{"thcode":2,"term":{"code":164,"name":"clay deposits","parent":1199,"scope":"Fine-grained sedimentary soil deposits, containing hydrated silicas of aluminum, that are plastic and sticky when wet and harden when heated."},"uf":[],"bt":[{"code":1199,"name":"unconsolidated deposits","parent":1005,"scope":"Loosely bound sediments such as sand, gravel, and silt which tend to accumulate in low areas or valleys."},{"code":1005,"name":"rocks and deposits","parent":287,"scope":"Solid masses that make up the earth's crust as well as accumulations of materials. Use for major rock types and unconsolidated deposits. For deposits of economic value, see related terms."},{"code":287,"name":"earth characteristics","parent":1174,"scope":"The measurable, definable properties and features of the earth."},{"code":1174,"name":"topics","parent":1,"scope":"Themes, subjects, and concerns for which USGS information resources are relevant."},{"code":1,"name":"Categories","parent":null,"scope":"Thematic terms for categorizing information resources.  This thesaurus is intended to support finding and understanding scientific information."}],"nt":[],"rt":[{"code":312,"name":"economic geology","parent":464,"scope":"Scientific study of the formation, location, and use of marketable geologic materials including fuels, metals, minerals, and water."},{"code":798,"name":"nonmetallic mineral resources","parent":745,"scope":"Useful mineral deposits that are not metals.  Includes materials used for construction, decoration, fuel, and industrial purposes."},{"code":1037,"name":"sedimentology","parent":464,"scope":"Branch of earth sciences concerned with the study of the origin, composition, transport, and changes of materials deposited by water, wind, or ice."}]}