare rocky surface, with distinctive blocks (clints) and enlarged joints (grikes) 

An enlarged joint into which water falls.

A large underground cave.

A stream that emerges from underground

An icicle - like calcite feature hanging down from a cavern roof. 

A stumpy calcite feature formed on a cavern floor. 

A calcite feature stretching from floor to ceiling in a cavern. 

A broad depostie of calcite usually formed when water emerges along a crack in a cavern 

Mortar used in buildings, made from crushed limestone and shale.

The lower arc of the fold in fold mountains

An underground reservoir of water stored in pores and/or joints in a rock, e.g chalk. 

Crushed stone made from tough rocks such as limestone, used in the construction industry and in road building. 

Resorting or improving the environmental quality of a quarry, either during its operation or afterwards.