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Definitions of strata, joints, bedding planes, joints, folds, faults, dip

User John Elion
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Final answer:

Geology uses terms like strata, joints, bedding planes, folds, faults, and dip to describe the structure of the Earth's crust, with dip denoting the incline angle of rock layers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked for definitions of some geological terms, which are key to understanding the structure and formation of the Earth's crust. Terms like strata, joints, bedding planes, folds, faults, and dip are central to the field of geology, particularly in the area of structural geology. Structural geology is concerned with the study of three-dimensional distribution of rock units with respect to their deformation histories.

Strata refer to a series of layers of rock in the ground. Joints are fractures where there has been no movement parallel to the surfaces of the fracture. Bedding planes are the surfaces that separate one stratum from another. Folds are bends in layers of rock which can occur in a variety of forms. Faults are fractures along which movement has occurred. Finally, dip is the angle at which a rock surface inclines from the horizontal, with the dip direction indicating the way the angle is facing.

User Jsavn
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