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Atoms
The basis of all matter, they are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Their size
is approximately one tenth of a billionth of a metre.
Banded iron ore
Very ancient iron ore formed by alternating layers rich in ferrous oxide and layers of
schist. 90% of the iron mined on Earth comes from banded iron ore.
Continental plate
A tectonic plate made up of continental crust. Most of the larger tectonic plates include
continental and oceanic zones, although some are almost entirely continental, like the
Arabian plate.
Convection
Movements in liquids or gases generated by differences in temperature and density. The
liquid or gaseous masses that are hotter and denser tend to rise, while those that are
colder and less dense go downward. The combination of these two tendencies causes
the circular movement that is convection.
Core
The core is the centre of the Earth. It is made up of metals (mainly iron and nickel) and
has a diameter of about 7000 km. The outer core is liquid and the inner core is solid.
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Erosion
The wearing-down of matter by wind, rain, rivers, glaciers, etc. Erosion acts slowly but
can flatten mountains in a few million years.
Fault
Line of separation between two moving walls of rock; they may be coming closer
together or moving farther apart, or they may be sliding against each other. Faults can
extend for thousands of kilometres, and in general, are related to tectonic movements.
Geological time
Chronological scale used to establish periods and date events since the beginning of the
Earths history.
Geothermics
The transmission of the Earths warmth from its deep layers to the surface. By extension,
the term geothermics also applies to the use of this energy to heat buildings or produce
electricity.
Hotspots
Zones on the Earths surface where volcanic action is regular and long-lasting, due to
abnormally hot areas under the Earths crust. These points can remain active for long
periods; they are not connected to the tectonic plates, which move over them.
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Limestone
Sedimentary rock mainly composed of calcium carbonate. Limestone is formed by
sedimentary deposit and the piling-up of shells and skeletal fragments originating on the
ocean floor.
Magma
Fusing rock containing dissolved gases. Magma is formed by fusion occurring in either
the mantle or the crust. When it reaches the Earths surface, it loses its gases and
becomes lava.
Magnetic field
The force that orients compass needles, acting like a magnet. It is created by
movements in the Earths core and acts as a shield against solar winds, which carry
particles harmful to living beings.
Magnitude (seismology)
The magnitude of an earthquake is the measurement of its intensity. In this scale, each
unit designates ten times the intensity of the unit below it. Thus, a magnitude 6
earthquake is 100 times stronger than a magnitude 4 earthquake.
Mantle
The mantle is the part of the globe between the crust and the core. It is about 2900 km.
thick and makes up 80% of the Earths volume.
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Mass extinction
The rapid disappearance of a large number of animal and plant species on a global
level, both on land and in the oceans. The most important known mass extinction to
affect the Earth occurred at the end of the Permian era, when 95% of marine species
and 75% of land species were wiped out.
Obduction
The thrusting of oceanic crust on top of continental crust. It is the contrary of subduction,
in which oceanic crust pushes underneath continental crust, and is a much rarer
phenomenon.
Ocean ridges
Long underwater mountain chains, varying between 1000 and 2000 kilometres in width
and reaching heights over 2000 metres above the ocean floor. They occur at the
converging boundaries of tectonic plates that are moving apart, producing oceanic crust
which allows the oceans to expand.
Oceanic plate
A tectonic plate made up of oceanic crust. The majority of tectonic plates are composed
of both continental and oceanic zones. Some, however, are exclusively oceanic, such as
the Nazca and the Pacific plates.
Pangea
Former supercontinent that held together all the land masses of our planet, about 250
million years ago.
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Plate tectonics
Theory explaining the overall phenomena involved in the displacement of continents, the
formation of oceans, the distribution of earthquake zones over the Earths surface, etc.
According to this theory, the movements of the tectonic plates are caused by convection
occurring in the Earths mantle.
San Andreas Fault
Large fault that crosses through California. The San Andreas Fault corresponds to the
meeting-point between the Pacific and the North-American plates. It triggers many
earthquakes, including the one that destroyed San Francisco in 1906.
Depth of focus
The depth in kilometres of the hypocentre, the place in the Earths mantle where the
tearing of a fault produces an earthquake.
Radioactivity
Natural physical phenomenon in which the nuclei of certain atoms disintegrate, releasing
energy in the form of rays.
Rift
A zone in which the Earths crust is stretched thin. On continents, rifts form graduallywidening trenches which will eventually be filled by an ocean. An example is the rift of
the Red Sea between North Africa and the Middle East.
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Sediment
Debris carried by water, ice, or wind, sediment may be of mineral origin (particles of
rock) or organic origin (fragments of the remains of living organisms). Sediment is mainly
produced by erosion.
Seismology
The study of earthquakes and of the propagation of seismic waves through the ground.
Seismometer
Instrument that detects and measures ground vibrations, particularly those produced by
earthquakes.
Subduction
The phenomenon that occurs when two tectonic plates converge and one slides under
the other, sinking into the Earths mantle. The most common instance is when an
oceanic plate pushes under a continental plate.
Supercontinent
A huge continent, past or present, that combines several large continental masses.
Pangea and Gondwana are examples of supercontinents that existed in the past. Today,
Eurasia is a supercontinent.
Tectonic movement
The movement of the tectonic plates on the Earths surface.
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Tectonic plates
Hard, rigid plates that cover the surface of the Earth. The surface is not covered by a
uniform layer of rock, but by some fifteen large plates and about 50 secondary plates, all
of which are changing their positions with respect to the others.
Traps
Large plateaus of volcanic rock formed during a period of successive volcanic eruptions
on a colossal scale, which spewed immense quantities of lava onto the Earths surface.
Uranium
A naturally radioactive, silvery-white metal. Minute quantities of uranium are found in
rock, water, air, plants, and animals.
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