Common prefixes, suffixes, and roots

• clast: broken
• -cline: tilted, gradient
• de-: reduce
• dis-: separation, opposite
• ex-: out of, away from
• feld: field
• geo-: earth
• hydro: water
• iso: same
• -lith: stone
• -meso: middle
• meta-: change
• -morph: form, shape
• plagio-: combining form
• paleo-: ancient
• pelagic: pertaining to ocean
• pluto-: deep seated (Roman god of underworld)
• pre-: before
• proto-: first
• pyro-: fire
• spar: crystalline materials
• -sphere: ball
• strat-: layer
• stria: small groove
• sub-: under
• super-: above
• syn-: together
• tecto-: build or construct. Geology means movement of structures

Samples

Here are some examples based on the above:

• decline: reduce tilted.
• pyroclast: fire broken.
• stratosphere: layer sphere
• hydrosphere: water sphere
• isomorph: same shape
• metamorphic: change shape
• mesolith: middle stone
• feldspar: field crystalline structure
• plagioclase feldspar:

Minerals

The 8 most common elements in Earth’s crust (by mass) are: 

- 46.6% Oxygen (O)
– 27.7% Silicon (Si)
– 8.1% Aluminum (Al)
– 5.0% Iron (Fe)
– 3.6% Calcium (Ca)
– 2.8% Sodium (Na)
– 2.6% Potassium (K)
– 2.1% Magnesium (Mg)

• Potassium feldspar, potassium (K), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O).