Geological Glossary

Glossary of common terms used in geology, and related to earth sciences.
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W


wash

A normally dry stream bed that ocassionally fills with water.


weathering

Weathering includes two surface or near-surface processes that work in concert to decompose rocks. Both processes occur in place. No movement is involved in weathering. Chemical weathering involves a chemical change in at least some of the minerals within a rock. Mechanical weathering involves physically breaking rocks into fragments without changing the chemical make-up of the minerals within it. Mechanical weathering includes processes such as water in cracks freezing and expanding, or changes in temperature that expand and shrink individual minerals enough to break them apart.

well-sorted

Refers to a sedimentary deposit or rock with grains of the same approximate size.




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