Gneiss

Metamorphic rock that forms under intense pressure and high temperature and that is made of quartz, feldspar, amphibole and mica. Gneiss represents the highest grade of metamorphic rock, which is characterized by alternating bands of dark and light-colored minerals, foliation (i.e., parallel alignment of planar minerals) and tight folding. This rock type is common at mid to deep levels of continental crust.

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Word of the Week – Vadose Zone

Word of the Week – Vadose Zone

Vadose Zone A hydrogeological term that represents the volume of rock and unconsolidated materials between the ground surface and the underlying water table, in which pores and cracks are...

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Word of the Week – Wairakite

Word of the Week – Wairakite

Wairakite A zeolite mineral of hydrothermal origin that was first identified in the Wairakei geothermal field in New Zealand by Alfred Steiner. It forms clear to white prismatic crystals,...

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