Sand Boil
A “Sand Boil” is a cone-shaped deposit of sand that is formed during an earthquake. A Sand Boil occurs when subsurface sand layers liquefy and are then blown to the surface through cracks.
A “Sand Boil” is a cone-shaped deposit of sand that is formed during an earthquake. A Sand Boil occurs when subsurface sand layers liquefy and are then blown to the surface through cracks.

Surface-Wave Magnitude “Surface-Wave Magnitude” is the magnitude of an earthquake that scientists estimate using measurements of the amplitude of surface waves.

Environmental Geology Environmental Geology: (en·vi·ron·men·tal ge·ol·o·gy) a branch of geology that relates to the impact of human activity on Earth, and the pollution of geologic formations, reserves, and resources. Common focus points of environmental geology are contaminated soil, groundwater aquifers, lakes, rivers, and the ocean. Professional geologists assess and remediate contamination plumes in all media,…

Transgression Transgression: In geology, the term transgression is the formation of a specific sequence of sedimentary and metamorphic layers, that are the result of ocean water advancing onto land. To illustrate, when transgression occurs over millions of years, geologists find a layer of sand, overlain by shale, and overlain again by limestone. The opposite of…

Seismic Moment Seismic Moment: In the seismology branch of geology, seismic moment represents a measure of the size of an earthquake, depending on the area of rupture, the rigidity of the rock, and the amount of slip from faulting.

Milliequivalent per liter Milliequivalent per liter (meq/L): A unit used to express the chemical equivalence of the concentration of solutes in a solution. It is calculated by dividing the concentration of a substance (in mg/L) by its equivalent weight. This measurement helps in understanding the reactive capacity of ions in the solution.

Metamorphic Rock Definition In the field of geology, the term “Metamorphic Rock” refers to a rock classification that is the result of the alteration of prior existing sedimentary rocks or igneous rocks. The alteration process is “metamorphosis, and can take place by various methods and environments. The metamorphosis process produces specific metamorphic rocks, on the…