Shaping Colorado

Molly B. (United States of America)
38 words 2 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sedimentary rock
    rock formed from consolidated clay deposits
    These are all types of sedimentary rocks!
  2. metamorphic rock
    rock altered by pressure and heat
    The basement rock can be seen as highly resistant metamorphic rock.
  3. igneous rock
    rock formed by the solidification of molten magma
    The continents were smaller and made up of mostly igneous rock.
  4. San Andreas Fault
    a major geological fault in California
    You are probably most familiar with the San Andreas Fault in California, where lots of earthquakes occur.
  5. igneous
    produced by the action of fire or intense heat
    The continents were smaller and made up of mostly igneous rock.
  6. erosion
    the process of wearing or grinding something down
    Erosion is when rocks are transported to a new location.
  7. compression
    the act of applying force
    Mountain building occurs due to compression and uplift of Earth’s crust.
  8. layer
    a single thickness of some substance or material
    You can try this by layering some towels on top of one another on a table.
  9. chemical process
    (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved
    When chemical processes break down rock, it is called chemical weathering.
  10. silt
    mud or clay or small rocks deposited by a river or lake
    This layer was laid down due by flat streams that carry mud, silt, sand, and some gravel.
  11. sediment
    matter that has been deposited by some natural process
    Deposition is the process by which sediments are laid down.
  12. deposition
    the act of putting something somewhere
    545 million years ago – 320 million years ago

    This time period was one of deposition.
  13. meander
    move or cause to move in a winding or curving course
    5 million years ago – present day

    Rivers meander and carve valleys and canyons.
  14. erode
    remove soil or rock
    During this mountain building period the previously deposited marine sedimentary rocks were weathered and eroded away.
  15. collide
    crash together with violent impact
    The movie shows large sections of Earth’s crust colliding, folding, and cracking.
  16. deposit
    the act of putting something somewhere
    During this time period marine sandstone, limestone, and shale were deposited.
  17. plateau
    a relatively flat raised area of land
    Actually, technically the Colorado National Monument is part of the Colorado Plateau.
  18. lava
    rock that in its molten form issues from volcanos
    At some point this volcanic activity resulted in a huge lava flow that covered a large area.
  19. dissolve
    pass into a solution
    When water flows over limestone it actually dissolves the limestone.
  20. volcanic
    relating to eruptions of gas and lava from the earth's crust
    Quiet, and sometimes explosive, volcanic activity laid down a base of igneous rock.
  21. constructive
    tending to improve or promote development
    2 billion years of constructive and destructive processes

    Close your eyes and pretend you are watching a movie.
  22. continent
    one of the large landmasses of the earth
    1.7 Billion Years Ago – 545 Million Years Ago

    At this time in Earth’s history the continents did not look the way they do today.
  23. glacier
    a slowly moving mass of ice
    Rivers, wind, and glaciers break down less resistant rock and carry it to lower elevations.
  24. weather
    atmospheric conditions such as temperature and precipitation
    During this mountain building period the previously deposited marine sedimentary rocks were weathered and eroded away.
  25. marine
    of or relating to the sea
    During this time period marine sandstone, limestone, and shale were deposited.
  26. destructive
    causing damage
    2 billion years of constructive and destructive processes

    Close your eyes and pretend you are watching a movie.
  27. chemical
    produced by reactions involving atomic or molecular changes
    When chemical processes break down rock, it is called chemical weathering.
  28. transport
    move something or somebody around
    Erosion is when rocks are transported to a new location.
  29. expose
    make visible or apparent
    So those original igneous rocks you read about earlier are now exposed again.
  30. earthquake
    vibration from underground movement along a fault plane
    You are probably most familiar with the San Andreas Fault in California, where lots of earthquakes occur.
  31. wind
    air moving from high pressure to low pressure
    The higher the land rises, the faster it is carried away by wind and water.
  32. climate
    the weather in some location averaged over a period of time
    This layer formed during a time when the climate was more desert-like.
  33. valley
    a long depression in the surface of the land
    This forms a huge layer of rock under the Grand Valley, and seen as the sloping side of the Bookcliffs and Mt.
  34. desert
    leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
    This layer formed during a time when the climate was more desert-like.
  35. evidence
    knowledge on which to base belief
    The weathering and erosion is still occurring today, it will be your job to find evidence of this when you go on a field trip to the Colorado National Monument.
  36. uplift
    fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
    You should see the uplift when the towel begins to fold.
  37. folding
    the act of folding
    Starting 700 million years ago and continuing for 20 million years the Colorado area was subjected to uplifting, folding, and faulting.
  38. faulting
    (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
    Starting 700 million years ago and continuing for 20 million years the Colorado area was subjected to uplifting, folding, and faulting.
Created on Tue Oct 04 20:38:52 EDT 2011 (updated Tue Oct 04 21:21:01 EDT 2011)

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