Mafic Definition In geology, “mafic” is a term that describes an igneous rock that has an abundance of darker color minerals.

Effective Size (D10) “Effective Size” (D10) is an engineering geology term. Effective Size represents a diameter that directly corresponds to the percentage, by weight, of grains that equal to 10% on the grain-size diagram. To illustrate, 10% of the soil sample particles are finer-grained, and 90% of the sample particles are coarser than the “effective…

Monoculture Definition The term “Monoculture,” in the fields of farming and agriculture, refers to a cultivation system that comprises only one organism. For instance, an entire crop field that only grows carrots. In a monoculture, there is no symbiosis between different species. As a result, there isn’t any comingling with other organisms. In fact, for…

Rock Stratigraphic Unit In the field of geology, a rock stratigraphic unit, or a lithostratigraphic unit, is a geologic formation that is identifiable by a specific lithology, as well as a consistent stratigraphic position. For example, the Monterey Formation is a rock stratigraphic unit, as it tends to consistently comprise the same gravel and sand…

Potentiometric Surface The term “Potentiometric Surface” means the hydrogeological surface that represents the total hydraulic head of groundwater from a confined aquifer or semi-confined aquifer that’s under pressure. The Potentiometric Surface of an aquifer is defined by the level to which water will rise in a groundwater monitoring well (that’s exclusively screened within said aquifer).

U-Shaped Kitchen U-Shaped Kitchen: A U-shaped kitchen, or a horseshoe kitchen, is a general kitchen plan layout with counters, walls, and cabinets that generally form a square-like or rectangular-like shape of the letter “u.”  In the State of California (and other states with similar building code standards), U-shaped kitchens must have a minimum of 60-inches…