Here is a collection of terms used on our site. If you don't see what you want, ask.

- A -

aggregate

1. A mass or body of rock particles, mineral grains, or both. 2. Any of several hard, inert materials, such as sand, gravel, slag , or crushed stone, used for mixing with a cementing or bituminous material to form concrete, mortar, or plaster, or used alone, as in railroad ballast or graded fill.

amorphous

Literally, 'without form,' applied to rocks and minerals having no definite crystalline structure.

the philosophy of art and beauty.

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- B -

(empty)

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- C -

cohesion

Shear strength of a rock, not related to interparticle friction.

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- D -

(empty)

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- E -

the philosophy of art and beauty.

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- F -

fossil

Any remains, trace, or imprint of a plant or animal that has been preserved in the earth's crust since some past geologic or prehistoric time; loosely, any evidence of past life. 1. Said of any object that existed in the geologic past and of which there is still evidence. e.g. "fossil waterfall". 2. Applied to coal, oil, and natural gas, i.e. fossil fuels. 3. Loosely applied to persons or equipment involved with the fossil fuels, e.g. "fossil engineer", "fossil generating plant".

friable

Said of a rock or mineral that is easily crumbled, e.g. a poorly cemented sandstone.

fulgurite

An irregular glassy tube or crust produced by the fusion of loose sand by lightning; found especially in dune areas.

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- G -

(empty)

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- H -

(empty)

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- I -

(empty)

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- J -

(empty)

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- K -

(empty)

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- L -

Also known as Lapis Lazuli.

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- M -

1. A naturally occurring inorganic element or compound having an orderly internal structure and characteristic chemical composition, crystal form, and physical properties. Those who include the requirement of crystalline form in the definition would consider an amorphous compound such as opal to be a mineraloid. 2. Any naturally formed inorganic material, i.e. a member of the mineral kingdom as opposed to the plant and animal kingdoms.

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- N -

(empty)

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- O -

(empty)

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- P -

A process of fossilization whereby organic matter is converted into a stony substance by the infiltration of water containing dissolved inorganic matter (e.g. calcium carbonate, silica) which replaces the original organic materials, sometimes retaining the structure. (to become stone, or hard like stone.)

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- Q -

(empty)

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- R -

1. An aggregate of one or more minerals, e.g. granite, shale, marble; or a body of undifferentiated mineral matter, e.g. obsidian, or of solid organic material, e.g. coal. 2. Any prominent peak, cliff, or promontory, usually bare, when considered as a mass, e.g. the Rock of Gibraltar. 3. A rocky mass lying at or near the surface of a body of water, or along a jagged coastline, esp. where dangerous to shipping. 4. A slang term for a gem or diamond.

A collective term used for any cool, interesting, neat, or aesthetically pleasing item sold by Coolrox Limited.

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- S -

A scratch or striation on a slickenside.

A polished and striated rock surface that results from friction along a fault plane.

1. A general term for rock that is used in construction, either crushed for use as aggregate or cut into shaped blocks as dimension stone. 2. One of the larger fragments in a variable matrix of a sedimentary rock. 3. A stony meteorite. 4. A cut and polished natural gemstone; a gem or precious stone.

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- T -

A chemical sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate, formed by evaporation as an encrustation around the mouth of a spring, along a stream, or exceptionally as a thick, concretionary deposit in a lake or along its shore. It may also be precipitated by algae or bacteria.

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- U -

(empty)

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- V -

(empty)

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- W -

(empty)

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- X -

(empty)

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- Y -

(empty)

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- Z -

(empty)

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- # -

(empty)

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Most all of the definitions are from Dictionary of Geological Terms 3rd Edition, by Robert L. Bates and Julia A. Jackson (editors), Doubleday 1984.

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Zippy the Zircon  will always return you to  the home page.

Revised: October 17, 1999.
Copyright © 1997 by Coolrox Limited.
All trademarks or product names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.