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Rocks that have been transformed by heat, pressure, and chemical processes without melting. Significance: Metamorphic rocks reveal information about the conditions under which they were altered and contribute to understanding mountain-building processes.

The theory describing the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere. Significance: Plate tectonics explain the formation, movement, collision, and destruction of Earth's crust and many geological events.

Upwellings of abnormally hot rock within the Earth's mantle. Significance: Mantle plumes are thought to be responsible for volcanic hotspots like Hawaii and can cause significant geologic activity, including flood basalts and continental rifting.

Rocks formed from sediment that has been compacted or cemented together. Significance: Sedimentary rocks are indicators of past environments and contain fossils that record Earth's biological history.

The study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). Significance: Stratigraphy is used to decipher Earth's history, the timing of events and is crucial for oil and mineral exploration.

The study of minerals, their composition, structure, properties, and the processes that form them. Significance: Mineralogy is essential in petrology for identifying rocks and understanding the Earth's crust components.

The lowering of a substance's melting point due to the presence of impurities. Significance: In petrology, this concept explains how the melting point of mantle rocks is reduced by the presence of volatile substances, leading to magma generation.

The process in a cooling magma where heavier crystals settle to the bottom of the magma chamber. Significance: Crystal settling can lead to differentiation in igneous rocks and the formation of layered intrusions.

The appearance and arrangement of minerals within igneous rocks, including grain size and shape. Significance: Texture is key to interpreting the cooling history and environment of igneous rock formation.

The process by which a rock melts partially when it reaches its melting temperature, while some minerals remain solid. Significance: Partial melting is critical in forming magmas with varying compositions, influencing the diversity of igneous rocks.

The breaking down of rocks, soils, and minerals through contact with Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Significance: Weathering is crucial in soil formation and the release of minerals and nutrients essential for life.

Terms used to describe the composition of igneous rocks; felsic rocks are rich in silica and light in color, mafic rocks are rich in magnesium and iron and are darker. Significance: They determine the density and viscosity of magmas, influencing eruption styles and rock formation.

Distinctive characteristics of rocks that reflect particular conditions of formation. Significance: Facies help in understanding the metamorphic and depositional environments and the physical and chemical conditions present at the time of rock formation.

Rocks formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Significance: Igneous rocks comprise the Earth's crust and provide information on the planet's geothermal history.

The equilibrium between Earth's crust and mantle, where the crust 'floats' at an elevation dependent on its thickness and density. Significance: Isostasy explains the concept of buoyancy in the Earth's crust and helps in understanding mountain formation, erosion, and sediment deposition.

The process of converting sediments into solid rock by compaction or cementation. Significance: Lithification explains how sedimentary rocks are formed from sediments over geologic time.

A model describing the transitions through geologic time among the three main rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Significance: The rock cycle shows how the Earth's surface is dynamic and evolving, driving by the planet's internal heat.

A sequence of minerals' crystallization from cooling magma. Significance: It helps in understanding the crystallization path of magma and the mineral composition of igneous rocks.

Metamorphism due to high temperatures adjacent to magma intrusions. Significance: Contact metamorphism explains the formation of metamorphic aureoles and helps locate past igneous activity.