geologic unit morphology concepts
This resource defines the concept space for geologic unit morphology concepts by extension; it includes all concepts in this conceptScheme, as well as concepts in previous versions of the scheme.
CGI Geologic Unit Morphology
This vocabulary
a raised elongate body, morphologically equivalent to upside down channel
arch morphology
This vocabulary
sheet in which one of L or W is a curved arc
arcuate sheet
This vocabulary
Geometric analog is convex down discoid, term generally connotes a kilometer-scale feature. Map view may be circular, elliptical, or irregular; characteristic feature is thickening from the edges towards the center. Typically used to describe a body of sedimentary rock deposited in a low area in the Earth's crust, in which case there is an implication that the top is (or was) a surface of deposition.
basin shape
This vocabulary
a thin, widespread body with width to thickness ratio greater than 1000 to 1 that covers an underlying substrate. A layer of known great lateral extent. Morphology equivalent to bed or layer, but implies that body forms the top of some unit, instead of occurring within a body.
blanket shape
This vocabulary
Body with smooth surface, broadly equant shape, irregular protuberances, no symmetry axes, and a boundary that can not be separated into sides.
blob
This vocabulary
Equant polygonal cylinder, L=W=H, definable edges separate bounding surfaces. Grades to tabular prism as one horizontal dimension becomes distinctly longer than the other, and tablet or polygonal cylinder as one vertical axis becomes distinctly shorter or longer than the horizontal axes.
block
This vocabulary
Layer or bed of rock deformed into sausage-shaped segments (boudins), either separated or joined by pinched connections. Morphology generally defined in a profile view, third dimension is not denoted; use of term also implies that the body is not isolated, but is related to an original body elongate on some dimension that has been stretched and separated into separate bodies
boudin shape
This vocabulary
Ellipsoid with L 10 times W or H
bread loaf ellipsoid
This vocabulary
a strongly elongate lens or ribbon with a convex downward lower surface, near planar upper surface. Morphology is equivalent to upside down arch.
channel shape
This vocabulary
Elliptical cylinder that has circular symmetry about long axis; distinct side surfaces are not defined. Cross section is circular
circular cylinder
This vocabulary
equant profile with arcuate boundary
circular profile
This vocabulary
Cylindrical body, equant cross section, long in direction normal to equant cross section. Morphology equivalent to pipe, without denotation of transport function.
column shape
This vocabulary
discus with one planar side, and circular symmetry on axis; geologic cones typically have height <(<) diameter
cone shape
This vocabulary
Body that is section of a cone formed by splitting the cone along a surface parallel to the cone axis, that interesect approximately along the axis.
cone segment
This vocabulary
sheet that conforms to surface of a cone.
conical sheet
This vocabulary
a large upward projection of the roof of an igneous intrusion into the country rock above. A possibly irregular dome like or columnar body rooted in a larger body.
cupola
This vocabulary
Body defined by translation of a generating plane figure with approximately equant cross section (circle, ellipsoid, polygon) along a straight axial line. H>=W=L. Axis is direction normal to generating plane figure, which forms parallel top and bottom bounding surface.
cylinder
This vocabulary
Ellipsoid with L more than 50 times W or H
dart ellipsoid
This vocabulary
Broadly inverted tear drop morphology. Body of magmatic or mobile sedimentary material intruded into overlying rocks
diapir
This vocabulary
dyke
A generally sheet-like intrusive rock body that cuts across bedding or foliation in the host rock, or intrudes massive host rock.
dike
This vocabulary
Cylinder with height less than diameter. L=W>H; edges separates side from top and bottom. Grades to oblate ellipsoid as edges lose definition.
disc
This vocabulary
Cone with central part removed along cylindrical volume approximately along the cone axis
discoid anulus
This vocabulary
Body with two sides that converge to define an edge that is circular in profile; edge separates definable top and bottom. L=W>H. Grades to oblate ellipsoid as edge separating sides loses definition, cone as one side becomes distinctly planar.
discus
this vocabulary
Steep-sided disk-like body, for example and accumulation of high viscosity lava above and around a volcanic vent. A structure in which the top of the body dips gently away in all directions e.g. salt dome, extrusion dome
dome
This vocabulary
sheet in which L and W are curved arcs.
dome sheet
This vocabulary
Concordant intrusion, teardrop-shaped in cross section.
ductolith
This vocabulary
Body that contains three orthogonal axes defining three surfaces of reflection symmetry, profiles along the surfaces are elliptical. Boundary can not be separated into sides (no edges). Becomes cylinder or disc when bounding surface can be considered parallel to one of the axis. L>=W>=H
ellipsoid
This vocabulary
Cylinder that has elliptical cross section; distinct side surfaces are not defined.
elliptical cylinder
This vocabulary
Profile approximates an ellipse; ratio of long axis to short axis is greater than 1.4
elliptical profile
This vocabulary
discus for which the profile defined by the bounding edge is longer in one direction than other. L>W>>H
elongate discus
This vocabulary
equant profile with boundary that can be divided into distinct straight sides separated by higher curvature corners.
equant polygonal profile
This vocabulary
profile for which the ratio of length of longest chord to shortest chord is less than 1.4.
equant profile
This vocabulary
discordant, funnel-shaped intrusion, tapers downward
ethmolith
This vocabulary
A cone segment, generally applied to surface morphology of sedimentary deposit with a gentle surface slope, radiating from a localized sediment source.
fan
This vocabulary
Ellipsoid with L 2 to 5 times W or H
football ellipsoid
This vocabulary
A 3 dimensional body defined based on geometric shape, with some geologic connotation or denotation.
geologic body
This vocabulary
an elongate body bounded on both sides by normal faults that dip toward each other
graben shape
This vocabulary
Section of a spheroid formed by removing everything on the smaller volume side of a surface that intersects the spheroid. Grades to cone as suface generator (line rotated about axis to generate volume above lower planar boundary) becomes straight.
hemispheroid
This vocabulary
profile does not conform to any of the regular geometries associated with other categories in the vocabulary.
irregular profile
This vocabulary
A tabular or lenticular igneous body whose long dimensions parallel layering in the host rock, and which as a convex-up roof and a known or assumed flat floor
laccolith
This vocabulary
Body geometry characterized by generally thin character relative to the lateral extent of the body (on order of 1:100). Thin bodies of lesser extent are lenses. Connotes a non-intrusive body; equivalent intrusive body would be dike (or sill). Denotes that body is in a sequence of similar sheet-like bodies between other rock bodies
layer shape
This vocabulary
A body bounded by converging surfaces (at least one of which is curved), thick in the middle and thinning out toward the edges, resembling a convex lens.
lens
This vocabulary
profile with ratio of long axis length to short axis length greater than 5 with sides that taper to a point, shaped like the profile of an optical lense.
lenticular profile
long axis may be curved as in meandering channel
This vocabulary
Body that is section of a circular or elliptical cylinder formed by a splitting the cylinder along a surface approximately parallel to its long axis. L>>W>H.
longitudinal section of cylinder
This vocabulary
a large, concordant, typically layered igneous intrusion whose floor is convex-down and whose roof may be convex-down or flat.
lopolith
This vocabulary
Lense like body of rock, lateral extent less than 100m, generally flat at bottom, with stratigraphic pinch out of beds (onlap) along upper sides.
mound
This vocabulary
Ellipsoid with H on order of .01 of L or W
pancake ellipsoid
This vocabulary
concordant, lenticular intrusion, emplaced along a fold axis
phacolith
This vocabulary
Ellipsoid with H on order of 0.1 of L or W
pillow ellipsoid
This vocabulary
Rock body that has a length to width ratio greater than 10 to 1, with two sub equal width dimensions.
pipe
This vocabulary
shape is defined by intersection of body with some surface, generally either a cross section or map view
planar profile
This vocabulary
sheet in which L and W axes are straight lines
planar sheet
This vocabulary
vein with length and width significantly greater than its thickness, giving the vein a tabular form
planar vein
This vocabulary
a small intrusion of elongate or lenticular form
pod
This vocabulary
Cylinder in which the edges bounding side surfaces are parallel or subparallel to cylinder axis. Cross section is polygon. Length of axis may be called height or thickness, and is typically in the vertical direction (distinguishing polygonal cylinder from tabular prism and wedge).
polygonal cylinder
This vocabulary
Profile for which the ratio of length of longest chord to shortest chord is greater than 1.4.profile and a boundary that can be divided into distinct straight sides separated by higher curvature corners.
polygonal profile
This vocabulary; Krynine 1948
Body of material that is long in one dimension, and thins rapidly in a perpendicular direction. A long narrow wedge-shaped body that has a width to thickness ratio greater than 5 to 1 but less than 50 to 1 (Krynine, 1948). Similar to wedge, but profile may be variable
prism
This vocabulary
Body that is very thin relative to width and and length. Long axis may be curved. L>(>>)W>>>H. H is typically in vertical direction.
ribbon
This vocabulary
ring dyke
an arcuate or subcircular dyke, generally associated with a volcanic centre.
ring dike
This vocabulary
Rock body geometry is irregular and can not be characterized using terminology.
rock body geometry irregular
This vocabulary
Rock body geometry is not specified. Use in normative descriptions where any morphology is allowed.
rock body geometry not specified
This vocabulary
Cylinder with very long axis, generally circular or elliptical cross section (generating figure). H>>>W=L. Long axis may be in any orientation, and may be curved.
rod
This vocabulary
Body that is very thin relative to lateral extent, so thin that is considered to consist of two bounding surfaces joined at an edge. Aspect ratio is L=W>>>H. The geometry of the edge joining the surfaces is not specified in the definition. If the geometry of the edge comes into play in the definition, becomes ribbon, disc or tablet(?). Includes dike, vein, sill and bed-shaped geologic units.
sheet
This vocabulary
Ellipsoid with one axis much smaller than others H on order of .001 of L or W
sheet ellipsoid
This vocabulary
sheet with 's' curvature of L or W direction
sigmoid sheet
This vocabulary
vein curved so as to resemble the letter S in section
sigmoidal vein
This vocabulary
a tabular intrusive igneous body with long dimensions parallel to bedding or foliation of sedimentary or metamorphic host rock.
sill form
This vocabulary
wedge-like intrusion, partly concordant, partly discordant.
sphenolith
This vocabulary
Ellipsoid with L, W, H all approximately equal
spheroid
This vocabulary
polygonal profile that approximates a square
square profile
This vocabulary
Polygonal cylinder with height less than length or width, disc with edges separating side into multiple segments.
tablet
This vocabulary
Body defined by pairs of parallel, approximately planar surfaces separated by definable edges. Grades to ellipsoid as edges lose definition, to block as axial ratios approach 1, to polygonal cylinder as L approaches W. L>>W>H. H is in vertical direction, L is horizontal.
tabular prism
This vocabulary
Body bounded by hemispheroid on one side, cone on other, with circular symmetry around cone axis
tear drop
This vocabulary is constructed as a collection of purely geometric concepts to specify the geometry of bodies. These geometric forms are abstracted in terms of edges that separate boundary surfaces. Smooth forms have no edges.
This vocabulary
any three dimensional body
three dimensional body
This vocabulary
shape of a body of sedimentary rock deposited in an elongate depression filled with sediment. large size distinguishes from channel
trough shape
This vocabulary
a tabular or sheetlike epigenetic mineral filling of a fault or fracture
vein shape
This vocabulary
Body defined by translation of trangle with W >> H along a horizontal axis. A polygonal cylinder with wedge-like triangular generating surface and horizontal axis. Body changes thickness (H) in W direction, approaching 0 thickness on one side. L>>W>H.
wedge
Concept Definition Task Group of IUGS CGI Interoperability Working Group (http://www.cgi-iugs.org/tech_collaboration/interoperability_working_group.html)
application/rdf+xml
http://resource.geosciml.org/classifierscheme/cgi/201211/geologicunitmorphology
en
Concept Definition Task Group of IUGS CGI Interoperability Working Group (http://www.cgi-iugs.org/tech_collaboration/interoperability_working_group.html)
CGI Geologic Unit Morphology Term Vocabulary
201211
This file contains the CGI Geologic Unit Morphology vocabulary. Use to specify the geometry or form of a GeologicUnit. Examples include: dike, cone, fan, sheet, etc. Morphology is independent of the substance (EarthMaterial) that composes the GeologicUnit.
2010-02-11 Add narrower relationship links by adding skos:narrower link in Protege, defining skos:narrower as inverse of skos:broader, calculating with Pellet reasoner to add inferred axioms, and using 'file/Export inferred axioms as ontology' in Protege.
2012-11-24 SMR Update to 201211 version; add collection entity, check all pref labels are lower case, remove owl:NamedIndividual and Owl:Thing rdf:types.
2010-11-28 SMR replace URN with http URI according to CGI URI scheme (see https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/wiki/bin/view/CGIModel/PersistentIdentifiersInGeoSciMLServices) to make versionn 201202
2012-02-07 SMR update URI to replace numeric final token with English-language string as in original URN scheme.
2012-02-27 SMR add skos:exactMatch triples to map URIs for concepts in this vocabulary to number-token URIs in 201012 version of same concepts.
CGI Geologic Unit Morphology Term Vocabulary
Geologic unit morphology vocabulary