nonmotile (non-mo'-tile). Not motile; e.g. the nonflagellate stage or "nonmotile phase" in the life cycle of a coccolithophorid.
GeoWord of the Day
The GeoWord of the Day is a free service of the American Geosciences Institute. All of the terms and definitions are from the Glossary of Geology, 5th Edition Revised.
normal magnetic field . A smooth, long wavelength component of the Earth's magnetic field, that represents its main (core) component and does not contain anomalies of exploration interest. Compensated by applying the IGRF correction.
malinowskite (mal-i-now'-skite). A variety of tetrahedrite containing lead.
filter bridge . A narrow land bridge that permits the selective migration of some organisms.
Clifdenian (Clif-den'-ian). South Pacific stage: lower middle Miocene (above Altonian, below Lillburnian).
loaming (loam'-ing). A method of geochemical prospecting in which samples of soil or other surficial material are tested for traces of the metal desired, its presence presumably indicating a near-surface orebody.
earth fissure . In engineering geology, a linear opening or crack in the ground. Earth fissures often are associated with ground subsidence. Causes of earth fissures can range from introduction of water at the ground surface into collapsible soil deposits; to withdrawal of groundwater, with a resulting increase in effective stress in compressible deposits; and locally to aseismic creep. Earth fissures often are located along mountain fronts above buried faults with substantial differences in unconsolidated sediment thickness. Compared to tension cracks caused by landslide movement, earth fissures can be similar in nature but larger in scale. Also called: ground fissure. Syn: fissure [eng].
modified Mercalli scale (mod'-i-fied). An earthquake intensity scale, having twelve divisions ranging from I (not felt by people) to XII (damage nearly total). It is a revision of the Mercalli scale made by Wood and Neumann in 1931. Cf: Rossi-Forel scale. Abbrev: MM scale.
potential temperature [meteorol] . The temperature that a given unit of air would attain if it were reduced to a pressure of 1,000 hectopascals (mb) without any heat transfer to or from it.
microgeography (mi''-cro-ge-og'-ra-phy). The detailed analysis of the natural features of a very limited area.
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