Earth Heritage Glossary
Welcome to the CCW Earth heritage glossary
index page. Over the next year or so, we will be adding more and
more terms to the Earth Heritage glossary, and our other glossary
chapters.
To find a specific glossary term, try entering the word into the
main glossary search box in the right-hand column of the
website.
Failing that, you can look for a term by browsing through the
glossary index alphabetically, below.
Glossary for letter: A
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Acadian Orogeny
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The early to mid-Devonian phase of mountain building, which produced a range of mountains extending from the...
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Acid
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Term applying to Igneous rocks that are rich in silica...
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Alluvial fan
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A deposit of alluvium deposited at a point along a river where there is a decrease in gradient...
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Alluvium
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Sediment transported and deposited by running fresh water...
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Alpine Orogeny
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A phase of mountain building caused by the collision of the African and European continental...
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Amphibole
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A group of usually black of green silicate minerals...
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Amphibolite
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Generally a dark, medium- or coarse-grained metamorphic rock...
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Anticline
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An arch-shaped fold in which the oldest rocks occur...
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Archaean
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One of the three divisions of the Precambrian ranging...
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Arete
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A narrow, steep-sided ridge...
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Ash-flow
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A volcanic avalanche, comprising hot volcanic fragments in a gas, that moves at great speed in response to gravity.
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Autobrecciated lava
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A viscious lava flow whose largely solidified crust has been fragmented...
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Avalonia
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Named after the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, a small early Palaeozotic crustal plate...