geomaps.wr.usgs.gov

Website:https://www.usgs.gov/
Upvotes received19
Downvotes received19
Karma:-1 (upvotes-downvotes)



0 earned Badges

No badges were found



Definitions (307)

1

6 Thumbs up   10 Thumbs down

parent rock


The preexisting rock from which a metamorphic rock forms.
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

2

4 Thumbs up   0 Thumbs down

tectonically active


A term used to describe regions that are strongly affected by movement of Earth's tectonic plates. Earthquakes and volcanoes are common features in these regions. more details...
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

3

2 Thumbs up   2 Thumbs down

disappearing stream


In karst areas, streams often disappear into the ground usually at a sinkhole.
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

4

2 Thumbs up   2 Thumbs down

sheetwash


Overland flow of water in thin sheets
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

5

1 Thumbs up   1 Thumbs down

freeze-thaw cycle


In colder temperate regions, water trapped in fractures and between grains of rocks repeatedly freezes, then thaws during the winter months. In some areas this occurs on a daily basis as water freezes at night, then melts in warmer daytime temperatures. Only in the coldest regions does water remain frozen throughout the winter.
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

6

1 Thumbs up   0 Thumbs down

frost wedging


A process that mechanically breaks apart rock caused by expansion of water as it freezes in cracks and crevices.
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

7

1 Thumbs up   1 Thumbs down

phenocryst


A term used to describe large crystals embedded in a mass of finer crystals (groundmass) in an igneous rock. See 'porphyritic'.
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

8

1 Thumbs up   0 Thumbs down

stitching pluton


Plutons of roughly the same age which that intruded several tectonic terranes after the terranes were faulted together. The plutons do not really "sew" the terranes together, but they help record when terranes were assembled.
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

9

1 Thumbs up   1 Thumbs down

thrust plate


Slab of rock, generally on the scale of a mountain or more, bounded by two thrust faults.
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)

10

0 Thumbs up   0 Thumbs down

b


banded gneiss See gneiss.
Source: geomaps.wr.usgs.gov (offline)


To view all 307 definitions, please sign in.