Minerals and Rocks in the Geosphere

Front

Xenolith Noun

---

[zee-no-lith]

Back

Xenolith

---

A fragment of rock that is foreign to the igneous rock in which it is embedded, often carried from deep within Earth.

---

Example: A xenolith is shown as a green rock fragment within darker basalt, illustrating its foreign nature.

Front

Peridotite Noun

---

[puh-rid-oh-tite]

Back

Peridotite

---

A dense, coarse-grained igneous rock that is a major component of the upper mantle and forms deep inside Earth.

---

Example: The image shows peridotite, a coarse-grained rock from Earth's mantle.

Front

Seismic Wave Noun

---

[size-mik wayv]

Back

Seismic Wave

---

A wave of energy generated by an earthquake or other vibration that travels through Earth or along its surface.

---

Example: Seismic waves spread from the earthquake's focus, shown with labeled wave fronts and epicenter.

Front

P-wave Noun

---

[pee-wayv]

Back

P-wave

---

A type of seismic wave that travels through solids and liquids by compressing and expanding the material it passes through.

---

Example: A diagram showing how P-waves compress and expand material as they travel through it.

Front

S-wave Noun

---

[ess-wayv]

Back

S-wave

---

A type of seismic wave that can only travel through solids, moving the ground up and down or side-to-side.

---

Example: The image shows an S-wave moving through a solid, with an arrow indicating the wave's direction.

Front

Crust Noun

---

[kruhst]

Back

Crust

---

The outermost, solid layer of Earth, which includes both the dry land and the ocean floor.

---

Example: The image shows Earth's layers, highlighting the crust as the outermost layer, including land and ocean floor.

Front

Mantle Noun

---

[man-tl]

Back

Mantle

---

The thick layer of hot, solid rock located between Earth's crust and its core.

---

Example: The image shows Earth's layers, with the mantle as a thick, solid rock layer between the crust and core.

Front

Core Noun

---

[kor]

Back

Core

---

The central part of the Earth below the mantle, consisting of a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.

---

Example: The image shows Earth's layers, highlighting the core, with labels for crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

Front

Pressure Noun

---

[presh-er]

Back

Pressure

---

The amount of force exerted on a surface, divided by the total area over which the force is applied.

---

Example: The image shows how atmospheric pressure is higher at lower altitudes due to more air above, illustrating pressure differences.

Front

Oceanic Crust Noun

---

[oh-shee-an-ik kruhst]

Back

Oceanic Crust

---

The portion of Earth's crust that underlies the ocean basins and is primarily composed of dense basalt rock.

---

Example: The image shows the oceanic crust under the ocean, labeled and distinct from the continental crust, with arrows showing movement.