Geology and Earth Science Terms

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Crust

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The outermost layer of the Earth, composed of rock.

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Mantle

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The layer of the Earth between the crust and the core, made of semi-solid rock that moves slowly.

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Inner Core

Back

The solid innermost layer of the Earth, composed primarily of iron and nickel.

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Outer Core

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The liquid layer of the Earth's core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core.

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Seafloor Spreading

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The process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and slowly moves away from the ridge.

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Pangaea

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A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, before breaking apart into the continents we know today.

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Convection Currents

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The circular movement of fluid in the mantle caused by the heat from the core, driving plate tectonics.

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Plate Tectonics

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The theory explaining the movement of the Earth's plates and the processes that occur at their boundaries.

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Divergent Plate Boundary

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A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving away from each other, often resulting in seafloor spreading.

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Convergent Plate Boundary

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A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving towards each other, often resulting in mountain formation or subduction.