Rock | Definition, Characteristics, Formation, Cycle, Classification ...
Oct 22, 2024 · Rock, in geology, naturally occurring and coherent aggregate of one or more minerals. Such aggregates constitute the basic unit of which the solid Earth is composed and typically form recognizable and mappable volumes. The three major classes of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock.
Geology | Definition, Examples, Rocks, Study, Importance, & Facts ...
Oct 4, 2024 · Geology, the fields of study concerned with the solid Earth. Included are sciences such as mineralogy, geodesy, and stratigraphy. Geology also explores geologic history, which provides a conceptual framework and overview of Earth’s evolution.
Sedimentary rock | Definition, Formation, Examples,
Oct 30, 2024 · sedimentary rock, rock formed at or near Earth’s surface by the accumulation and lithification of sediment (detrital rock) or by the precipitation from solution at normal surface temperatures (chemical rock).
Igneous rock | Characteristics, Examples, Formation, & Types
Oct 9, 2024 · igneous rock, any of various crystalline or glassy rocks formed by the cooling and solidification of molten earth material. Igneous rocks constitute one of the three principal classes of rocks, the others being metamorphic and sedimentary.
Rock - Structure, Texture, Composition | Britannica
Oct 22, 2024 · Rock - Structure, Texture, Composition: Physical properties of rocks are of interest and utility in many fields of work, including geology, petrophysics, geophysics, materials science, geochemistry, and geotechnical engineering.
Metamorphic rock | Definition, Formation, & Facts | Britannica
Oct 7, 2024 · metamorphic rock, any of a class of rocks that result from the alteration of preexisting rocks in response to changing environmental conditions, such as variations in temperature, pressure, and mechanical stress, and the …
Stratification | Types, Causes & Effects | Britannica
stratification, the layering that occurs in most sedimentary rocks and in those igneous rocks formed at the Earth’s surface, as from lava flows and volcanic fragmental deposits. The layers range from several millimetres to many metres in thickness and vary greatly in shape.
Geology - Earth Composition, Rocks, Minerals | Britannica
Oct 4, 2024 · Geology - Earth Composition, Rocks, Minerals: As a discipline, mineralogy has had close historical ties with geology. Minerals as basic constituents of rocks and ore deposits are obviously an integral aspect of geology.
Geology - Earth History, Stratigraphy, Plate Tectonics | Britannica
Oct 4, 2024 · The most important evidence from which geologic history can be inferred is provided by the geometric relationships of rocks with respect to each other, particularly layered rocks, or strata, the relative ages of which may be determined by applying simple principles.
Weathering | Physical, Chemical & Biological Effects | Britannica
Oct 18, 2024 · Weathering, disintegration or alteration of rock in its natural or original position at or near the Earth’s surface through physical, chemical, and biological processes induced or modified by wind, water, and climate.