WorldWide Drilling Resource

Frequently-Used Geological Terms Part 85 Glossary Adapted from the Dictionary of Geological Terms R Rock Salt - Coarsely crystalline halite occurring as a massive or granular aggregate, and constituting a nearly pure sedimentary rock which may occur in domes, plugs, or as extensive beds resulting from the evaporation of saline water. Also refers to artificially prepared salt in the form of large crystals or masses. Rockslide - The downward and usually rapid movement of newly detached seg- ments of bedrock, sliding on a surface of bedding, jointing, or faulting. The moving mass usually breaks up into several small pieces. Roof - Rock lying above a coal bed or the back above an ore body. Also used to describe rock bordering the upper surface of an igneous intrusion. Roof Pendant - A downward projection of native rock into an igneous intrusion. Roof Rock - A shale or other impervious rock which acts as a barrier to the movement of gas or oil. It overlies a reservoir rock to form a trap. Room and Pillar - A form of mining where the ore is mined in rooms separated by pillars of undisturbed rock left as roof support. Rose Quartz - Quarts with a rose-pink color, used as a gem or an ornamental stone. Rosette - A radially symmetrical, sand-filled crystalline aggregate or cluster which resembles a rose, formed in sedimentary rocks by barite, marcasite, or pyrite. Rotary Drilling - The main method of drilling deep wells, especial- ly gas and oil wells. A hard-toothed drill bit at the bottom of rotating drill pipe grinds a hole in the rock. Lubrication and cooling are pro- vided by continuously circulating drilling mud, which also brings well cuttings to the surface. Rotary Table - In rotary drilling, a power-driven circular platform on the derrick floor which rotates the kelly, drill pipe, and drill bit. It is sometimes used as the zero depth reference for downhole measurements. Rubellite - A pale rose red to deep ruby red transparent lithian variety of tourmaline, used as a gemstone. Ruby - Red variety of corundum containing small amounts of chromium, used as a gemstone. Rudaceous - A sedimentary rock composed of a significant amount of fragments coarser than sand grains; pertaining to a rudite. Also said of the texture of such a rock. Rudite - A general name used for consolidated sedimentary rocks composed of rounded or angu- lar fragments coarser than sand, such as granules, pebbles, cobbles, boulders, and gravel. Run-of-mine - Said of ore in its natural, unprocessed state; pertaining to ore just as it is mined. Rutilated Quartz - Quartz characterized by the presence of enclosed needlelike crystals of rutile. Rutile - A reddish-brown tetragonal mineral. It is trimorphous with anatase and brookite, and often contains a little iron. Rutile forms prismatic crystals in other minerals; it occurs as a primary mineral in some acid igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and as residual grains in beach sands. It is an ore of titanium. R Wave - Stands for Rayleigh Wave which is a type of surface wave having a retrograde, elliptical motion at the free surface. 25 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® NOVEMBER 2019 Visit us at NGWA Booth 1425 Visit us at UCT Ft Worth Booth 801 Steve Wageman Global Industrial Sales: swageman@bestolife.com WHAT ALL THE BUZZ IS ABOUT! For more than 80 years, BESTOLIFE ® premium compounds have lead the market for drilling, production, and industrial applications. We offer a diverse lineup of superior lubricants proven to extend the life of drill pipe and equipment, and increase efficiency for contractors on the toughest and most demanding drilling jobs with premium thread compounds for oil and gas industry, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) compounds, and water well and industrial compounds. All of our products are formulated and manufactured according to the strictest standards of quality to assure our compounds meet or exceed industry requirements and customer needs. Our perpetual commitment to quality and research ensures every BESTOLIFE compound... Applies Like Honey, and Works Like a Bee! (214) 583-0343 bestolife.com That’s it for R words, we’ll start S next month! G&O WWDR photo of a cluster of gypsum rosettes.