GEOTHERMAL GRADIENT

Geothermal gradient is the rate of increasing temperature with respect to increasing

depth in the Earth's interior. Away from tectonic plate boundaries, it is about 25 C per
km of depth (1 F per 70 feet of depth) near the surface in most of the world. [1]Strictly
speaking, geo-thermal necessarily refers to the Earth but the concept may be applied to
other planets. A line tracing the gradient through the planetary body is called
a geotherm on Earth and other terrestrial planets. On the Moon it is called
aselenotherm.
ORE
An ore is a type of rock that contains sufficient minerals with important elements
including metals that can be economically extracted from the rock.[1] The ores are
extracted from the earth through mining; they are then refined (often via smelting) to
extract the valuable element, or elements.
POLYMORPH
an organism or inorganic object or material that takes various forms.
polymorphs occur when two compounds of the same composition have different
crystalline structures. An example of a polymorph is quartz that is subjected to high
temperatures, transforming to trydimite and then crystobalite. Trydimite and crystobalite
are considered polymorphs of quartz.
RECRYSTALLIZATION
In chemistry, recrystallization is a technique used to purify chemicals. By dissolving
both impurities and a compound in an appropriate solvent, either the desired compound
or impurities can be coaxed out of solution, leaving the other behind. It is named for
the crystalsoften formed when the compound precipitates out.
Alternatively, recrystallization can refer to the natural growth of larger ice crystals at the
expense of smaller ones.
SEDIMENTS
Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes
of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of wind, water,
or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particles. For example, silt falls out
of suspension viasedimentation and forms soil (some of which may eventually
become sedimentary rock).

Sediments are most often transported by water (fluvial processes), wind (aeolian
processes) and glaciers. Beach sands and river channeldeposits are examples of fluvial
transport and deposition, though sediment also often settles out of slow-moving or
standing water in lakes and oceans. Desert sand dunes and loess are examples of
aeolian transport and deposition. Glacial moraine deposits and till are ice-transported
sediments.

WEATHERING
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soil and minerals as well as wood and
artificial materials through contact with theEarth's atmosphere, biota and waters.
Weathering occurs in situ, roughly translated to: "with no movement", and thus should
not be confused with erosion, which involves the movement of rocks and minerals by
agents such as water, ice, snow, wind, waves and gravity and then being transported
and deposited in other locations.
Two important classifications of weathering processes exist physical and chemical
weathering; each sometimes involves a biological component. Mechanical or physical
weathering involves the breakdown of rocks and soils through direct contact with
atmospheric conditions, such as heat, water, ice and pressure. The second
classification, chemical weathering, involves the direct effect of atmospheric chemicals
or biologically produced chemicals also known as biological weathering in the
breakdown of rocks, soils and minerals. [1] While physical weathering is accentuated in
very cold or very dry environments, chemical reactions are most intense where the
climate is wet and hot. However, both types of weathering occur together, and each
tends to accelerate the other. For example, physical abrasion (rubbing together)
decreases the size of particles and therefore increases their surface area, making them
more susceptible to rapid chemical reactions. The various agents act in concert to
convert primary minerals (feldspars and micas) to secondary minerals (clays and
carbonates) and release plant nutrient elements in soluble forms.

ROCK CYCLE
The rock cycle is a basic concept in geology that describes the time-consuming
transitions through geologic time among the three
main rock types: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. As the diagram to the right

illustrates, each of the types of rocks is altered or destroyed when it is forced out of its
equilibrium conditions. An igneous rock such as basalt may break down and dissolve
when exposed to the atmosphere, or melt as it is subducted under a continent. Due to
the driving forces of the rock cycle, plate tectonics and the water cycle, rocks do not
remain in equilibrium and are forced to change as they encounter new environments.
The rock cycle is an illustration that explains how the three rock types are related to
each other, and how processes change from one type to another over time.
The Rock Cycle is a group of changes. Igneous rock can change into sedimentary rock
or into metamorphic rock. Sedimentary rock can change into metamorphic rock or into
igneous rock. Metamorphic rock can change into igneous or sedimentary rock.
SILICATES
A silicate is a compound containing an anionic silicon compound. The great majority of
the silicates are oxides, but hexafluorosilicate([SiF6]2) and other anions are also
included.
Silicates are the most widespread of the minerals. They are made up of oxygen and
silicon the number one and number two most abundant elements in the earth's crust. By
themselves they make up over 90% of the weight of the earths crust. Most rocks are
composed mainly of this class of minerals.