Quartz is one of the most common and widely distributed important rock-forming minerals in nature. Its main chemical component is silicon dioxide (SiO₂), it has stable chemical properties, and its crystal structure is regular and orderly.
The rock is a naturally occuring solid aggregate with a certain structure of texture. Some rocks consists of only a single mineral, but most are composed of several different minerals; a few may be composed of volcanic glass, organic remains, etc.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere trap infrared radiation released by the Earth, keeping the surface warm; this phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the main cause of the global temperature rise of 1.1°C.
Erosion refers to the geological process in which external forces such as running water, wind, glaciers, and waves destroy surface rocks and transport the debris to other locations. It is one of the main external processes that shape the Earth's surface, plays an important role in the rock cycle, and is the core driving force behind the formation of most landform landscapes in geological parks.
Minerals are naturally occurring elements or compounds and are the basic units that make up rocks.
Igneous rocks refer to rocks that originate from high-temperature molten liquids called magma. The term 'igneous' comes from Greek, meaning 'born of fire.' Magma from deep underground rises along fractures and erupts onto the Earth's surface. Rocks that are still in a molten state when magma erupts onto the surface are called lava. Lava accumulates layer by layer to form mountains known as volcanoes. Volcanic rocks cool quickly enough that there is not enough time to form large mineral crystals. Typical volcanic rocks include obsidian, basalt, and pumice.
