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Nexus resource
Rocks
Rocks vocabulary and definitions
Subject:
Science/Geography
Age groups:
8–11, 12–14
Topic:
Rocks
Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2014
Source | This resource was originally developed by Charlotte Hurley and has been adapted by EAL
Nexus.
Limestone vocabulary
shell
The hard outer covering of an animal.
skeleton
The frame of bones inside an animal.
a fossil
to corrode
The shape of a bone, shell, animal or plant
that has been preserved in rock over a
long time.
To slowly damage, by something such as
rain or seawater.
acid rain
Rain containing harmful chemicals.
to carve
To cut into the surface of stone.
cement
A grey powder mixed with water and sand
to hold bricks together.
©British Council 2014
Sandstone vocabulary
mineral
A chemical formed naturally in the ground.
grains
Small pieces of something hard.
surface
The outer or top part or layer of
something.
rough
to crumble
to carve
Paving
Not smooth.
To break away and fall apart into small
pieces.
To cut into the surface of stone.
Material used to pave an area of ground.
©British Council 2014
Shale vocabulary
compacted
Pressed together to form something solid.
a fossil
The shape of a bone, shell, animal or plant
that has been preserved in rock over a
long time.
floodplain
offshore
a tile
An area of flat land near a river that
becomes flooded.
Away from or at a distance from the coast.
A thin piece of stone which is used for
covering walls, floors, etc.
©British Council 2014
Chalk vocabulary
shell
The hard outer covering of an animal.
crumbly
Breaks away and falls apart into small
pieces.
porous
Has a lot of holes which can hold onto
water.
weather
Changes that happen because of the sun,
rain, wind or cold.
a cliff
A high area of rock with a very steep side
usually by the sea.
©British Council 2014
Obsidian vocabulary
molten rock
volcanic
A metal or rock that becomes liquid
because it is so hot.
Something that comes from a volcano.
brittle
Delicate and can be broken easily.
a gem
A jewel.
©British Council 2014
Gabbro vocabulary
molten rock
A metal or rock that becomes liquid
because it is so hot.
mountainous
An area with lots of mountains.
crystals
interlocking
Rock that is naturally formed and can be
used to make jewellery.
Pieces that fit together.
paving
Material used to pave an area of ground.
surface
The outer or top part or layer of
something.
ocean ridges
Area of mountains under the sea.
©British Council 2014
Basalt vocabulary
lava
Hot liquid rock which comes out of the
earth through a volcano.
surface
The outer or top part or layer of
something.
weather
Changes that happen because of the sun,
rain, wind or cold.
column
Tall narrow shape, perhaps made of stone.
paving
Material used to pave an area of ground.
©British Council 2014
Granite vocabulary
molten rock
a volcano
crystals
interlocking
to polish
A metal or rock that becomes liquid
because it is so hot.
A hole or opening in the Earth’s crust
where molten rock and gas is forced
through.
Rock that is naturally formed and can be
used to make jewellery.
Pieces that fit together.
To rub something to make it smooth and
shiny.
©British Council 2014
Marble vocabulary
to polish
To rub something to make it smooth and
shiny.
to carve
To cut into the surface of stone.
to crumble
sculpture
streaks
Break away and fall apart into small pieces.
A person, animal or thing represented in
and made from stone or another solid
material.
Long thin lines of different colours.
©British Council 2014
Slate vocabulary
waterproof
Doesn’t allow water to get through.
crystals
Rock that is naturally formed and can be
used to make jewellery.
layers
A material placed one on top of another.
decorative
tiles
Made to look pretty and attractive.
Thin pieces of stone which are used for
covering walls, floors, etc.
©British Council 2014
Gneiss vocabulary
patterns
coarse
exposed
decorative
construction
An arrangement of lines, shapes and
colours on the surface.
Rough, not smooth to touch.
Having no protection from bad weather.
Made to look pretty and attractive.
The making of something such as a bridge
or building.
©British Council 2014
Soapstone vocabulary
to carve
resistance
To cut into the surface of stone.
Being able to stop something from
becoming damaged or from getting
through.
acid
A liquid chemical that can cause damage to
something it touches.
slippery
Slides easily or makes something else slide
when it touches.
soap
to polish
A hard block that is used with water for
washing.
To rub something to make it smooth and
shiny.
©British Council 2014
Rock vocabulary
metamorphic
heat
pressure
sedimentary
Rock changed by heat or pressure.
Being hot or warm.
A force created when something is pressed
against something else.
Rock formed from sediment.
sediment
Bits of sand and stone and other solids
that settle in water.
igneous
Rock formed when magma cools.
magma
lava
Hot liquid rock found just below the
surface of the Earth.
Hot liquid rock which comes out of the
earth through a volcano.
©British Council 2014
©British Council 2014