Glossary

Talc

Talc, the softest mineral, is used in baby powder, cosmetics, ceramics, and plastics.

^YYamato Basin

The Yamato Basin is a submarine basin in the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Yamato Rise and the Japan Basin. This basin is significant in marine geology and plate tectonics for understanding the processes of back-arc basin formation, the tectonic evolution of the Sea of Japan, and the sedimentary processes that have shaped the basin.

Reference: Tamaki, K. (1988). “Geometric Model of Back-Arc Spreading.” Tectonophysics, 146(1-4), 155-165.

^YYardang

A yardang is a streamlined, wind-eroded ridge typically found in arid environments, formed by the abrasive action of windblown sand. Yardangs are significant in geomorphology for understanding wind erosion processes, the dynamics of desert landscapes, and the geological history of arid regions.

Reference: Greeley, R., & Iversen, J. D. (1987). “Wind as a Geological Process: On Earth, Mars, Venus, and Titan.” Cambridge University Press.

^YYasawa Group

The Yasawa Group is an island chain in Fiji, composed of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. These islands are significant in volcanic geology and tectonics for their role in understanding the processes of island arc formation, the evolution of volcanic island chains, and the tectonic setting of the South Pacific.

Reference: Nunn, P. D. (1998). “Pacific Island Landscapes.” Institute of Pacific Studies.

^YYazoo Backwater Area

The Yazoo Backwater Area is a floodplain region in the Mississippi Delta that experiences frequent flooding due to the overflow of the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. This area is significant in hydrology and flood management for understanding the dynamics of river flooding, the impact on agriculture and infrastructure, and the strategies for flood control in deltaic regions.

Reference: Autin, W. J. (2005). “The Mississippi River: A Geomorphological Perspective.” Geomorphology, 70(3-4), 293-314.

^YYellow Dune

A yellow dune is a type of coastal sand dune that is characterized by its yellowish color, resulting from the presence of iron oxide coatings on sand grains. Yellow dunes are significant in coastal geomorphology for understanding the processes of dune formation, the role of vegetation in stabilizing dunes, and the impact of wind and waves on coastal landscapes.

Reference: Pye, K., & Tsoar, H. (1990). “Aeolian Sand and Sand Dunes.” Springer.

^YYellow River (Huang He)

The Yellow River, also known as the Huang He, is the second-longest river in China, known for its heavy sediment load and frequent flooding. The Yellow River is significant in geomorphology, hydrology, and environmental science for its role in shaping the Chinese landscape, its influence on agriculture and human settlement, and the challenges of flood management and sediment control.

Reference: Huang, H. Q., & Nanson, G. C. (2007). “Why Some Large Rivers Develop an Anabranching Pattern.” Geology, 35(2), 87-90.

^YYellow Soil

Yellow soil, also known as yellow earth, is a type of soil commonly found in humid subtropical regions, characterized by its yellow color due to the presence of iron oxides. These soils are significant in soil science and agriculture for their fertility, their role in supporting vegetation in tropical and subtropical climates, and their susceptibility to erosion.

Reference: Lal, R. (2006). “Encyclopedia of Soil Science.” CRC Press.

^YYellowcake

Yellowcake is a concentrated form of uranium oxide (U₃O₈) produced during the milling of uranium ore, and it serves as an intermediate step in the production of nuclear fuel. Yellowcake is significant in economic geology and the nuclear industry for its role in the nuclear fuel cycle, from mining to reactor use.

Reference: Emsley, J. (2011). “Nature’s Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements.” Oxford University Press.

^YYellowstone Caldera

The Yellowstone Caldera is a large volcanic caldera located in Yellowstone National Park, formed by a series of massive volcanic eruptions over the past 2 million years. This caldera is significant in volcanology and geothermal studies for its active geothermal features, potential for future supereruptions, and role in shaping the geology of the region.

Reference: Smith, R. B., & Siegel, L. J. (2000). “Windows into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton.” Oxford University Press.

^YYemen Volcanic Group

The Yemen Volcanic Group consists of a series of volcanic rocks in Yemen, ranging from basalt to rhyolite, that formed during the Tertiary period. These volcanic rocks are significant in volcanology and tectonics for understanding the processes of continental rifting, the formation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and the evolution of the Arabian Peninsula.

Reference: Baker, J., Snee, L., & Menzies, M. (1996). “A Brief Overview of the Yemen Volcanic Group.” Bulletin of Volcanology, 58(4), 405-414.

^YYenisei Ridge

The Yenisei Ridge is a mountainous region in Siberia, Russia, characterized by complex geological structures, including Precambrian metamorphic rocks and Paleozoic sedimentary formations. This region is significant in geology for understanding the tectonic evolution of Siberia, the history of mountain-building events, and the development of mineral resources in the area.

Reference: Zonenshain, L. P., & Kuzmin, M. I. (1993). “Tectonics of the Lithosphere Plates of the USSR Territory.” Geotectonics, 27(2), 115-135.

^YYukon-Koyukuk Basin

The Yukon-Koyukuk Basin is a large sedimentary basin in Alaska, filled with Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments. This basin is significant in geology and petroleum exploration for its potential hydrocarbon resources, its role in understanding the tectonic history of Alaska, and the processes of basin formation and sedimentation.

Reference: Mull, C. G., Houseknecht, D. W., & Bird, K. J. (2002). “Tectonics of the Yukon-Koyukuk Basin, Alaska.” Journal of Geophysical Research, 107(B11), ECV 11-1-ECV 11-22.

^YYukon-Tanana Terrane

The Yukon-Tanana Terrane is a geologic terrane in the Canadian Yukon and eastern Alaska, consisting of metamorphic and igneous rocks that have been accreted onto the North American continent. This terrane is significant in tectonics and regional geology for understanding the processes of terrane accretion, the tectonic history of the Cordilleran orogen, and the mineral resources in the region.

Reference: Mortensen, J. K. (1992). “Pre-Mid-Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of the Yukon-Tanana Terrane, Yukon and Alaska.” Tectonics, 11(4), 836-853.

^YYungas Region

Reference: Mortensen, J. K. (1992). “Pre-Mid-Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of the Yukon-Tanana Terrane, Yukon and Alaska.” Tectonics, 11(4), 836-853.

^YYungas Region

The Yungas region is a transitional zone between the Andean highlands and the Amazon Basin, characterized by steep slopes, dense forests, and a high level of biodiversity. This region is significant in ecology, geology, and environmental science for its unique ecosystems, the processes of mountain-building, and the challenges of land use and conservation.

Reference: Young, K. R. (1998). “Discontinuous Vegetation and the Conservation of Edaphic Ridges in the Peruvian Andes.” Mountain Research and Development, 18(3), 169-177.

^ZZebra Rock

Zebra rock is a type of banded, sedimentary rock characterized by alternating light and dark stripes, typically composed of siltstone or sandstone. Zebra rock is significant in sedimentology for its unusual patterning, which is believed to result from periodic changes in environmental conditions, including chemical precipitation and deposition in ancient shallow marine environments.

Reference: Coward, A.J., Slim, A.C., Brugger, J., Wilson, S., Williams, T., Pillans, B. and Maksimenko, A., 2023. Mineralogy and geochemistry of pattern formation in zebra rock from the East Kimberley, Australia. Chemical Geology, 622, p.121336.

^ZZeta Potential

Zeta potential is a measure of the electrostatic potential at the interface between a solid particle and a surrounding liquid, commonly used to characterize the stability of colloidal suspensions. Zeta potential is significant in sedimentology, soil science, and environmental chemistry for understanding the behavior of fine particles, the aggregation of sediments, and the transport of contaminants in natural waters.

Reference: Hunter, R. J. (1981). “Zeta Potential in Colloid Science: Principles and Applications.” Academic Press.

^ZZigzag Fold

A zigzag fold is a type of chevron fold characterized by angular, sharp hinges and relatively straight limbs. These folds are significant in structural geology for understanding the deformation of rocks under compressional stress, the development of fold-and-thrust belts, and the interpretation of subsurface structures in tectonically active regions.

Reference: Ramsay, J. G. (1967). “Folding and Fracturing of Rocks.” McGraw-Hill.

^ZZircon Fission Track Dating

Zircon fission track dating is a geochronological method used to determine the thermal history of rocks by analyzing the damage tracks left by the spontaneous fission of uranium within zircon crystals. This technique is significant in geology for dating geological events such as volcanic eruptions, mountain building, and the cooling history of rocks.

Reference: Gleadow, A. J. W., & Duddy, I. R. (1981). “Fission Track Dating of Zircon: Improved Methodology and Applications.” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 52(1), 41-48.

^ZZircon Thermochronology

Zircon thermochronology is a technique used to study the thermal history of rocks by analyzing the diffusion of radiogenic isotopes within zircon crystals. This method is significant in tectonics and geochronology for understanding the cooling and exhumation history of rocks, the timing of tectonic events, and the evolution of mountain belts.

Reference: Reiners, P. W., & Brandon, M. T. (2006). “Zircon (U-Th)/He Thermochronometry.” Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 58(1), 151-179.

^ZZonal Soil

Zonal soil refers to soil types that are characteristic of specific climatic zones and are influenced primarily by the prevailing climate and vegetation. These soils are significant in pedology and biogeography for understanding the relationships between climate, vegetation, and soil formation processes, and for classifying global soil types.

Reference: Buol, S. W., Southard, R. J., Graham, R. C., & McDaniel, P. A. (2011). “Soil Genesis and Classification.” Wiley.

^ZZonation

Zonation refers to the arrangement or patterning of ecosystems or communities in distinct zones, typically influenced by environmental gradients such as altitude, depth, or temperature. Zonation is significant in ecology and environmental science for understanding the distribution of species in different habitats, the effects of environmental stressors, and the organization of ecological communities.

Reference: Odum, E. P. (1971). “Fundamentals of Ecology.” Saunders College Publishing.

^ZZooplankton

Zooplankton are small, drifting organisms found in aquatic environments, including oceans, seas, and freshwater bodies. They play a crucial role in the food web, serving as primary consumers that feed on phytoplankton and in turn are preyed upon by larger organisms. Zooplankton are significant in marine biology and paleontology for understanding ocean ecosystems, carbon cycling, and the fossil record in marine sediments.

Reference: Brierley, A. S. (2007). “Biological Oceanography of Zooplankton.” Science, 316(5827), 213-216.

^MArchives: Glossary

A mass extinction is an event in which a significant percentage of all life on Earth becomes extinct over a relatively short geological time period. Mass extinctions are critical for understanding the history of life on Earth, the factors that can lead to widespread species loss, and the subsequent recovery and evolution of ecosystems.

Reference: Raup, D. M., & Sepkoski, J. J. (1982). “Mass Extinctions in the Marine Fossil Record.” Science, 215(4539), 1501-1503.