earth and space vocab. 2

Melted rock underneath Earth’s surface

magma that flows out onto the earth´s surface

coarse-grained igneous rock that is formed when molten rock cools slowly and solidifies inside the earth’s crust.

fine-grained igneous rock that is formed when molten rock cools quickly and solidifies on earth’s surface.

Classification of minerals with light colors, high amounts of silicon, and low iron/ magnesium levels.

Igneous rock composition that is dark in color, low in silicon, and high in iron/magnesium

the size, shape, and distribution of the crystals or grains that make up a rock.

rock texture characterized by large, well-formed crystals surrounded by finger-grained crystals of the same or different mineral.

igneous rock texture; intrusive rocks that cooled slowly and have large crystals

igneous rock texture; intrusive rocks that cooled quickly and have small crystals

most common type of sedimentary rock, formed from the abundant deposits of loose sediments that accumulate on Earth’s surfaces; classified according to the size of their particles.

small pieces of rock that are moved and deposited by water, wind, glaciers, and gravity.

the physical and chemical processes that transform sediments into sedimentary rocks.

occurs when eroded materials are dropped in another location.

process of sedimentary rock formation that occurs when dissolved minerals precipitate out of groundwater and either a new mineral grows between the sediment grains or the same mineral grows between and over the grain.

describes metamorphic rock, such as schist or genesis, whose minerals are squeezed under high pressure and arranged in wavy layers and bands.

describes metamorphic rocks like quartzite and marble, composed mainly of minerals that form with blocky crystal shapes.

process that affects large areas of Earth’s crust, producing belts classified as low, medium, or high grade, depending on pressure on the rocks, temperature, and depth below the surface.

local effects that occur when molten rock meets solid rock.

continuous dynamic set of processes by which rocks are changed into other types of rocks.