Science / Geology Glossary

Biochemical Precipitate: A sediment, especially of limestone or iron, formed from elements extracted from seawater by living organisms.

Biochemical Rocks: A sedimentary rock that forms from the chemical activities of organisms. Organic (reef and fossiliferous) limestones and bacterial iron ores are examples.

Bioturbated: An adjective used in reference to a sediment or sedimentary rock. Bioturbated sediments have been disturbed by animals (such as burrowing worms or shell fish) or plant roots. These have pene . . . View Full Definition

Bituminous Coal: A rank of coal that falls between anthracite and semi-bituminous. The most abundant rank of coal. Frequently referred to by the layman as 'soft coal'.

Block Fault: A structure formed when the crust is divided into blocks of different elevation by a set of normal faults.

Block Fault Mountain: A linear mountain that is bounded on both sides by normal faults.

Blowout: A shallow, round or trough-shaped depression in sand or dry soil that is formed by wind erosion. The material removed by the wind may also be referred to as 'blowout'.

Bolson: In arid regions, a basin filled with alluvium and intermittent playa lakes and having no outlet.

Bond: The force that holds together two atoms in a compound. It may be derived from the sharing of electrons (covalent) or from electrostatic attraction between ions.

Breccia: A clastic sedimentary rock that is composed of large (over two millimeter diameter) angular fragments. The spaces between the large fragments can be filled with a matrix of smaller particles . . . View Full Definition

Butte: A conspicuous hill with steep sides and a flat top. The top is usually a cap-rock of resistant material. This structure is frequently an erosional remnant in an area of flat-lying sedimentary rocks.

C-Horizon: The lowest horizon of a soil profile. It is below the B-horizon and is made up of weathered bedrock.

Caldera: A large, bowl-shaped crater associated with a volcanic vent. A caldera can form from a volcanic blast or the collapse of a volcanic cone into an emptied magma chamber.

Carbonate Ion: The anion group CO3 with a charge of minus two.

Carbonate Platform: A submarine or intertidal shelf whose elevation is maintained by active shallow water carbonate deposition.

Carbonate Rock: A rock made up primarily of carbonate minerals (minerals containing the CO3 anionic structure). Limestone (made up primarily of calicite - CaCO3) and dolostone (made up primarily of dolomite . . . View Full Definition

Carbonic Acid: A weak acid (H2CO3) that forms from the reaction of water and carbon dioxide. Most rain water is a very weak carbonic acid solution formed by the reaction of rain with small amounts of carbo . . . View Full Definition

Carrying Costs: The costs incurred by a lessee to retain exploration and property rights after acquisition but before production begins. Carrying costs can include: ad valorem taxes on non-producing mineral . . . View Full Definition

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